Hey curlyteas! Let’s look a little closer at the hyaluronic acid based ingredient called hyaluronic acid elastomer.
Hyaluronic acid elastomer is a humectant said to be 2-3 times thicker than gels created with regular hyaluronic acid. It comes in a thick ready to use gel and doesn’t need to be separately hydrated first.
The gel is very viscous and is a combination of sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, pentylene glycol and water. That sodium hyaluronate and that crosslinked polymer are combined in order to enhance HOW it hydrates your skin.
It is said to create a so-called “breathable” and nourishing film on the skin to help keep the moisture in. And that’s what we all want, right?
The ingredient allegedly provides 24 hour, long-lasting moisture and has excellent ability to hold water. They call it “water binding capacity” and it’s attributed to it’s “cross-linked structure”.
One problem with sodium hyaluronate is that it’s susceptible to losing viscosity because of an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid. This elastomer has a higher resistance to that.
Once added to a product, it doesn’t leave a sticky feeling like glycerin. It’s very smooth and it absorbs without leaving a super dry feeling on the skin.
By the way, here are a few alternatives to glycerin.
Watch the video for more information about this important ingredient!
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