Dispatches from the world of high-performance, science-driven skincare, each week

Despite the fact that it's utterly unpronounceable, was late to the metaphorical skincare party and is a bit of a jack of all trades, I am developing quite a deep and all-encompassing love for hyaluronic acid. Forgive me if this seems fickle - I was only proclaiming my adoration for the other skincare ingredient in my life, glycolic acid, some four weeks ago and now I'm waxing lyrical about the untold powers of another super skincare acid. But, this one's different. Honest. 

Universally beneficial, hyaluronic acid first popped up on the rounds of skincare launches some 4-5 years ago, and although I wasn't quite sure of it's purpose at the time, some simple Latin deductions pointed to the fact that it was probably quite hydrating. What's become increasingly apparent now however, is how much of an understatement that really is. Hyaluronic acid has the hydrating capability of a reservoir bursting it's banks. It's an instant paddling pool for the face. Scratch that, it's actually more hydrating than water. 

So, what is this stuff, really? Well, unlike nine tenths of the stuff we slather our faces with, it's a naturally occurring substance which is already found in the body, generally around the limbs to keep them supple and cushion the joints. In the composition of skin however, it works as a mesh between collagen and elastin, but to the same end. 'The collagen and elastin are like a spiderweb,' explains Ole Henriksen, founder of the globally-adored skincare line of the same name. 'Hyaluronic acid is woven into this connective tissue to help maintain the plumpness of the skin.'

"What makes hyaluronic acid so extraordinary is its ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water." - Ole Henriksen

'What makes it so extraordinary is its ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water, keeping the skin soft and pliable but it also helps seal in all the other ingredients in a formulation - like a protective barrier for the skin,' he adds. Indeed, hyaluronic acid is what is known as a hydrophilic molecule which naturally attracts water, like a flannel that holds moisture bound within its threads long after it's been rung out. 

And when you consider that hydration and the constant maintenance thereof is the only real thing that the world's most eminent dermatologists agree on in preserving the youthfulness of skin, that's pretty major. 

But, as ever, the proof is in the pudding. I've been using Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase for around 6 weeks now and for the first time in my adult life, I've managed to swerve the entire peely post-holiday forehead thing. Not only that but I'm pretty sure the crepey skin around my eyes is looking a bit more, well, less crepey. 

What's next for this justifiably tagged 'wonder-ingredient' then? Injections. The FDA has recently approved hyaluronic acid for injection into the skin to plump out lips and wrinkles. Which begs the questions: why bother when the topical version is so good?

Click the gallery for the best hyaluronic skincare formulas to invest in now.