'Potent' skincare ingredient can 'restore plumpness' to aged skin and soften wrinkles

Aged skin is impossible to prevent entirely but there are many ways to slow down the progression of wrinkles and fine lines. Expensive anti-ageing formulas may seem like the answer, but a dermatologist has claimed otherwise.

Wrinkles and fine lines can appear anywhere on the face though they are most common around the eyes and mouth.

Dry skin can exacerbate the appearance of these problem areas and is an issue many people face as they age.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Dr Vahe Karimyan, plastic surgeon and medical director of Doctor V Clinic said: "Dry skin can be both a sign of ageing and a consequence of various factors.

"As people age, their skin tends to produce less oil and retain less moisture, which can lead to dryness. However, external factors like weather, skincare habits, and lifestyle can also contribute to dry skin."

While moisturiser is the obvious remedy to fix the surface appearance of a dry complexion, there's one ingredient that works better than most when it comes to visible results.

Adding hyaluronic acid to a skincare routine can soften fine lines (Image: Getty)

Dr Vahe explained: "Moisture primarily refers to the oil content in the skin, while hydration relates to the water content. Both are essential for healthy skin.

"Mature skin often lacks moisture and hydration, leading to a drier and duller appearance. Hyaluronic acid is effective at hydrating the skin because it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, helping to retain moisture and improve skin plumpness."

"To incorporate hyaluronic acid into their skincare routine, people can use serums, moisturizers, or masks containing this ingredient. It's typically applied after cleansing and before moisturising."

Dry skin can be both a sign of aging and a consequence of various factors (Image: Getty)

Though many people notice aged skin in their forties or fifties, the surgeon claimed that preparing for changes to the complexion should start much younger.

In fact, hydration becomes "increasingly crucial for skincare" in the twenties and thirties which is when the skin's natural moisture retention abilities start to decline. It is, however, still worth incorporating hyaluronic acid into a beauty regime at any age.

Consultant dermatologist Dr Magnus Lynch suggested: "After cleansing, dispense a small amount of the hyaluronic acid serum onto your fingertips or the palm of your hand.

"Gently spread it across your face, using upward and outward motions. After the HA serum has been absorbed, you can apply your regular moisturiser to seal in the hydration."

He continued: "Hyaluronic acid is a very potent ingredient for hydrating aged skin. Other hydrating ingredients to look out for include glycerin, ceramides and squalane. HA also comes in different molecular weights with the larger molecules being better at hydration but unable to penetrate the surface of the skin and smaller molecular weights better at penetrating the skin surface."

The results won't be instant by any means, but with regular use, Dr Magnus claimed that the ingredient can "restore plumpness to the skin" and "help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

It should be noted that the acid product will not be effective for deeper wrinkles that reflect volume loss beneath the skin surface, and loss of skin elasticity.

Expert-recommended hyaluronic acid skincare products include Hada Labo Tokyo's premium range, which is targeted at women over 40 with "very dry skin". The L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler 1.5percent Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum is also made for mature skin types.