78 AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2019 best health besthealthmag.ca
expression lines. Injecting HA
into the skin, which increases
hydration and, in turn, improves
the look of fine lines, is an option,
too. “The ideal candidate is some-
one who doesn’t want volume or
doesn’t want to make their cheeks
look bigger,” says Dr. Kellett.
“They just want to improve the
quality of their skin and reduce
the appearance of fine lines.”
Whether you seek out a derma-
tologist or DIY, all routes should
lead to using SPF daily. “The most
important thing for skincare is
sunscreen,” says Dr. Kellett.TOUTED AS HAVING THE
power to attract up to 1,000 times
its weight in water, hyaluronic
acid (HA) is a naturally occurring
molecule that contributes to
skin’s moisture levels. Since your
inherent reserve of HA depletes
with every birthday you celebrate,
using a moisturizer that contains
the ingredient can be an effective
way to reduce the aging effects of
dehydration, which can exacer-
bate fine lines.
Following a wave of HA-heavy
serums on the market, masks are
the latest beauty product to take
up with the potent hydrator.
Formulas range from juicy gels to
rich creams, and one novel deliv-
ery system doesn’t come in a tube
or jar at all.
“Hyaluronic acid is a big mol-
ecule and, to absorb into the skin,
you need to use either very small
fragments or this patch
approach,” says Barbara Green,
head of research and development
at NeoStrata. She is speaking of
the brand’s latest offering: small
patches that feature pure HA
micro-cones. “The cones are actu-
ally designed to penetrate the
surface of the skin and dissolve
into it,” says Green. “It’s a unique
way to deliver a larger molecule
for that plumping effect.”
Designed to be worn for several
hours (ideally overnight) and a
first on the Canadian market,
they’re meant to target hard-to-
treat expression lines. “You’ll see
the most benefits if you have
clearly defined lines, like crow’s
feet or frown lines between the
brows, rather than nasolabial
folds,” says Green.BEAUTY BOTTOM LINE
Perfect before a big event or on
days when sleep or stress is off-
track, at-home HA treatments
satisfy the need for a quick fix,
f lushing skin with hydration to
temporarily diminish signs of
aging. If you’re after longer-last-
ing or more dramatic results,
consider a heftier investment.
“There are some things you can
use at home, but they never beat
what you find in a clinic,” says Dr.
Kellett, who lists a neuromodula-
tor (wrinkle-relaxing injection) as
the gold standard for treatingMaximize your results by
applying these patches
after serum and cream
are fully absorbed.
NEOSTRATA HYALURONIC
ACID MICRO INFUSION
PATCHES, $25Enjoy fast-acting plumping via a gel
treatment that contains multiple sizes of HA,
supported by agave and licorice extracts.
VICHY LIFTACTIV HYALU MASK, $6 0Create hydrated radiance
through a marriage
of hyaluronic acid
and exfoliating active
ingredients.
FILORGA OXYGEN- GLOW
[MASK] SUPER-PERFECTING
EXPRESS MASK, $49BESTIE