Hyaluronic Acid is one of those ingredients that everyone swears by. It’s in serums, moisturisers, sheet masks, foundations, lip products… basically, if it exists, someone has tried to shove Hyaluronic Acid into it.

And for good reason: it can be an incredible hydrator.

But here’s the part no one talks about…

Hyaluronic Acid can actually make your skin feel tighter, thirstier, and drier  especially if you're 35+.

Shocking? A little.
Fixable? Completely.

Let’s break down why this happens, how to fix it, and how to get the actual glow you’ve been promised.

What Hyaluronic Acid Actually Does

Think of Hyaluronic Acid like a sponge.

Its entire job is to attract and hold onto water up to 1,000 times its own weight.

But here's the catch:

A sponge only works when there's water available.

If there isn’t?
It will grab moisture from the nearest place it can find...👉 Your own skin.

And that’s where the problems start.

The Real Reason It Can Make Your Skin Drier

Most people apply Hyaluronic Acid the wrong way.

Here are the top reasons it backfires:

1. You're applying it on dry skin

This is the biggest reason HA can leave your skin feeling parched.

On dry skin, it has nowhere to pull moisture from, so it pulls it from within your skin.

You’re left with: Tightness, flakiness, makeup sitting weird and a sudden urge to buy more skincare you don’t need. 

3. You're not sealing it in with a moisturiser

Hyaluronic Acid ALWAYS needs a moisturiser on top.

Without it, the water it pulls simply evaporates and your skin ends up even drier than before.

It’s like filling a bucket with water… that has a hole in the bottom.

4. The formula isn’t well balanced

Not all Hyaluronic Acids are created equal.

There are different molecular weights, and if a product uses the wrong combination or cheap versions, it can sit on top of the skin, feel sticky, and literally do nothing but dry you out.

A well-formulated hydrator usually includes:

• Quality forms of HA

• Additional humectants  like glycerin, propanediol, pentylene glycol or cactus extract among others. 
  

• Occlusives (things that lock moisture in)

If it’s just “Hyaluronic Acid serum”… run.

How to Fix the Dryness (Fast)

1. Apply it on damp skin

After cleansing, don’t completely dry your face.

Leave it slightly damp so Hyaluronic Acid has water to bind to.

Or a little tip:
You can also mist your face lightly with water before applying.

2. Always follow with a moisturiser

This seals the hydration in and stops water from evaporating.

A moisturiser with: Squalane, fatty alcohols & glycerin and moisture mesh complexes like our Hydra-Smooth Moisturiser is ideal because it nourishes and strengthens the skin barrier at the same time.

3. Avoid using Hyaluronic Acid alone

Standalone HA products are often single-taskers.
And your skin, especially over 35, needs layers of hydration, not one ingredient working on its own like it’s in solitary confinement.

Hyaluronic Acid works best when it’s supported by other hydrating and skin-strengthening ingredients, like glycerin, multi-weight hydration complexes, and lightweight emollients that help it absorb properly. Even better is when it’s paired with ingredients that actively help the skin repair itself like our Hydra-Firm Serum. 

When HA sits inside a formula that blends humectants, emollients, and reparative peptides, it stays balanced, deeply hydrates, and doesn’t trigger that tight, thirsty feeling. This kind of well-rounded blend stops the drying effect and helps your skin actually hold onto moisture long term, this can be seen from the clinical study carried out on our Hydra-Firm serum where it was proven to hydrate the skin by up to 116%.

Why Women 35+ Notice the Dryness More

As we age, our skin naturally produces less:

• Natural moisturising factors

• Lipids

• Collagen

• Elasticity

• Water-binding components

This means your skin has less internal water for HA to grab onto.

So if you’re 40 and thinking, “Why does Hyaluronic Acid make me feel tight and papery?”…it’s not you, it’s the way HA alone behaves on more mature skin.

So Should You Stop Using Hyaluronic Acid?

Absolutely not!

Hyaluronic Acid is still one of the best hydrating ingredients in skincare, when used properly and paired with the right supporting players.

The key is this:
HA alone won’t hydrate you.
HA inside a well-formulated serum and followed up with a nourishing moisturiser absolutely WILL..

If You Want Hydration That Doesn’t Backfire…

Look for formulas that do the heavy lifting for you, not ones that force you into a 10-step routine. 

A great routine should:

✔ Hydrate with multi-weight HA
✔ Bind moisture with glycerin and propanediol
✔ Lock it in with squalane, shea butter, and oils
✔ Soothe with peptides and botanicals
✔ Deliver longer-lasting hydration without the tightness

This is exactly why modern multi-benefit routines are becoming so popular because they eliminate the complication while increasing the results.

Your skin gets everything it needs in the minima number of steps, without risking dehydration.

So don’t ditch HA just choose a good formula, use it on damp skin, and always lock it in with a GOOD moisturiser

Your glow will thank you.