Hyaluronic Acid vs. Sodium Hyaluronate: Do You Know the Difference?

Hyaluronic acid is both a molecule and a key ingredient in skincare—and understanding this dual role is the first step to clarifying why it’s so valuable.

Hyaluronic acid is a molecule naturally produced by our bodies. It is made up of a long chain of sugars, called glycosaminoglycans, that can bind to large amounts of water. 

A significant amount of our body’s hyaluronic acid is concentrated in the skin, where it retains moisture, keeping the skin hydrated, plump, and youthful. 

In addition to its role in the skin, this little molecule is also prominent throughout our bodies. It is in our connective tissue that provide structural support, in the joints where it lubricates and cushions for smooth, pain-free movement, and in our cartilage where it helps us withstand compression. It's even the gel in our eyes that helps maintain clarity.

Once hyaluronic acid is produced in the body, it typically cycles around 24 to 36 hours before it gets degraded and your body produces more to replace it.

However, as we age, our natural production of the hyaluronic acid molecule decreases. This is what leads to stiff joints, dry skin, wrinkles, and reduced overall elasticity. 

The hyaluronic acid molecule can also be extracted, and processed, and turned from a naturally occurring molecule into an active skincare ingredient. This allows us to use the power of this hydrating humectant, and formulate it into products like serums, creams, and moisturizers. 

When used topically in skincare, Hyaluronic Acid provides immediate hydration by forming a moisture barrier on top of the skin that acts like a sponge. It pulls in water to plump and smooth the skin’s surface. This is particularly beneficial for dry or aging skin, as it rehydrates and softens fine lines for a smoother, more youthful appearance.

In addition to its use in skincare, you can also find Hyaluronic Acid in fillers. Hyaluronic acid fillers attract moisture to treated areas, creating an instant plumping effect, which reduces wrinkles and restores fullness, especially in areas where volume loss is most noticeable with age, like the lips, cheeks, and under-eye regions. 

Injecting Hyaluronic Acid into the tissues will create volume, but proceed with caution. Over time the face can become puffy if too much water is attracted. This is what leads to that overly filled, balloon-like appearance. 

Since the body naturally produces Hyaluronic Acid, both fillers and skincare products using this ingredient are generally well-tolerated anti-aging treatments.

Here’s what’s important to understand: Hyaluronic Acid’s effects are temporary.

Whether applied topically or injected as a filler, it isn’t creating deeper-level changes.

Hyaluronic Acid provides a quick fix, giving the skin a plumper, more youthful appearance on the surface—but after its 24-36 hour cycle, it breaks down, and your skin returns to its previous state.

While you can use it daily to maintain this effect, if you’re aiming to truly reverse the signs of aging, you’ll need active ingredients that go beyond surface hydration to improve elasticity and firmness at a deeper, cellular level.

Hyaluronic Acid enhances your skin’s appearance, but the real long-term results come from a similar variation of this ingredient.

This brings me to Sodium Hyaluronate.

When the Hyaluronic Acid molecule is extracted, it can also modified. Sodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of Hyaluronic Acid, created by neutralizing it with sodium hydroxide. 

Sodium Hyaluronate operates functionally the same as Hyaluronic Acid when it comes to moisture retention, but has the advantage of a smaller molecular size than Hyaluronic Acid, which allows it to work deeper into the skin’s layers. 

Sodium Hyaluronate delivers hydration from within, leading to lasting benefits. This is why you’ll commonly find Sodium Hyaluronate in serums and creams designed for long-term skin health.

The skin barrier is designed to protect and prevent larger molecules from entering your skin.

Hyaluronic Acid’s molecule size is too big to pass through the skin barrier, which is why Hyaluronic Acid benefits are seen on the surface of the skin.

Sodium Hyaluronate, on the other hand, is small enough to absorb through the skin barrier and reach deeper layers of the dermis. 

While Hyaluronic Acid offers surface-level changes, Sodium Hyaluronate works deeper within the skin to make more impactful changes: enhancing skin texture, improving elasticity, and higher moisture retention over time. 

This makes it the preferred ingredient in skincare products aiming to provide deeper, long-term hydration for ongoing improvement and better overall skin health.

Now that you understand the difference between these two ingredients, you might be wondering... why is Hyaluronic Acid so widely discussed, while you hear very little about Sodium Hyaluronate?

This is because “Hyaluronic Acid” is actually a category of ingredients, which includes not just Hyaluronic Acid itself, but also Sodium Hyaluronate and other variations.

Much like how retinoids are a class of compounds derived from Vitamin A, or how Vitamin C has several different forms used in skincare that each offer unique benefits and properties, Hyaluronic Acid is also a general term that encompasses all of its variations.

It’s similar to how we say “Vitamin C” instead of specifying a particular type, like L-ascorbic acid.

Saying Hyaluronic Acid when it’s actually Sodium Hyaluronate simplifies the conversation, making it easier for consumers to understand and recognize its benefits.

Well, that depends on what you’re looking for…

• Hyaluronic Acid: Ideal for instant hydration and plumping. It works great for short-term results and is a common ingredient in topical products and fillers. However, its effects are temporary and surface-level.

• Sodium Hyaluronate: Best for deep, long-lasting hydration. Thanks to its smaller size, it penetrates deeper into the skin, providing long-term moisture retention which improves skin texture and elasticity over time.

Knowing the difference between Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate is key to making informed skincare choices. 

In the KaramMD Trifecta, we’ve incorporated Sodium Hyaluronate because my goal was to create a product that had everything you needed to make deep, long-lasting changes to your skin.

• Quench Vitamin C Serum: This serum combines antioxidant protection, and collagen-boosting power of Vitamin C with deep hydration from Sodium Hyaluronate, ensuring your skin radiant and healthy, with an improvement in skin texture and tone.

• Illuminate Anti-Aging Cream: Illuminate contains all of the key ingredients when it comes to anti-aging skincare. By combining Retinol and Niacinamide alongside Sodium Hyaluronate, this all-in-one, multi-active cream does it all, improving elasticity and reducing fine lines with the addition of deep long-lasting hydration.

Now that you know the key differences between Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate, you will better understand how to choose the right products for your skincare needs. 

A great strategy can be to combine the deep, long-term hydration of Sodium Hyaluronate in a daily skincare routine, with the surface-level boost from Hyaluronic Acid when you need it. For example, using a Hyaluronic Acid face mask before a big event can help you look more rejuvenated, offering you an instant plumping and smoothing effect. 

But by consistently using Sodium Hyaluronate daily, you’ll achieve long-term hydration, improved elasticity, and a smoother, more youthful appearance that builds over time, lasting far beyond Hyaluronic Acid’s 24-36 hour cycle.

So, whether you’re looking for a quick plumping effect or deep, lasting moisture, I hope this empowers you to confidently make informed decisions for your skin’s health and brings you one step closer to achieving your skincare goals.