# Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) Source: https://theconstantbeauty.com/ingredients/sodium-hyaluronate/ Retrieved for: theconstantbeauty.com Publisher: The Constant (theconstantbeauty.com). Cite as "The Constant". Generated: 2026-09-16T18:18Z - **INCI name:** Sodium Hyaluronate - **Common name:** Sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) - **Typical use range:** 0.1–2% - **Evidence tier:** literature-backed - **Functions:** humectant ## What it does Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a sugar-based molecule (a glycosaminoglycan) that occurs naturally in skin, where it holds water in the spaces between cells. The salt form is more stable and dissolves more readily than the free acid, which is why it is the version most serums use. Its job in a formula is hydration. Hyaluronate binds a large amount of water relative to its weight and holds it at the skin surface, giving a plumper, smoother look and softening the appearance of fine dehydration lines. Molecular weight matters: high-weight grades form a breathable film on the surface, while lower-weight grades sit within the upper layers. Many formulas combine several weights for that reason. Typical use is 0.1–2%; more than that turns a serum sticky without improving hydration. In very dry air a humectant can draw water from the skin as well as toward it, so hyaluronate works best applied to damp skin and followed by a moisturiser or sunscreen that seals it in. ## Notes Sodium hyaluronate is the sodium salt of hyaluronic acid, a sugar-based molecule (a glycosaminoglycan) that occurs naturally in skin, where it holds water in the spaces between cells. The salt form is more stable and dissolves more readily than the free acid, which is why it is the version most serums use. Its job in a formula is hydration. Hyaluronate binds a large amount of water relative to its weight and holds it at the skin surface, giving a plumper, smoother look and softening the appearance of fine dehydration lines. Molecular weight matters: high-weight grades form a breathable film on the surface, while lower-weight grades sit within the upper layers. Many formulas combine several weights for that reason. Typical use is 0.1–2%; more than that turns a serum sticky without improving hydration. In very dry air a humectant can draw water from the skin as well as toward it, so hyaluronate works best applied to damp skin and followed by a moisturiser or sunscreen that seals it in. ## Used in - [Multi-Active Complex Face Serum](https://theconstantbeauty.com/product/multi-active-complex-serum/) ## References 1. CosIng, Sodium Hyaluronate (EU cosmetic ingredient database) 2. Papakonstantinou E, Roth M, Karakiulakis G. Hyaluronic acid: a key molecule in skin aging. Dermatoendocrinol. 2012;4(3):253–258.