Reaction to hyaluronic acid?

[MrPanks]

I've been very slowly building up an actives skincare routine. I have over the past few months introduced Paula's Choice Retinol serum a few times a week, vitamin C every morning (Medik8 lower strength one) Superdrug hyaluronic acid also in the morning after vitamin C, and a one a week exfoliator, Paula's Choice AHA.I use Cerave cleanser to wash and Cerave moisturiser in the evening, and a L'Oréal spf 50 day cream, all of which contain hyaluronic acid in higher weights. I started using the Hadaladbo hyaluronic acid in place of the Superdrug one a few days ago and all of a sudden I have a very dry skin that stings even only stopping using everything but the Cerave. I also have a small but very sort rash on my neck. When I've done some digging on the internet I found some information to say that HA in lower weight can be drying and irritating to the skin. Has anyone else experienced this? I thought HA was good? My skin feels on fire although it is not red. I've stopped everything but the Cerave. What should I do next about my skin? I'm gutted as it was just starting to look a bit better than it usually does. But not sure if it's my regime or the Hadalabo. Anyone got any experiences or advice please?

[MrPanks]

Sore rash, not sort.

[dancemom]

I had this. I only noticed when i accidently wiped some on my neck and it broke out. I carried on using it but recently when I was ill and my skincare took a back seat I noticed I actually had less redness and open pores across my cheeks when I wasn't using it.

[GoingForAWalk]

It's probably the Vit C. My skin can't tolerate it and neither can many others

[Justilou1]

It’s more likely to be the retinol if the rash is on your neck. Most people can’t use it at all on their neck. Would drop back to once per week. The other thing is the order you are using them. The HA should be first as it is the thinnest. It also helps carry the actives deeper into the skin. Hada Labo is more effective than Superdrug at carrying actives deeper because it is a multimolecular weight product. I use HL myself and tretinoin, and have given myself rashes if I have used the wrong way around.
Would also be extremely reluctant to suggest use of retinol with vitamin c AND the AHA. Far too irritating.
Are you also being religious with use of high spf? ALL of your actives (except HA) increase sensitivity to sunlight exponentially.
Also, HA works best when applied to damp skin. Tap water is perfectly fine. You could also mix a drop of facial oil at night into your moisturiser to make it more occlusive if you wanted. (Rosehip & Jojoba, or even Squalane probably least likely to cause issues.)

[Kjr33]

I would think it’s the retinol, one of the paulas choices ones is quite a high concentration. I would get a nice cerimide cream and repair your skin barrier and things for a while. You might find that retinol and exfoliation is too much. I use retinol 3x per week and changed to a lower concentration and I only exfoliate once a week.

You do have a point about hylaronic acid (and sometimes niacinimide) being in every product now and it seems hard to layer without overdoing it on those 1-2 ingredients.

[DameDoom]

Watch Dr Shireene Idriss’ YouTube series if you get the chance. She is a fabulous New York derm and talks a lot about HA and how it can negatively affect the skin depending on the size of the molecule. She advises only to use it on high days and holidays when your skin could do with a one off, cosmetic boost. Apparently, it’s one of the biggest causes of irritation that she sees in her clients. It can be really problematic.
She has great advice on different vitamin C types as that can be irritating too.
As an aside, Cerave burns my face to buggery the minute it touches it; I can’t use it at all but get on well with Le Roche Posay.

[dontgobaconmyheart]

Difficult to say as you're using a variety of active all of which could cause a reaction but but HA does this to me, I can't get on with it at all, regardless of how its layered or what the product is it very often leaves my skin drier over time (but looks and feels lovely initially). I do layer it correctly in terms of water based products etc but it is degrees of the same irritation that crop up with regular use, leading to redness, stinging and dehydration.

Sadly it seems to be in so many moisturisers these days as if its inclusion is the guarantee of hydration, I'm finding it hard to avoid but certainly do avoid it if I can, especially in high concentration.

[MrPanks]

Thanks to all of you for sharing your experiences and advice. I have cut everything out except washing face in the Cerave face wash and moisturising with the Cerave lotion, as I’ve been using both products for over a year now without any problems. I am on holiday somewhere rural so I’ve no other option at present. I have got a very high separate spf that I’m putting on over the top. When I get to a shop what should I look out for to wash and moisturise? I’m obviously keen to avoid the HA as an ingredient, but I’ve dry skin so need something that won’t strip it. I will only add things back in slowly, and I think I will bin the products with HA in them. I’ll also be very cautious re re-introducing the actives in case with of them could be the cause. Im really fed up as in trying to take better care of my skin I’ve managed to cause more problems! It’s such a shame as my skin was just starting to look a bit better! Grr…

[MrPanks]

@DameDoom, what is the La Roche Posy wash that you use?

[Classica]

I hate that hyaluronic acid is touted as this wonder product with no negatives. My skin doesn't like it. If you've been slowly introducing products and you skin is only getting irritated since the you've started using the Hada Labo it would seem the likely source of your problem.

[DameDoom]

Toleriane for sensitive skin. Dr Shireene says glycerine does a far superior job at hydrating than HA so you might want to look out for that.

I also rate both Dr Sam’s nightly and brightly serums which have a great combination of measured dose actives including vitamin C. Her cleanser is nice but you don’t get much. I love moisturiser now it’s getting colder.
Skinceuticals CE ferulic doesn’t flare me up at all and is a wonder in a bottle but I do find it eye-wateringly expensive.

[Laquila]

Yes the Toleriane range is fantastic but you're probably unlikely to find it rurally. Their Fluide moisturiser never lets me down. I also like the Baume B5, which contains zinc but is a lot thicker.

My preferred Cerave cleanser is the one with SA but now's probably not the time to add in more acids to your routine!

I've also recently started using the Garnier Pure Activ Sensitive cleanser and I love it - not at all drying and no reactons/breakouts so far on my very atopic skin.

The Avenue Extremely Gentle cleanser is another very mild one to perhaps try.

[MrPanks]

Thanks everyone for all the recommendations. I will see what I can find . Washed my face today and luckily it seems to have calmed down as no stinging today. Still, can't wait to get my hands on something more gentle though. I think it might be the Hadalabo as my skin was okay before that. Still, I will proceed very gingerly with re introducing the actives. I don't think I'll do anything for a few weeks though and I think I'll also keep the actives off my neck. Although I'd been using Boots' retinol complex serum for about a year before the Paula's Choice. I'm religious about spf, but going forwards I think I'll just stick to a separate sunscreen rather than the one in the moisturiser that also contains HA. I will look for products with glycerin. I'm surprised there aren't more warnings about it.

[BobbinThreadbare123]

Hyaluronic acid brings me out in spots and makes my skin very irritated.