In an attempt to overcome the physiological and visible signs of facial aging, scientists and formulators diligently work to elucidate strategies for its intervention. It has been demonstrated that the natural slowing in the production of endogenous glycosaminoglycans, hyaluronic acid (HA) in particular, leads to an acceleration in cutaneous aging [1]. Additionally, the normal stratum corneum or barrier function that is key to proper moisture retention tends to worsen with age in some ethnic groups [2-6]. Hyaluronic acid is one of the naturally occurring glycosaminoglycans in human skin that shows an impressive ability to bind to and hold 1000 times its weight in moisture within the skin [7]. It is therefore a logical strategy to develop products to deliver essential hyaluronic acid into the skin to mitigate the negative effects of a loss of HA in dry and aging skin. The PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Overnight Mask, a combination of HA of varying molecular weights, was tested for efficacy in-vivo for both immediate and eight hours moisture increase in human skin.

Keywords: Hyaluronic acid; Aging skin; Moisture mapping; Moisturization; Corneometer; Facial mask