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As I’ve been settling into a skincare regimen that works best for me, something that has been a total game-changer is certain acids. So far, I’ve written about hyaluronic acid (check out “Why Your Skin, Hair, And Nails Need Hyaluronic Acid Like...Yesterday”), mandelic acid and kojic acid soap (check out “These 12 Things Will Make Your Skin Glow All Of The Time”) and, in a minute, I’m gonna roll up on y’all when it comes to ferulic acid. Today, though, I want to touch on another acid that has some pretty impressive benefits: mevalonic acid.
You know, something else that tends to come with aging skin is dryness. If that’s something that you’re currently battling with, this is an acid that can help to get you the moisture that you need.
Are you ready to become a fan of mevalonic acid, sis? Here’s the breakdown.
What Is Mevalonic Acid All About?
GiphyAight, so, from a scientific standpoint, mevalonic acid is considered to be a “precursor to cholesterol.” In Layman's terms, this means it’s an acid that is a natural compound in your system; one that helps to maintain your skin’s barrier by supporting the production of cholesterol and vitamin D, along with some of your body’s hormones.
And while you may already be familiar with how vitamin D benefits your skin (by reducing inflammation and assisting with skin turnover), you might be surprised by how much “influence” cholesterol has on it too. In fact, in a Women’s Health article about this particular acid, a health expert shared that cholesterol is actually “about 25% of the skin’s lipid composition and it is an essential part of the cell membrane.”
When I cross-referenced this with another article on the topic, it stated that cholesterol is found in many cosmetics because it helps to keep skin well-hydrated for long periods of time (which is hella beneficial as you will see in just a moment) without leaving behind an oily residue that could result in breakouts.
Although studies are still ongoing about mevalonic acid as it directly relates to skincare, there are some benefits that make it well worth at least trying on your skin to see if it will give you the results that you have been looking for.
Mevalonic Acid Keeps Your Skin Well-Hydrated
GiphyWater helps to protect your skin from environmental damage. Water helps your skin to maintain a soft and smooth texture. Water helps to nourish your skin’s cells.Water helps to detox your skin. Water helps to improve your skin’s elasticity. Water helps to prevent breakouts. Water helps your skin look young and glowing for longer periods of time.
So, anything that helps to keep your skin hydrated is something that you should consider applying to it — and mevalonic acid has a great reputation for doing just that.
Mevalonic Acid Protects Your Skin’s Barrier
GiphyThe outermost layer of your skin is calledyour skin’s barrier; its main purpose is to protect your skin from the free radicals, ones that could ultimately lead to skin damage and aging. Interestingly enough, these layers are made up of cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides, and since mevalonic acid helps with the production of cholesterol in your skin, by default, it helps to protectyour skin’s barrier too.
Mevalonic Acid Boosts Collagen Production
GiphyYour skin needs collagen for a myriad of reasons — it helps your skin to produce new cells; it helps to get rid of old, dead skin cells; it helps to bring elasticity to your skin; it helps to slow down the signs of aging, and it aids in skin hydration.
Aside from the fact that mevalonic acid is able to boost collagen production within your skin, something else that’s really cool about it is that, since its molecular size is so small, it is able to penetrate the layers of your skin better than retinol and even hyaluronic acid can.
Mevalonic Acid Is Great for Acne-Prone Skin
GiphyWith all of this talk about cholesterol, it would be pretty natural to wonder if mevalonic acid would clog up your pores. Interestingly enough, because it’s so lightweight, it actually has a pretty good reputation for working well on both acne-prone as well as sensitive skin. In fact, there is a skincare brand called Personal Day that incorporates mevalonic acid into its acne-fighting products.
You can watch a dermatologist share her thoughts on the product and why mevalonic acid is so beneficial when it comes to fighting breakouts here.
Mevalonic Acid Is a Solid Exfoliant Alternative
GiphyIf you want to unclog your pores, reduce hyperpigmentation, brighten your complexion, improve circulation to your skin, and reduce the signs of aging, you need to exfoliate your skin on a consistent basis. And although mevalonic acid doesn’t exfoliate in the way that AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) or BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids) do, what makes it exceptional in its own right is that it encourages your system’s natural exfoliation process to transpire. That makes it an awesome alternative if you’re looking for a gentler type of exfoliant.
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Okay, so what if, after reading all of this, you are sold on giving mevalonic acid a shot, yet you’re not sure where to find beauty products that contain it? The key is to look for serums or moisturizers that list the ingredient on their label. To get you started, do some reading up onAMEVA Mevalonic Acid Multipotent Serum (which is plant-based and vegan) and thePersonal Day line that I mentioned earlier. Remember, mevalonic acid is just (semi) recently becoming all the rage…I am sure that you’ll see more cosmetic lines catch on soon.
In the meantime, you’ve been put on alert, which makes you ahead of the curve. Something tells me that your skin will adore you for that. Report back and let me know.
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