What is Polyglutamic Acid?
Polyglutamic acid can hold up to 10 times more water than hyaluronic acid. It can support and boost hyaluronic acid within our skin and can help with signs of aging.
Is Polyglutamic Acid the New Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid has caught on like wildfire in the skincare community, most people have either heard about it or have a product with hyaluronic acid (HA) in it. There is a new ingredient that is said to work similarly if not better than hyaluronic acid. Polyglutamic acid skincare is going to catch on quickly!
What is Polyglutamic Acid?
Polyglutamic acid (PGA) is derived from fermented soybeans and is a peptide (protein) with incredible humectant properties. It is said to hold up to 10 times more water than hyaluronic acid, and hyaluronic acid holds 1000x its weight in water. However, this does not mean that you should throw out your hyaluronic acid products and opt for polyglutamic acid instead. The two ingredients actually work very harmoniously together. Polyglutamic acid also improves the barrier function of our skin by aiding in the synthesis of natural moisturizing factors; this means it’s great for sensitive skin conditions where the barrier function may be compromised.
Polyglutamic Acid vs. Hyaluronic Acid
Like hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid holds hydration within the skin, but does this more so in the top surface layers of the skin, whereas hyaluronic acid holds hydration in the deeper layers of the skin. Anytime we are adding hydration into the skin we are plumping up the skins’ cells and therefore improving elasticity and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Polyglutamic acid also inhibits the process called hyaluronidase which is where hyaluronic acid is broken down within the skin and leads to trans-epidermal water loss as well as collagen and elastin loss in the skin with aging. This means that polyglutamic acid actually supports and boosts the hyaluronic acid within our skin therefore helping to protect against signs of aging.
I wouldn’t reach for polyglutamic acid over hyaluronic acid but instead, use both in conjunction with one another. At the moment, there aren’t a lot of products on the market with polyglutamic acid as it is expensive and challenging to manufacture, but I am sure we will be seeing more products on the market with both polyglutamic acid and hyaluronic acid as new formulation methods are created.
If you are looking for hydrating skincare products with polyglutamic acid or hyaluronic acid, chat with a Pomp esthetician to find the right product for you!
