Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate

Hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate is sodium hyaluronate (the salt form of hyaluronic acid) that has gone through the process of hydrolysis. This process involves changing an ingredient from one form to another by the addition of water or enzymes. In this case, it results in a form of sodium hyaluronate with a lower molecular weight, meaning it can more readily penetrate skin.

That lower molecular weight results in increased hydration in skin’s surface layers. Since sodium hyaluronate already has a lower molecular weight than hyaluronic acid, this form is sometimes referred to as “ultra-low molecular weight hyaluronic acid.”

Even though that moniker sounds impressive, that doesn’t mean that hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate is better than non-hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, simply that it works differently. It’s good to use multiple forms of hyaluronic acid (including hyaluronic acid) to make sure your skin care routine is as robust as possible.

In its raw form, hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate is a white powder. Typical usage levels of hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate range from 0.1–0.5% when combined with other types of hyaluronic acid. Used on its own, a 5% concentration (from a 1% solution) is advised.