Leading Aesthetic Doctor and Winner of the Aesthetic Clinic of The Year 2023, Dr Wassim Taktouk, gives the lowdown on winter skin stacking
The ultimate hydrator, and holy grail of skin health, Hyaluronic Acid (HA) maintains its place as one of the most sought-after, safe, and effective skincare ingredients on the planet. You’ve heard of HA stacking, but often associate it with the summer months, however, it’s a great technique for winter too.
Leading aesthetic doctor and Teoxane Global KOL Dr Wassim Taktouk explains, “Our bodies make hyaluronic acid naturally every day but break them down after 72 hours. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a substance made up of a long chain of sugar molecules strung together like a necklace. Naturally found in many areas of your body, it acts as a “water-binding” molecule that lubricates and protects your tissues. It is what gives your skin structure and is responsible for that plump and hydrated look.
“Hyaluronic acid plays a critical role in skin health by stimulating the production of cells called fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are in turn responsible for producing collagen and elastin. Therefore, hyaluronic acid provides desired levels of hydration and elasticity while keeping the skin firm and supple. It also acts as an antioxidant, protecting your cells from damage.”
But why stack your HA?
Hyaluronic Acid stacking is a growing technique, that’s completely transformative and can be achieved both through at-home skincare products and through treatments. Dr Wassim Taktouk says, “Our face is made up of different anatomical layers, each with its own function and requiring different levels of stretch and strength to allow it to move in the most natural and effective way, so by stacking your HA products, you’re able to achieve different depths of hydration for healthier-looking, plumper skin result.”
Dr Wassim Taktouk tells us, “In winter, our skin is typically more dry due to exposure to colder weather and less humidity, so ‘stacking’ Hyaluronic Acid as layers on the face can be a great way to add the extra hydration to support our skin’s needs. The environmental conditions during these months can exacerbate our wrinkles to seem more refined, our skin might look more dull and it may be drier and more irritable than other times of the year.”
Hyaluronic acid is a well-tolerated, safe and adaptable skincare ingredient for all skin types. By HA stacking switching to use of more hyaluronic acid products from your eye cream to your cleanser, toner, moisturiser and lip balm, you’re able to lock in more moisture and protect the skin’s barrier from the external aggressors. Low molecular weight hyaluronic acid is absorbed deeper, and high molecular weight hyaluronic acid sits more on top of the skin, so mixing and matching your HA products is advisable with the stacking technique.
“In Aesthetics, ‘stacking’ injectable Hyaluronic Acid is a technique to restore volume and maximise treatment results. We use Teoxane Teosyal RHA® fillers exclusively at Taktouk Clinic because of their award winning and cutting-edge technology and safety profile. RHA® follows the natural movements of the face, preserving the patient’s facial expressions for more effective, natural, and longer-lasting results.” says Dr Wassim Taktouk.
“Resilient Hyaluronic Acid (RHA®) is the newest form of injectable Hyaluronic Acid on the block, and the most sophisticated form to date. This is the first collection of dermal fillers indicated for dynamic wrinkles and folds and adapted to the mobile regions of the face, lasting up to 18 months. It comes in different thicknesses allowing professionals to target the area that they are treating with precision, following the natural movements of the face, and preserving the patient’s facial expressions. They can be used throughout the face for volumisation, correction of lines and for individual areas like noses, lips and under eyes.” Dr Wassin Taktouk concludes.
