Hyaluronic acid has a newer hydrating cousin getting attention: polyglutamic acid. Here is how the two compare and whether you need both.
What is the difference between polyglutamic acid and hyaluronic acid?
Both are humectants that help skin hold water, but they work at slightly different levels: hyaluronic acid is a well-known hydrator, while polyglutamic acid tends to sit more on the surface and can help hold moisture there. In practice, both help skin feel hydrated and plumper-looking, and they can be used together.
Do you need both?
Not necessarily. Either one can hydrate skin well, and many products already include humectants like these. Our hyaluronic acid guide explains how humectants work, and a hydrating Supple Preparation Unscented Toner is an easy way to add one.
How do you use them?
Apply humectants to slightly damp skin and seal with a moisturizer, so the water they draw in stays put, especially in dry air. That sealing step matters more than choosing between the two ingredients.
FAQ
Is polyglutamic acid better than hyaluronic acid?
Neither is strictly better. Both are humectants that hydrate skin; polyglutamic acid tends to sit more on the surface, while hyaluronic acid is a familiar all-round hydrator. They can be used together.
Can you use polyglutamic acid and hyaluronic acid together?
Yes. They are both humectants and layer well, ideally sealed with a moisturizer.
Are they exfoliating acids?
No. Despite the word "acid," both are hydrating humectants, not exfoliants.
Do you need to seal them with moisturizer?
Yes, especially in dry air, so the water they attract is held in rather than evaporating.
Two hydrators, one goal
Polyglutamic and hyaluronic acid both hydrate; the sealing moisturizer matters most. Use either, or both, and lock it in.
