Sodium Hyaluronate vs Hyaluronic Acid: What’s the Difference? | Rysun Cosmetics Guide

Understand the difference between sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid, how each benefits the skin, and which one is more suitable for skincare formulas. Expert guide from Rysun Cosmetics, a research-driven manufacturer with 10+ years of R&D experience.

Sodium Hyaluronate vs Hyaluronic Acid: What’s the Difference and Which Is Better?

Introduction

Hydration is at the core of healthy skin, and few ingredients deliver moisture as effectively as hyaluronic acid (HA) and its salt form, sodium hyaluronate (SH). Many consumers, brands, and skincare beginners often wonder: What’s the difference? Which one is better?
As a research-focused cosmetics manufacturer with a multidisciplinary R&D team and over 105 product patterns and 253 intellectual properties, Rysun Biotechnology develops professional hydration formulas that often include both HA and SH for optimal performance. Here’s a complete guide to help you understand the differences.

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What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule found in the skin, known for its powerful ability to attract and retain water. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a staple in moisturizers, serums, masks, and essences.

Key Features of Hyaluronic Acid

• Excellent surface hydration
• Enhances skin elasticity
• Immediately plumps the outer skin layer
• Helps support a healthier skin barrier

HA has a larger molecular size, so it typically hydrates the skin’s surface layers.

What Is Sodium Hyaluronate?

Sodium hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is more stable, more easily absorbed, and has a smaller molecular size, making it effective in deeper layers of the skin.

Key Features of Sodium Hyaluronate

• Smaller molecules penetrate deeper
• More stable and less prone to oxidation
• Provides long-lasting hydration
• Lightweight and suitable for oily or combination skin

For these reasons, sodium hyaluronate is widely used in modern skincare formulations, including many of Rysun’s lightweight hydrators.

Sodium Hyaluronate vs Hyaluronic Acid: Key Differences

Both are excellent hydrators — their effectiveness depends on formulation goals and skin type.

Which One Is Better?

Neither is universally “better,” but they perform differently.

• For surface hydration and a plumping effect: Hyaluronic Acid
• For deeper hydration and stability: Sodium Hyaluronate
• For high-performance or multi-layer hydration formulas: A combination of both

At Rysun, our Research Institute commonly blends multi-molecular hyaluronic acid (HA + SH + hydrolyzed HA) to target different layers of the skin. This creates a synergistic effect for long-lasting moisture, improved barrier function, and enhanced skin elasticity.

How Rysun Formulates With HA and SH

As a research-driven manufacturer with strict quality control (up to 50 inspection procedures per product), we select HA types based on:

1. Molecular Weight

• High molecular weight: surface hydration
• Middle molecular weight: balanced hydration
• Low molecular weight / SH: deeper penetration

2. Skin Type Requirements

• Dry skin formulas → more HA
• Oily or acne-prone formulas → more SH
• Masks and essences → mixed molecular structure for layered hydration

3. Product Texture

Our R&D team adjusts the balance of HA and SH to maintain lightweight textures while delivering strong hydration — a key factor for consumer satisfaction in 50+ global markets.

Which One Should Consumers Choose?

Here’s a simple guide for end users:

• Dry or mature skin: Hyaluronic acid–rich formulas
• Oily or combination skin: Sodium hyaluronate–focused products
• All skin types looking for advanced hydration: Multi-molecular weight formulas

If your brand is developing new hydrating products, using a combination of HA forms designed by Rysun’s R&D experts ensures long-term moisture and better skin-feel.

Conclusion

Both sodium hyaluronate and hyaluronic acid are highly effective hydrating ingredients. While HA offers surface-level moisture and a plumping effect, SH penetrates deeper and provides greater stability. For best results, Rysun often combines multiple HA types, supported by our experienced research team and proprietary technologies.

Whether you are building a serum, mask, toner, or moisturizer, choosing the right HA type — or a blend — is essential for performance and consumer satisfaction.

FAQs

1. Is sodium hyaluronate stronger than hyaluronic acid?

Not exactly stronger, but it penetrates deeper and is more stable, resulting in long-lasting hydration.

2. Can both be used in the same formula?

Yes. Multi-layer hydration formulas often use both for maximum performance.

3. Is sodium hyaluronate good for sensitive skin?

Yes. Its smaller size and high stability make it safe and non-irritating.

4. Does hyaluronic acid clog pores?

No, both HA and SH are non-comedogenic and suitable for acne-prone skin.

5. Which one is better for anti-aging formulas?

Sodium hyaluronate is often preferred due to its deeper penetration, but combining multiple HA forms gives the best anti-aging results.