sodium hyaluronate
what it is
The sodium salt of hyaluronic acid — a large, water-binding sugar polymer that skin produces naturally. INCI name Sodium Hyaluronate; the salt form is more stable than the free acid.
why we use it
It binds many times its own weight in water and forms a light hydrating film, leaving skin looking and feeling smoother. A note on numbers, because this ingredient attracts creative arithmetic: when brands advertise 2% hyaluronic acid, they often mean 2% of a dilute solution. Our figures are the actual polymer by weight — which is why they look smaller and mean more.
where you'll find it
In feather at 0.20% and in cloud at 1.00% — a genuinely high level of actual polymer for a cream.
evidence
Strong evidence for surface hydration. The honest limit: topical hyaluronate hydrates the upper layers of skin; it does not restock the hyaluronic acid deeper down.
safety
Extremely well tolerated, with no usage restrictions; the same polymer family has a long record in medicine, in far more demanding contexts than a moisturiser.