Hyaluronic acid might sound a little scary – and about a million miles away from something that you should be smoothing onto your face.

But, in reality, it's a beauty weapon designed to plump your complexion, help you to nix fine lines and to hydrate the living hell out of parched skin.

Check the back of pretty much any half decent moisture-giving face mask or serum, and you'll likely see it listed as an ingredient.

So, do you need a formula that hones in on the active ingredient - or is its presence in your other potions enough? And if you're already using a hyaluronic acid wonder-serum, are you using it correctly in your routine?

To get some clarification, WH chatted to Dr. Natalia Spierings, who is a consultant dermatologist for Dermatica (the U.K.'s first online dermatology service) and consultant dermatologist Dr Anjali Mahto, to find out what hyaluronic acid can do for your skin – and if it is worth all the hype.

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'It is a natural compound that we already have in our bodies. The average human body weighs 70 kg and naturally contains 15 grams of hyaluronic acid, with the most significant amount being found in the skin,' explains Dr. Spierings.

'Hyaluronic acid is widely available, fully resorbable (meaning over time it becomes absorbed by the body) and biocompatible (meaning the body does not see it as a foreign object and generate an immune response to it).'

It works by binding itself to water and helps your skin to retain moisture. As such, it can make your complexion appear more plump and feel smoother.

Not just in the best moisturisers for dry skin. 'It is used in everything from cardiovascular implants to orthopaedic disorders,' says Dr. Spierings.

'The main property of hyaluronic acid, which makes it popular in skincare and aesthetic medicine, is its ability to bind a large number of water molecules, which improves hydration,' says Dr Spierings.

You'd be hard pressed not to see hyaluronic acid in your skincare collection, but Dr. Spierings explains that while serums, moisturisers, and masks, containing hyaluronic acid are ubiquitous and widely available: 'So far there have been no randomised controlled studies confirming a positive, long-term smoothing effect on skin wrinkles from the topical application of hyaluronic acid in these cosmetic products.'

Oh, so is applying it just a waste of time? Not exactly.

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While hyaluronic acid hasn't been proven to have long-term benefits for your complexion, when it is applied topically, it can offer you a quick fix.

Suffering from a hangover and need to hydrate your skin before you gulp down some water? Dr. Spierings says that hyaluronic serums can temporarily plump the outer layer of your skin: 'Topical formulations made of high molecular weight are used for the care of the skin around the eyes, face, neck and body and seemingly 'work' by forming a protective layer making the skin appear softer and feel smoother to the touch.'

Like a magic veil: 'Serums and creams will not penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin, they will only cover the stratum corneum (the outer layer). This does mean that they can maintain the moisture of the skin temporarily by drawing water between the cells of the top layer of the skin.'

If you're already a fan of HA serum, great! But if you're confused about how you should be using hyaluronic acid within your skincare routine to see the best results, you're not alone. We spoke to Dr Anjali Mahto to help answer some of the most common questions around hyaluronic acid and its use.

'It is difficult to over-use hyaluronic acid but it is not a good stand-alone moisturising ingredient for all skin types,' explains Dr Mahto. 'Whilst use hyaluronic acid is good for oily or blemish-prone skin, it may not be enough hydration for those with normal or dry skin types.' If that rings true for you, make sure you're layering your serum with other hydrating products – like a balmy moisturiser.

While hyaluronic acid is designed to hydrate your skin – improper use could lead to your skin feeling even thirstier. Hyaluronic acid is designed to draw moisture into the skin but it needs to be locked in with a moisturiser so that it doesn't end up drawing moisture out of your skin – the opposite desired effect!

‘If you find that your skin is still dry despite using hyaluronic acid it is sensible to either switch to a heavier or more rich moisturiser containing ingredients such as ceramides and glycerin or layer a hyaluronic acid serum underneath your regular moisturiser for added hydration,’ says Dr Mahto.

As a result of its hydrating properties, yes. If you're hoping to create a smoother canvas and you are starting to see the effects of collagen breakdown that starts to occur post 25, then it's a helpful tool to stick into your arsenal.

Anyone who has used lip fillers to plump their pout should be familiar with H.A., as Dr. Spierings explains. 'Hyaluronic acid is the most commonly used cosmetic filler and it works in this capacity to fill and plump up the extracellular tissue space to add volume where it is perceptibly lacking.'

'Highly cross-linked molecules of hyaluronic acid are the most popular form of 'dermal filler' used in minimally invasive aesthetic medicine – to give volume to lips and add definition to cheekbones.'

Thinking of adding a hyaluronic acid pill to your daily dose of vits? You might want to think again. 'There is no evidence that taking it orally has a benefit on the skin, as the molecules get destroyed by stomach acid,' says Dr. Spierings.

'Yes,' says Dr. Spierings. 'They are distinguished by their fluidity, which varies based on the amount of cross-linking; this makes it either runnier or fluid versus being 'stiffer.' When used for cheek or jawline structure, the hyaluronic has to be tightly cross-linked and therefore 'stiff' to maintain its shape and provide volume to these areas.

'The more liquid versions are used in topical cosmetic products to hydrate and 'plump up' the top layer of the skin temporarily.'

There are also different sizes of hyaluronic acid molecule – which can affect how your hyaluronic acid serum penetrates the skin. To ensure a deep penetration of HA, it's important to use a mix of hyaluronic acid molecules to ensure the product isn’t just sitting on top of the skin.

Even though larger HA molecules are good at binding water, they can't penetrate deeply into the skin and only provide hydration on a surface level, while smaller acid molecules can penetrate more deeply through the skin's layers.

Now you're filled in on Hyaluronic acid, learn about the best retinols to use.