Hyaluronic Acid and Sodium Hyaluronate, are they the same?

Sodium hyaluronate is derived from HA, so there are some differences but it still functions as a humectant. I don’t actively seek out products with them but they work well as humectants

HA seems to be in almost every product so I don’t use a specific HA product like a serum or anything.

The different types of HA is pretty much divided by their molecular weight - which in turn tells you how deep it will penetrate your skin. 1) Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is hyaluronic acid that has been broken down into elements small enough to penetrate the skin, It’s moisturizing, but not the most moisturizing option, so it’s best for people who have oily or combination skin, since these skin types want to avoid over-moisturizing. 2) Sodium hyaluronate goes deeper into the skin and delivers even better results, though the effects aren’t very long lasting, its great for people with normal skin. 3) Sodium acetylated hyaluronate has the benefits of sodium hyaluronate but with longer-lasting results. It’s best for people who need moisture, such as those with dry skin, those who live in dry climates, or those looking for a product for the dry winter months. I use hyaluronic acid in my skincare, and love it. I have dry/combination/aging skin with sun damage. if you decide to use HA in your routine keep in mind that it can hold 1000x it's weight in water, so if you are let's say using it as a serum you may want to try applying it on a damp face to get the best results.

I started using HA because of all the hype I saw. But I haven’t noticed any changes in my skin after using it. I can’t say I actively look for products containing it.

The INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) name of hyaluronic acid is sodium hyaluronate. This means, in the ingredients list of a product, hyaluronic acid would be listed as sodium hyaluronate. It's the name of the ingredient. So it's basically the same thing, just different names.