Skin Boosters Explained: Profhilo, Seventy Hyal and Sunekos Compared
Profhilo, Seventy Hyal and Sunekos all inject hyaluronic acid to improve hydration and glow, not volume. Here's how they differ, how a course runs and what the evidence shows.
The short answer: three ways to put water back into skin
Skin boosters in the UK are injections of hyaluronic acid placed in or just under the skin to improve hydration, texture and glow. Profhilo, Seventy Hyal and Sunekos all do that, but they differ in how much hyaluronic acid they carry, what else is in the syringe and how many sessions a course takes.
None of them adds volume the way a filler does. If you want a fuller cheek or a softer fold, a skin booster is the wrong tool, and a good practitioner will tell you so at the consultation.
This guide compares the three on what's in them, how a course runs and what the evidence actually shows. If you only want the detail on one product, our guide to how many Profhilo sessions you need covers that in depth.
What skin booster injections are, and what they are not
A skin booster is a soft, runny gel of hyaluronic acid. Your body already makes hyaluronic acid and uses it to hold water in the skin. Levels drop with age and sun damage, which is part of why skin starts to look dull and crepey.
The gel is injected in small amounts across the face, neck or hands. Because it is not stiffened the way a filler is, it spreads through the tissue rather than sitting in one spot. The aim is better skin quality, not a different shape.
That makes the honest pitch fairly modest. Expect skin that looks more hydrated and a little firmer. Don't expect a lift, and don't expect deep lines to disappear. A 2022 review of Seventy Hyal in the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing makes the same point about the whole category: skin boosters improve hydration and glow, but they don't restore lost volume or treat pigmentation.
Profhilo, Seventy Hyal and Sunekos side by side
The three products work on the same idea but are built differently. Here is what the manufacturers' data and published papers say about each.
| Profhilo | Seventy Hyal 2000 | Sunekos 1200 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What's in the syringe | Hyaluronic acid only, two molecule sizes | Hyaluronic acid only, one large molecule size | Hyaluronic acid plus six amino acids |
| Hyaluronic acid per 2ml syringe | 64mg (32mg high weight, 32mg low weight) | 30mg | Not published in the sources we checked |
| Chemically modified | No | No | No |
| Typical first course | Two sessions about four weeks apart | Two sessions about four weeks apart | One session, often followed by a course of a lighter companion product |
| Typical maintenance | Roughly every six months | Four to six months is typical for the category | Every three to six months |
| Usual injection pattern | Five points on each side of the face | A grid of small injections, or fanned lines | Varies with the product and area |
Sources: the Profhilo study published in Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, the Journal of Aesthetic Nursing review of Seventy Hyal linked above, and the Sunekos 1200 product listing.
Read the table with a pinch of salt. A higher concentration of hyaluronic acid does not automatically mean a better result, and nobody has run a fair head-to-head trial of these three products. The table tells you what's in the syringe. It can't tell you which one will suit your skin.
How each skin booster is built, and what backs it up
Profhilo: the best known, and the most studied
Profhilo carries twice as much hyaluronic acid per syringe as Seventy Hyal, mixing a large molecule with a small one in each syringe. The manufacturer calls the result a "bio-remodelling" treatment, which is marketing language for "it spreads through the skin and keeps it hydrated".
The standard course is two sessions about four weeks apart, with five injection points on each side of the face. Results build over the following weeks. Most people top up about twice a year.
The best known study enrolled 64 women at a single Italian centre and found improvements in hydration and fine lines lasting to 16 weeks. It is a useful study, but it had no control group, it only included women, and it was supported by the company that distributes the product. That's typical for this category, not a reason to dismiss it.
Seventy Hyal: a single large molecule
Seventy Hyal 2000 uses one very large hyaluronic acid molecule, around 2,000 kDa, at a lower concentration than Profhilo. The idea is that the bigger molecule holds water for longer in the skin.
Practitioners usually inject it as a grid of tiny amounts into the mid layer of the skin, or in fanned lines. The Journal of Aesthetic Nursing review describes two treatments four weeks apart in its cases, and noted that fanned lines caused slightly more bruising than single points.
The published evidence is thinner than for Profhilo. The UK paper we found is a product review with a case study, not a trial. That doesn't mean it doesn't work. It means you are relying more on your practitioner's experience and less on data.
Sunekos: hyaluronic acid with amino acids
Sunekos adds a blend of six amino acids, including glycine, proline and lysine, to its hyaluronic acid. These are building blocks of collagen and elastin, and the manufacturer's claim is that supplying them helps the skin repair itself.
The range has more than one product. Sunekos 1200 is often used first, followed by sessions of a lighter product, Sunekos 200, under the manufacturer's combined protocol.
Treat the amino acid claim as a hypothesis rather than a proven benefit. The theory is reasonable, but we couldn't find independent trials showing it beats plain hyaluronic acid. Ask your practitioner what protocol they follow and why.
Which skin booster suits you
Most people would get a similar kind of result from any of the three. The bigger differences come from who injects you, how well they judge your skin, and whether a skin booster is the right treatment at all.
- Dry, dull or crepey skin with no real volume loss. This is what skin boosters are for. Any of the three is a reasonable conversation.
- Hollow cheeks, deep folds or jowls. A skin booster won't fix these. You are looking at fillers or something else, and our dermal fillers guide explains the difference.
- Fine lines around the eyes. The skin here is thin. Some practitioners use skin boosters under the eyes, many prefer not to, and the answer depends on your anatomy.
- Acne scarring or pigmentation. Skin boosters aren't designed for these. Treatments such as microneedling or laser are usually a better fit.
- A big event in a fortnight. Bumps and bruising after injection are common and can take a few days to settle. Leave yourself time.
A good practitioner might recommend one product over another because of your skin type, the area, or simply the product they know best. That last reason is fine, as long as they tell you. Familiarity with a product usually matters more than the brand.
The warning signs that need help now
Skin boosters are low risk compared with fillers, but they are still injections, and rare complications are serious. Hyaluronic acid can block a blood vessel if it is injected into or near one.
Call 999 or go to A&E straight away if you notice any change in your vision, or signs of a stroke such as a drooping face, weak arm or slurred speech, after any facial injection.
Contact your practitioner the same day, and call NHS 111 if you can't reach them, if you get severe or worsening pain, skin that turns white, blue, grey or blotchy, or skin that feels cold. These can be signs of a blocked blood vessel and need treating within hours, not days.
Get advice within a day or two if redness, swelling or tenderness gets worse instead of better, or you develop a fever or pus. These can be signs of infection.
Small bumps at the injection points, mild swelling and bruising are normal in the first few days. Anything that is getting worse, not better, is worth a call.
Who can inject skin boosters, and what the law says
Skin boosters are sold as medical devices, not medicines, so they don't need a prescription. In England there is still no licence required to inject them on an adult. Our guide to aesthetics licensing in England covers where the proposed scheme has got to. The 2025 government consultation response lists skin boosters among the procedures people reported having, but it doesn't yet say which risk category they'll fall into.
The one firm rule is about age. The Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021 makes it an offence in England to give anyone under 18 an intradermal or subcutaneous injection of a filler for a cosmetic purpose. "Filler" is defined broadly as any substance used for filling the skin, so treat skin boosters as covered. A practitioner who would treat a 17-year-old is not one to use at any age.
Until licensing arrives, checking credentials is on you. Look for a regulated healthcare professional, ask what training they have on the specific product, and ask whether they keep hyaluronidase, the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid, on the premises. Our checklist for finding a safe injector goes through the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Which skin booster is best?
No skin booster has been shown to be clearly better than the others in a fair head-to-head trial. Profhilo has the most published research of the three, but all three aim for the same result. The practitioner's skill and judgement matter more than the brand.
Is Seventy Hyal the same as Profhilo?
No. Both are unmodified hyaluronic acid, but Profhilo mixes two molecule sizes at a higher concentration, while Seventy Hyal uses a single very large molecule at a lower concentration. The courses look similar: two sessions about four weeks apart.
How long do skin boosters last?
Most people top up every four to six months. The effect fades gradually as your body breaks down the hyaluronic acid, so there is no sudden drop.
Do skin boosters hurt?
Most people describe it as a series of sharp scratches. Many practitioners apply numbing cream first. Bumps at the injection points usually settle within a day or two.
Can skin boosters be dissolved?
Hyaluronic acid can be broken down with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which is also used in emergencies such as a blocked blood vessel. It is a prescription medicine, so ask before treatment whether your practitioner can prescribe or access it quickly.
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