Plump up the volume.
Skincare serums take on a heavy responsibility; some are asked to address pesty breakouts, brighten the dark spots left behind from said breakouts, and smooth skin, among many other tasks. It’s easy to want to try them all, especially when they’re formulated with powerhouse ingredients like niacinamide, vitamin C, and peptides. But if there’s one serum your beauty arsenal should keep in stock, it’s hyaluronic acid.
A close look at the name will tell you all you need to know about the popular ingredient: retaining moisture is its primary goal. “Serums are low viscosity, thinner liquids that are typically formulated to be used under a moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant,” Dr. Camille Howard, NY-based dermatologist and founder of Girl+Hair, tells ELLE.com. When mixed with a moisturizer, hyaluronic acid allows your skin to soak up all that hydration so you can look fresh and plump throughout the day. Choosing the right serum for your skin type doesn’t need to be difficult. Ahead, 20 simple-yet-effective hyaluronic acid serums to incorporate into your routine.
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1
Derm’s Favorite
Neostrata
Hyaluronic Luminous Lift
$87 AT NEOSTRATA.COM
Exfoliates and plumps skin
Pricey
Neostrata’s iteration of a hyaluronic acid serum exfoliates and soothes. Dr. Howard recommends this serum because it “combines three types of hyaluronic acid and also harnesses the power of lactic acid. In one treatment serum, you can enjoy the benefits of alpha hydroxy acids and humectants,” she explains.
Neostrata star rating: 4.5/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “This was a great product! I liked that there wasn’t really a scent to it. It goes on smooth and leaves my skin feeling hydrated all day. I also feel like my skin was brighter and smoother after using this.”
2
Best For Intense Hydration
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare
Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster Serum
$68 AT NORDSTROM
$51 AT WALMART
$68 AT BLOOMINGDALE’S
Doesn’t leave a sticky film
Pricey
Radiant, bright skin has always been one of Dr. Dennis Gross’s top goals for its consumers. Thankfully, the brand doesn’t skimp on products that address those concerns, especially when it comes to this hyaluronic acid serum. A powerful blend of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, watermelon extract, and more skin-saving ingredients work hard to improve the skin’s appearance.
Nordstrom star rating: 4.4/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “I received a sample of this and was a little skeptical, especially due to the price – how much could this really do for me? It turns out, it can do a lot! Just a few drops and my skin felt so balanced and soft – this seems to moisturize all the layers of your skin. Dr. Dennis Gross’s products are pretty effective. I do hope this comes back into stock soon!”
3
Best For Fine Lines
Farmacy
Filling Good Hyaluronic Acid Plumping Serum
$44 AT SEPHORA
Improves the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines
Scented
If collagen powder or supplements are already part of your skincare routine, here’s a serum infused with the ingredient to reveal plumper, younger-looking skin.
Sephora star rating: 4.3/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Finally! A HA serum that my skin loves. This is very moisturizing, lightweight, and actually provides a nice plumping effect on the skin.”
4
Best For Barrier Repair
Skinfix
Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Hyaluronate Serum
$50 AT SEPHORA
$50 AT QVC
Fast-absorbing
Pricey
Using too many active ingredients can weaken your skin’s barrier, so Skinfix formulated the perfect antidote. The creamy solution soothes the skin and protects the barrier without disrupting the work of the other actives in your routine.
Sephora star rating: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “I love this product. This serum manages to hydrate my extremely dehydrated skin without feeling heavy. I ended up buying the lotion and face cream as well. But I feel like if you have dehydrated skin and could only use one of their products, this would be it.”
5
Best For All Skin Types
The INKEY List
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
$9 AT SEPHORA
Super affordable
Doesn’t have a top for a more controlled application
This serum from The Inkey List costs as much as your morning latte and gives your skin a fresh, wide-awake look and feel.
Sephora star rating: 4.4/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “This hyaluronic acid serum is super hydrating, and you can’t beat the price point! A little goes a long ways with this serum. I use it as part of my morning and bedtime skincare regimen, and I love it!”
6
Best Splurge
SkinCeuticals
Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
$102 AT DERMSTORE
$100 AT WALMART
$106 AT SKINSTORE
Deeply hydrating
Pricey
Crows feet, dry patches, and other terrors threaten our journey to glowy skin. Skinceuticals whipped together hyaluronic acid, licorice root, and proxylane to maintain the skin’s elasticity and smooth over any harsh lines or wrinkles.
Dermstore star rating: 4.76/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “I love this product for its hydrating properties but really it goes above and beyond hydration. Excellent overall serum!”
7
Best Internet Favorite
Glow Recipe
Plum Plump™ Hyaluronic Acid Serum
$5,800 AT SEPHORA
Doesn’t leave a sticky film
Scented
There is a lot to love about this serum beyond its pretty pink packaging. Antioxidants and proteins support hyaluronic acid to provide maximum plumpness and hydration.
Sephora star rating: 4.4/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Love this product! I use it day and night and my skin has never felt better. It never makes my skin oily or anything. It’s the perfect amount [of] hydration with a moisturizer!”
8
Best Drugstore
L’Oréal
Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid Serum
$33 AT ULTA BEAUTY
Non-greasy finish
Can feel sticky
If smooth skin is what you’re after, L’Oreal’s Revitalift serum delivers that and then some. Each use rejuvenates the skin and reveals a youthful glow.
Ulta star rating: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “I use this every morning and night. I have about 3 different serums and recently bought this one and it [is] my absolute favorite. I took 2 of the other serums back for a refund because I love this one so much.”
9
Best For Anti-Aging
La Roche-Posay
Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
$33 AT ULTA BEAUTY
$34 AT WALMART
Locks in moisture
Scented
All skin types can benefit from this La Roche-Posay serum, which combines the powerful benefits of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to slow signs of aging and boost hydration.
Ulta star rating: 4.4/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “This product fits perfectly with my skincare routine. It keeps my skin hydrated, dewy looking and prevents breakouts in combination with my favorite cleanser, toner and retinol serum. Consistently works, I’m on my third bottle.”
10
Best For Fine Lines
Peter Thomas Roth
Water Drench Hyaluronic Liquid Gel Cloud Serum
$68 AT AMAZON
$68 AT WALMART
$68 AT QVC
Makes skin feel supple and soft
Pricey
Dry, dull skin doesn’t stand a chance against this serum, which is formulated with hyaluronic acid and proteins to turn back the hands of time so your skin stays youthful longer.
Amazon star rating: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Hands down the best serum I’ve used— and I’ve used a lot! It is a small fortune, however it’s worth every penny.”
11
Best For Firming
Youth to the People
Triple Peptide & Cactus Oasis Serum
$54 AT NORDSTROM
$54 AT ANTHROPOLOGIE
$54 AT SEPHORA
Gives skin a bouncy, supple look
Pricey
Youth to the People created a fun hyaluronic acid with ingredients like cactus stem and peptides that not only firm the skin but also impart a healthy dose of hydration to keep dry skin at bay.
Nordstrom star rating: 4.8/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “This has revolutionized my dry and dull skin! Ever since I started using this serum, there is a noticeable difference in how supple and bouncy my skin looks. I have a surgery scar on my face and after using this for 6 months, the scar is much less noticeable, and I feel more confident in the appearance of my skin. I love this serum and recommend it to everyone!”
12
Best Antioxidant Serum
Eminence Organic Skin Care
Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Hydrator
$59 AT DERMSTORE
Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties
Scented
Strawberries taste great in smoothies, but also have great skincare benefits since they are rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. Eminence puts strawberries to the test in its Hyaluronic Hydrator serum, a lightweight serum packed with the delicious fruit as well as rhubarb to fight premature aging.
Dermstore star rating: 5/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Super lightweight and smells amazing! It makes my skin so soft and plump looking. I wash my face in the morning and put this on and keeps my face hydrated all day without it feeling oily. It works great with other serums/lotions and makeup. Definitely try it!!!”
13
Best Affordable Option
The Ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Now 29% off
$10 AT AMAZON
$16 AT WALMART
$7 AT SKINSTORE
Affordable price print
Not best for sensitive skin
B5 and hyaluronic acid join forces to drench your skin in hydration so well you’ll want to stock up on more. Good thing it costs less than $15.
Amazon star rating: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Yes, this is the real deal. Finally, a skincare product I can tell works, and I now buy [it] regularly. My skin literally drinks this in like a sponge in a puddle of water. A dime-sized drop of this covered my entire face and was immediately absorbed. Works beautifully and easily in my facial regimen.”
14
Best For Daily Use
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
Now 10% off
$17 AT AMAZON
$19 AT WALMART
$29 AT ULTA BEAUTY
A little goes a long way
Scented
Fake a glow-from-within look with Neutrogena’s cult-favorite Hydro Boost serum. The formula locks in moisture to treat the driest of skin.
Amazon star rating: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “This moisturizer is amazing! The smell of it is refreshing, and it took some time to get used to, but now I love the smell. It’s the softest I’ve ever felt my skin, even when I get occasional breakouts. One pump is enough for the whole face; worth my buy!”
15
Best For K-Beauty Lovers
Laniege
Water Bank Blue Hyaluronic Serum
Now 30% off
$31 AT AMAZON
Super moisturizing
Scented
To create the Water Bank formula, Laniege added fucoidan—an active found in seaweed that protects against skin stressors—to double down on moisture that reveals plump, renewed skin.
Amazon star rating: 4.6/5
What reviewers are saying: “This product really helped me on my skincare journey. When I was growing up, I always struggled with having sensitive and dry skin, so I never really found the right products. All of the moisturizers I would use would just make my skin dry and it wouldn’t really stay hydrated throughout the day so I decided to look on Amazon to see what good products there were. Then I saw this product and I was a little hesitant at first because normally when I buy new products, especially for my skin, it never worked out for me. I put it on my face at night and I was worried that I was going to break out or have some sort of reaction but it kept my skin hydrated throughout the night. The next morning my skin looked so shiny and smooth that I knew this product was going to work well with me. So now that I’ve been implementing this into my skincare routine, I realize that this product is desperately what I needed to help me with my skin and it just makes me glow in a way that I haven’t seen before. If you’re looking for a product that is good for sensitive and dry skin, this is the one I recommend!”
16
Best Ampoule Form
Isdin
Intensive Hyaluronic Acid Ampoules
Now 30% off
$34 AT ISDIN.COM
Each ampoule ejects enough product
Excess product can’t stay unopened longer than 48 hours
While it’s not the typical packaging for a serum, the Isdin hyaluronic acid ampoules give your skin just the right amount of magic with each tube. The booster is comprised of two different forms of hyaluronic banding together for one goal: maximum hydration.
Isdin star rating: 5/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “I love how my skin feels tighter. Easy to use. I get 2 days of liquid before using [the] next ampoule.”
17
Best For Strengthening
Paula’s Choice
Boost Hyaluronic Acid Booster with Ceramides
$39 AT AMAZON
$39 AT PAULASCHOICE.COM
$39 AT DERMSTORE
Strengthens skin’s barrier
Pricey
Regardless of your routine, protection is always important. Here’s a serum that combines hyaluronic acid with ceramids and vitamin B5 to strengthen the skin’s barrier.
Amazon star rating: 4.4/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Loving this product. The dispenser gives me the perfect amount needed for my face, it speads easily and absorbs quickly. It makes my skin feel great and is super lightweight! I would highly recommend this to anyone looking to add a hyduralonic acid serum to their skincare routine.”
18
Best For Beginners
CeraVe
Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
$20 AT ULTA BEAUTY
$23 AT WALMART
$18 AT BED BATH AND BEYOND
Works as a lightweight moisturizer
Small bottle for price
Every skincare newbie needs a place to start. Enter: Cerave’s affordable line of simple skincare, including this gentle serum that glides on like butter and soothes dehydrated skin.
Ulta star rating: 4.5/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “This serum is better than two other more expensive ones I’ve tried. It makes my sensitive skin feel soft and look brighter without any irritation. It even made a seborrheic keratosis growth on my hairline almost disappear after only a couple of weeks.”
19
Best For Skincare Pros
PCA SKIN
Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
$120 AT DERMSTORE
$75 AT WALMART
$120 AT NORDSTROM
Contains niacinamide for added protection and moisture
Pricey
The PCA Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum is a splurge you’ll never regret because this powerful potion works hard to protect your skin from any threats.
Dermstore star rating: 4.75/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “After trying this sample. I had to order the full size. It is pricey, but it is definitely worth it. My skin feels so much better just after 2 weeks.”
20
Best Vitamin C-Infused
Kiehl’s Since 1851
Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate Serum
$70 AT NORDSTROM
$92 AT WALMART
$110 AT ULTA BEAUTY
Contains vitamin C for brightening
Pricey
Consider this serum a two-for-one powerhouse product that combines brightening vitamin C and hydrating hyaluronic to do all the hard work so you don’t have to.
Nordstrom star rating: 4.4/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “Amazing!! Love this product. Just after a couple weeks my face looked fresh, younger, and more radiant. Definitely can see a decrease in fine lines.”
21
Good Molecules
Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum
$6 AT ULTA BEAUTY
$27 AT WALMART
This Good Molecules serum is everything you could want and more, from its inexpensive price tag to the non-sticky finish to the long-lasting results.
Ulta star rating: 4.6/5 stars
What reviewers are saying: “A while ago I received the small bottle as a freebie with another purchase and I have loved it ever since. It feels so hydrating in my skin and it works with my daytime and nighttime lotions/makeup. I have bought it twice since getting it for free. I definitely recommend this to anyone.”
22
What does hyaluronic acid serum do?
Think of hyaluronic acid as a serum that helps your skin preserve moisture—the good kind. “[Hyaluronic acid] attracts and binds water; it is ideal to combine a hyaluronic acid serum and a moisturizer,” Dr. Howard says.
23
When should I apply hyaluronic acid serum?
“It is important to think of the order you apply your products,” she adds. When using skincare products, apply each formula from lightest to thickest consistency. “First, you would cleanse your face. Next, apply your hyaluronic acid serum and then follow with a moisturizer,” Dr. Howard explains.
24
Can I use hyaluronic acid serum everyday?
“Yes, you can use a hyaluronic acid serum daily. My advice is to take a look at the ingredient list of your other products as they may also be formulated with hyaluronic acid,” she says. Hyaluronic acid is a team player and pairs well with other humectants and actives.
25
Meet the expert
Dr. Camille Howard, NYC-based dermatologist and founder of Girl+Hair
Source: www.elle.com
