In the ever-evolving world of skincare, hyaluronic acid has emerged as a key player for anyone seeking hydrated, smoother, calmer, and more nourished skin. Its reputation as a skincare essential is well-deserved, with its name gracing a multitude of products that vow to boost skin hydration.
Beauty lovers are spoiled for choice when it comes to hyaluronic acid serums. This can also present a challenge in finding the cream of the crop and one that will suit your skin type and budget.
To demystify this, we bring you a helpful guide to the best hyaluronic acid serums.
This article will take you through everything you need to know about this powerhouse skin ingredient, from our top personal recommendations to an in-depth look at how it benefits your skin.
8 of the Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums Reviewed
Go To Much Plumper Skin
Kicking off our list is Much Plumber Skin, a hyaluronic acid serum from one of our favourite Aussie skincare brands, Go To.
This unique formula contains four different types of hyaluronic acid, which helps to draw water into the skin, along with peptides to promote firmness and elasticity. Like the other best-selling Go-To Skincare products, it’s packed with nourishing ingredients like aloe vera juice and provitamin B5 help to soothe and calm the skin.
The result is a lightweight, fragrance-free serum that absorbs quickly and leaves the face feeling soft and smooth. What’s more, to love is that it’s non-comedogenic and suitable for sensitive skin.
esmi Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum
⭐️ beautyheaven Best in Beauty Awards 2022 - Runner Up
The Hyaluronic Hydrating Serum from esmi skincare is a hydrating powerhouse, perfect for all skin types, but particularly for dry and senstive skin.
This luxurious serum blends hyaluronic acid, allantoin, and aloe barbadensis leaf extract to guard against moisture loss. Additionally, Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) is incorporated to brighten skin and reduce blemishes and congestion.
This quick-drying, non-greasy serum works seamlessly under makeup, leaving skin feeling light, fresh, and well-hydrated.
Advanced Clinicals Hyaluronic Serum
52ml
Rated #1 on iHerb and with nearly 20,000 5-star reviews Advanced Clinicals’ Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a standout for instant hydration and leaving your skin with a glowy glass-like radiance.
Its unique blend features rare marine extracts and pure Aloe, working in harmony to soothe dryness, replenish moisture, and plump fine lines for a smoother, silkier skin texture.
This affordable serum combines the rejuvenating powers of Vitamins C and E, antioxidant-rich green tea, willowherb, and vitamin E also making it ideal for those with sensitive skin.
ALPHA-H Hyaluronic 8 Super Serum
25ml
ALPHA-H’s Hyaluronic 8 Super Serum is an advanced hydration solution that helps your skin create a sustainable water reservoir.
This serum is a blend of eight multi-weight hydrating ingredients, including Primahyal Ultrafiller™ and Hydranov, which work in synergy to plump and smooth fine lines and mimic the ‘dermal filler effect’. It delivers both short and long-chain hyaluronic acid molecules for hydration at various skin layers.
This oil-free serum is perfect for all skin types, especially those with acne-prone, dehydration, or concerns about fine lines and texture.
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier is a premium serum designed to boost skin’s hyaluronic acid levels effectively.
Its unique formula combines high concentrations of pure hyaluronic acid, Proxylane™, and botanical extracts of purple rice and licorice root, enhancing skin hydration and firmness. This intensifier not only replenishes moisture but also reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, promoting a more youthful complexion.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum is a powerful solution for those seeking to combat signs of aging while deeply hydrating their skin.
This serum is infused with two types of hyaluronic acid, which work in tandem to lock in moisture and re-plump the appearance of the skin. Its formula, enhanced with Vitamin B5, aids in repairing and soothing the skin, making it suitable for sensitive types.
The serum’s fresh, gel-like texture ensures easy application and quick absorption. Renowned for its dermatologist-tested formulation, it effectively diminishes fine lines, leaving the skin looking smoother and rejuvenated.
Hada Labo Lotion No. 1 Super Hydrator
150ml
Described as “a drink for thirsty skin”, Hada Labo Lotion No. 1 Super Hydrator, a J-beauty cult favourite sells every three seconds in Japan.
This standout product is formulated with Hada Labo Tokyo’s innovative Super Hyaluronic Acid™, a blend of three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid developed in Kyoto laboratories.
The fragrance-free formula provides intense moisture while being rapidly absorbed, ensuring no tacky feel. Priced under $40 for 150ml it’s one of the most effective and affordable hyaluronic acid serums on the market.
VICHY Mineral 89 Skin Fort Daily Booster
50ml
VICHY’s Mineral 89 Skin Fortifying Daily Booster is a revered French Pharmacy skincare gem with over 20,000 5-star reviews on Amazon.
This skin barrier saviour blends natural origin hyaluronic acid with Vichy’s 15 Mineral-Rich Volcanic Water to nourish and replenish the skin. Regular use improves overall skin health and texture and works to combat fine lines and wrinkles.
Its lightweight texture absorbs quickly, leaving no stickiness, and is ideal under makeup. Being fragrance-free it’s an ideal serum for those with sensitive skin.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum
Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum is a refreshing drink for the skin, designed to provide deep and lasting hydration.
This serum is enriched with a unique blend of pro-vitamin B5 and pineapple ceramide, along with a sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, which not only hydrates but also visibly improves skin texture and tone. Its lightweight formula is perfect for all skin types and absorbs quickly, leaving no residue.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% +B5
The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is an affordable, no-frills serum appreciated for delivering effective results without the luxury price tag.
This formulation combines 2% hyaluronic acid with varying molecular weights, ensuring deep penetration and surface hydration for a visibly plumped effect. Enhanced with Vitamin B5, it not only hydrates but also heals and soothes the skin, making it ideal for all skin types.
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This refreshing cream-to-gel formula is ultra-hydrating, providing 24-hour hydration. It can be used on its own or layered with your favourite moisturiser.
Formulated with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it helps to promote softer, smoother-looking skin and retains skin’s natural moisture. Suitable for dry to very dry skin types, it also helps to soothe the skin and maintain the skin’s protective barrier.
What is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a type of sugar that our body produces naturally. One of its main functions is to help keep the skin plump and hydrated by retaining water. The levels of HA in our system can hold more water than its weight hence your skin looks gorgeous during your youth. However, as we age, the levels of hyaluronic acid that our body produces are no longer enough.
HA can be applied topically through skincare products, ingested in supplements, or improved naturally by increasing your intake of HA-rich foods such as soy-based products (like tofu and soy milk), citrus fruits, sweet potatoes and leafy greens.
Related Read: Guide to Hyaluronic Acid for Skin: How it Works and Benefits
How to Choose a Hyaluronic Acid Serum
What’s great about the best hyaluronic acid is that it is suitable for most skin types because it is lightweight and highly absorbent.
To land the best one, you must consider the following:
- Molecular weight. Look for a serum that contains HA with varying molecular weights. Low molecular weight HA penetrates deeper into the skin for internal hydration, while high molecular weight HA hydrates and plumps the skin’s surface.
- Additional ingredients. A good HA serum should contain additional beneficial ingredients like vitamins (e.g., Vitamin C, Vitamin E), antioxidants, peptides, or ceramides. These ingredients can enhance the serum’s hydrating and anti-aging properties.
- Skin Type Suitability: Ensure the serum is appropriate for your skin type. For instance, those with oily skin might prefer a lightweight, non-comedogenic formula, while those with dry skin might benefit from a richer, more nourishing serum.
How to Use Hyaluronic Acid
Did you know that there is a correct way of using this type of serum on your skin? In order for hyaluronic acid to be truly effective, you need to understand when you should apply it.
- Cleanse and tone your face first.
- Apply a dime-size amount of the serum to your damp face.
Take note that your face must be damp before you use this serum as using it on dry skin will do more harm than good. HA can have the opposite effect when there is not enough moisture on the surface of your skin. - Use your favourite moisturizer on top of the serum.
After applying HA, it’s crucial to seal it in with a strong occlusive agent, such as a high-quality moisturiser or an oil-based product, to enhance its hydrating effects.
Following the correct order of how you apply your skincare products can yield huge rewards for your skin.
Benefits of Using Hyaluronic Acid
Why all this commotion about using hyaluronic acid these days? It seems that using the best serum containing hyaluronic acid does offer plenty of health benefits to your skin. Here are a few that I came across in my research.
- Hydrates skin:
Have you ever noticed that your skin feels dry and rough as you age? Although there are dozens of possible causes for this condition, it might also be caused by a lack of hyaluronic acid in your system. That said, using the best hyaluronic acid serums may help remedy this problem since they can increase the amount of water retained, especially when you apply it regularly. - Speeds up healing:
Another benefit that is linked to HA is that it can help heal your wounds faster. Applying serums containing hyaluronic acid can minimize the area of damaged skin while alleviating the pain that comes with it. - Packed with antioxidants:
Hyaluronic acid is packed with antioxidants that are known to combat free radicals that are known to damage our skin. Antioxidants are also useful in fighting inflammation so your skin will remain radiant as you age. - Improves signs of ageing:
Worried about fine lines and wrinkles? Hyaluronic acid serums come with anti-aging properties that make those premature signs of aging take a back seat.
Is hyaluronic acid for everyone?
Despite its popularity, HA might not be the best choice for everyone, especially those experiencing breakouts, redness, inflammation, or dryness.
Instead, consider glycerin as a humectant. Given its smaller molecular size, it’s able to penetrate deeper into the skin and has not been shown to be inflammatory.
Related Read: 11 of the Best Hydrating Serums (That Aren’t All Hyaluronic Acid)
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Explore our insightful guide to the best Hyaluronic acid serums, offering top recommendations and the benefits of this essential skincare ingredient.