As someone with dry skin, I am always looking for a skincare product that will help me achieve a healthy-looking, hydrated glow. A serum is one of the best ways to deliver nourishing and hydrating ingredients to the skin and is one of my favourite steps to apply in my routine.
While Hyaluronic Acid often takes the limelight, there’s a multitude of ingredients and formulations that can also deliver a hit of hydration and sought-after ‘glowy skin’.
With that in mind, I have rounded up the best hydrating serums both with and without hyaluronic acid. These are cult faves and proven hydration heroes.
Best Hydrating Serums Without Hyaluronic Acid
Mecca Max Watercooler Serum
30ml
The Watercooler Serum from Mecca Max is a vitamin-rich elixir that’s the facial equivalent of a refreshing kombucha.
Formulated with fermented birch juice, green algae extract, and vitamin B-5, this serum promises bouncy brightness and lasting hydration. Its lightweight, water-like texture feels cool and soothing upon application, immediately quenching thirsty skin. It wears flawlessly under makeup without any pilling.
It leaves your skin plump, and hydrated and can be used morning and night. Best of all this hydrating serum is really affordable at $25 for 30ml.
esmi Probiotic Skin Mylck
30ml
Probiotic Skin Mylck by esmi is a close dupe to Hailey Bieber’s famed Rhode Glazing Fluid, renowned for its lightweight, ‘milky’ texture and imparting the coveted ‘glazed doughnut glow’.
Uniquely crafted with 100% Australian-made probiotics, this formulation is specifically designed to hydrate, restore, and nourish the skin barrier.
It’s an ideal solution for those with ultra-sensitive skin, offering a powerful anti-inflammatory blend. The product is enriched with Jojoba oil to reduce redness, alongside vitamin E and B-complex vitamins, ensuring deep nourishment.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
100ml
Okay, it’s not technically a serum but this K-beauty cult fave is regarded as one of the most effective products for hydration and creating the coveted ‘glass skin’ look.
This is thanks to a peculiar hero ingredient, snail mucin. Snail secretion is a popular ingredient in most Korean skincare products due to its ability to soothe and protect stressed skin and keep it hydrated for longer. Whether you’re tackling scarring or seeking calming care for sensitive skin, this lightweight gel-textured essence is your go-to.
Being an essence, it can be applied post-toner and before or mixed in with a serum.
The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serum
30ml
The Ordinary’s “Pink Serum” is a soothing, barrier-supporting serum suitable for all skin types, but particularly beneficial for those with sensitive skin. Its unique blend of Niacinamide, Vitamin B12, Ceramides, and Centella Asiatica, among others, hydrates, reduces redness and soothes discomfort.
Non-comedogenic and fragrance-free, this luminosity-enhancing formula is a skincare must-have, designed to smooth and support the skin’s barrier.
Body Blendz Recovery Face Serum
Body Blendz Recovery Face Serum is a luxurious and deeply healing facial serum designed to soothe and nourish skin in need of some serious TLC.
It contains a patented L22 Blend that replenishes the skin’s protective barrier and moisture, which can diminish over time. This blend contains naturally derived Esters, Squalene, Triglycerides, and Sterols essential for maintaining a healthy balance of skin lipids (your skin’s natural fats).
This serum is rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents, including Vitamins C & E, Rosemary Extract, and Argan Oil, to encourage faster rejuvenation and increase collagen production.
Aesop Lightweight Facial Hydrating Serum
100ml
Aesop Lightweight Facial Hydrating Serum is the perfect choice for those who want to enjoy the benefits of a water-based serum without feeling weighed down by heavy cream.
The lightweight serum is quickly absorbed by the skin, delivering serious hydration without leaving behind any greasy residue. The soft matte finish gives your skin a healthy and natural glow.
Best Hydrating Serums With Hyaluronic Acid
ALPHA-H Hyaluronic 8
25ml
The Hyaluronic 8 Serum from Australian skincare brand, ALPHA-H works to hydrate, target signs of ageing and protect your skin from free radicals.
With eight anti-ageing ingredients, this smart blend of actives features multiple weights of hyaluronic for multi-level hydration, giving your skin the firmness and plumpness it needs to look more youthful. This serum is ideal for mature, tired, dehydrated and sensitive skin and a perfect choice for anyone who wants to not just hydrate their skin but transform it.
Frank Body Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
30ml
Frank Body’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a powerhouse Hyaluronic Acid serum that leaves skin looking plump, dewy, and radiantly youthful. Alongside HA, it’s formulated with vitamins and botanicals like Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract, Ginseng and Vitamin E for additional nourishment, hydration and skin protection.
In true Frank Body style, the serum has a light texture that sinks in swiftly, with a refreshing scent that makes each application a true delight. This potent concoction helps your skin retain moisture, combating dryness and providing a velvety-soft touch and subtle glow.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™ Intensive Hydration Serum
Think of the B Hydra as water that quenches your parched throat, but this time, it satisfies your dry skin’s need for hydration.
It helps brighten your complexion while evening out your skin tone and improving texture too, all while keeping your face nourished and hydrated.
Its key ingredients include pineapple ceramide and provitamin B5, which help attract more moisture into your skin to give that natural glow.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Anti-Ageing Serum
This powerful hydrating serum is formulated with two types of Hyaluronic Acid as well as Vitamin B5 to help recover bounce and suppleness in the skin. The fresh water-gel texture absorbs into the skin quickly and easily, making it a pleasure to use for all skin types, especially those prone to dehydration.
Hydrating Ingredients – What To Look For
Hyaluronic acid is the most common ingredient associated with hydration and is generally a go-to for dry and dehydrated skin types. HA is able to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water and deeply hydrates by drawing moisture into the skin, leading to a plump and youthful complexion.
While it tends to have a low irritation and can be used on most skin types, it doesn’t mean that it will suit or be a preference for everyone.
There are a number of other hydrating ingredients you can look for when it comes to skincare products:
- Glycerin: A natural humectant, it attracts water to the skin and helps maintain its moisture balance.
- Ceramides: Lipids that strengthen the skin’s barrier, locking in moisture and preventing dryness and irritation.
- Squalane: Derived from olives or sharks, it mimics the skin’s natural oils, offering moisturising properties without a greasy feel.
- Aloe Vera: Renowned for its soothing qualities, it provides hydration while calming inflammation and redness.
- Panthenol (Vitamin B5): Offers deep hydration and moisturisation, and can help with skin barrier repair.
- Niacinamide (Vitamin B3): While known for evening out skin tone and reducing inflammation, it also boosts the skin’s hydration levels.
- Lactic Acid: An alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that gently exfoliates, but also increases skin’s moisture levels.
- Urea: Helps to retain water in the skin’s outermost layer, providing hydration and relief to dry skin.
- Snail Mucin: Popular in K-beauty, it aids in skin repair, and hydration, and promotes a glowing complexion.
These ingredients are powerhouses in retaining moisture, enhancing the skin’s hydration levels, and ensuring a soft, supple, and youthful appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I rehydrate my face?
Whether you’re looking to tackle winter skin or have naturally dry skin, here are some tips to help rehydrate your face:
- Avoid hot water on your skin.
- Consider getting a humidifier to help add additional moisture to the air.
- Opt for gentle cleansers and avoid any that contain chemical exfoliants.
- Try using a hydrating toner before applying serum.
- Increase your daily water intake.
- And of course, add any of the amazing hydrating serums we have listed above to your skincare routine.
For more tips and tricks, check out our other article on How to Hydrate Your Skin.
What is the best way to use a hydrating serum?
Use a mist or essence to add a layer of hydration prior to applying your serum. This also creates damp skin which can help with the serum absorption.
Make sure to finish your routine with a moisturiser or face oil to seal in the hydration.
What is your favourite hydrating serum? Let me know in the comments.
Recommended Reading
11 of the Best Hydrating Serums (That Aren’t All Hyaluronic Acid)
We have rounded up 11 top-rated skincare products to find the best hydrating serum in Australia. Plus, we cover what hydrating ingredients you should look for.