Has the blistering sun or cold, dry winter air affected your skin?
Are you battling premature aging, fine lines, or wrinkles?
Or perhaps you’re just looking for a product to smooth and hydrate rough and uneven skin texture?
Fortunately, hyaluronic acid serums are here to save the day!
Hyaluronic acid is excellent for addressing all the aforementioned issues as it helps your skin retain moisture by binding up to 1000x its weight in water molecules for softer, dewy-looking skin (Healthline).
So grab your favorite skin-thirst quencher and check out our 7 best hyaluronic acid serums for endless waves of hydration!
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Here are my top recommendations:
Best For:
✅ Aging Skin
✅ Dry Skin
✅ Normal or Combination Skin
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Hyaluronic Acid
⭐ 89% Vichy Volcanic Water
⭐ Glycerin
Key Features:
👍 Lightweight Serum
👍 Alcohol-Free
👍 Fragrance-Free
👍 Very Affordable
Vichy Laboratories Mineral 89 has one of the best formulations devised in any laboratory.
This hydrating serum contains naturally derived hyaluronic acid (HA) in the form of sodium hyaluronate, the salt medium of HA. Its molecular weight is smaller than regular hyaluronic acid, so it’s able to penetrate deeper into the skin and improve hydration in the dermis (Healthline).
It also contains 89% Vichy Volcanic Water with 15 minerals that strengthen the skin barrier such as calcium, iron, zinc, and manganese.
Meanwhile, glycerin works as a humectant to improve your skin texture and keeps skin lipids healthy.
According to a company study of 1,600 participants, 9 out of 10 women noticed more luminous and plump skin after a month of use.
The product is lightweight and produces a cool sensation upon application.
It’s immediately absorbed after a few pats without any sticky feeling. This makes it great as a primer, although I’d still recommend applying a moisturizer after this serum.
With just 11 ingredients, Vichy is safe for sensitive skin and contains no parabens, alcohol, fragrances, or oils. But if you’re unsure and want to test it out, you can try the 0.33 oz first.
Our Verdict: Leading the pack of best hyaluronic acid serums, Vichy Laboratories Mineral 89 uses tried-and-tested hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and volcanic water to consistently boost hydration and skin moisture.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Dehydrated Skin
✅ Softer & Smoother Skin
✅ Firmer Texture
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Hyaluronic Acid
⭐ Madecassoside
⭐ Vitamin B5
⭐ Vitamin E
⭐ Thermal Spring Water
Key Features:
👍 Best for Sensitive Skin
👍 Allergy-Tested
Favor the basics and do as the French do with La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum!
This anti-aging serum uses two types of hyaluronic acid: sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid.
The latter is hyaluronic acid that’s been cut into smaller pieces which allows it to penetrate deeper into your skin for more moisturization.
Together, they bind water to the skin, increasing elasticity and volume while smoothing over fine lines and wrinkles.
Other notable ingredients include:
With hyaluronic acid and thermal spring water, La-Roche Posay is pretty similar to Vichy, but the main difference lies in its anti-aging benefits. The company claims it “locks in moisture, helps repair, and replumps skin in 4 hours.”
Regardless, while this serum works best to address tired, rough, and aged skin, it’s also great for those seeking regular hydration and soothing.
The product claims to be suitable for sensitive skin but it contains fragrance and citric acid. Both can be irritating for some skin types. On the plus side, it is allergy-tested and proven safe for those who are sensitive to nickel.
Our Verdict: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum proves its worth with an anti-aging mix of sodium hyaluronate, hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, vitamin B5, thermal spring water, and vitamin E.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Best of the Best
✅ Innovation Hydration
✅ Luxury Beauty
Key Ingredients:
⭐ 5 Types of Hyaluronic Acid
⭐ Vitis Flower Extract
⭐ Peptide Complex
⭐ Polysaccharides from French Polynesia
Key Features:
👍 Premium Formula
👍 2 oz is Best Value
Satisfy your urge to splurge while achieving rejuvenated skin with SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator.
The price of is steep, but then again, this one contains FIVE different types of hyaluronic acid with varying molecular weights.
This mix is already enough to address various aging concerns as it covers different skin layers. But SkinMedica takes it further by using its VITISENSCE Technology for even better skin health. This technology is exclusive to SkinMedica, and it harnesses:
Just note that there are complaints about the packaging, like a difficult pump, the inability to see the contents, and a fading bottle.
Our Verdict: Formulated by a premium and professional dermatology brand, SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator ups its hydrating game by using FIVE different types of hyaluronic acid. That’s the most for any hyaluronic acid serum on this list. It even utilizes its unique VITISENSCE Technology, which banks on stem cell technology to address aging skin.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Anti-Aging
✅ Daily Hydration
✅ Highest Rated
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Hyaluronic Acid
⭐ Hydrolyzed HA
⭐ Ceramides
⭐ Niacinamide
⭐ Yeast Extract
Key Features:
👍 2018 Cosmopolitan Award
Get award-winning and professional-grade skincare from the comfort of your home with PCA Skin Hyaluronic Boosting Serum.
The highest-rated hyaluronic acid serum on the list is also the most expensive. However, the rave reviews claim it’s worth it with nearly 95% rating it 4-5 stars.
Created by dermatologists, PCA Skin won the 2018 Cosmopolitan Beauty Award for best hydrating serum. It states that its proprietary blend HA-Pro Complex “encourages the skin to create its own hyaluronic acid, resulting in long-term anti-aging and hydration.”
To better understand how it works, let’s take a look at the ingredient list:
It even has cholesterol, which (surprisingly) helps maintain the moisture barrier. On the other hand, this formulation unsurprisingly costs a pretty penny.
Given that there are complaints about receiving a used or empty product, it would be best if you could purchase this from a certified distributor.
Our Verdict: Can be used as a primer or a serum, fast-absorbing PCA Skin Hyaluronic Boosting Serum increases the skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by using various types of HA, ceramides, niacinamide, hydrolyzed yeast extract, and disodium acetyl glucosamine phosphate.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Parched Skin
✅ Derm Approved
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Hyaluronic Micro-Spheres
⭐ Sytenol A
⭐ Ceramide Molecular Film
Key Features:
👍 Very Affordable
Both innovative and foundational, NassifMD Hydro-Screen Hydrating Serum brings something new to the hyaluronic acid game.
Created by board certified dermatologist Dr. Paul Nassif, this facial serum uses sytenol A, a plant extract that works similarly to retinol. It’s soothing and smoothing and helps improve skin texture, tone, and firmness.
If that’s not enough, then actual retinol is used to improve collagen production and renew skin cells. This makes it great for different skin types, including acne-prone skin and mature skin.
It’s also formulated with hyaluronic micro-spheres, basically smaller-sized hyaluronic acid molecules that go deeper into the skin and improve deeper lines and wrinkles. Ceramide molecular film then supports the restoration of the skin’s natural elasticity while lipochroman preserves tissues to counter signs of skin aging.
Accompanied by hyaluronic acid, these ingredients work together to retain moisture and reduce the appearance of fine lines. It’s a powerhouse in one lightweight formula.
Although it only has a few hundred reviews, customers loved this product and it’s much more affordable compared to its counterparts.
NassifMD is cruelty, gluten, paraben, and mineral oil free.
Our Verdict: Well in the running for being the best hyaluronic acid serum, NassifMD Hydro-Screen Hydrating Serum uses hyaluronic acid, sytenol A, retinol, and hyaluronic hydro-spheres to address fine lines and wrinkles.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Most Popular
✅ Most Affordable Pick
Key Ingredients:
⭐ Hyaluronic Acid
Key Features:
👍 Cruelty-Free
Cleopatra bathed her skin in pure donkey milk to combat wrinkles, but why go through those lengths when you can just use Cosmedica Skincare Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum?
This may be the most minimalist hyaluronic acid serum yet, so it arguably could not get more potent than this. It only contains three ingredients: Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Benzylalcohol-DA.
There’s no denying that the star of the show is Sodium Hyaluronate, which helps the skin achieve optimal hydration by binding moisture to its surface.
Although your skin already has hyaluronic acid naturally, the amount decreases as you age and encounter more free radical damage.
In this case, a no-nonsense skin hydrating and anti-aging serum like Cosmedica may just be what you need. And because of its simplicity, it’s excellent for all skin types, even sensitive skin.
On the other hand, some reviewers complained that this serum may be too simple and feel it didn’t provide enough benefits for their skin. Some go as far as to say that its texture feels like plain old water.
Our Verdict: Experience the raw wonder and power of pure hyaluronic acid by using Cosmedica Skincare Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Affordable, accessible, and simple, it’s a great entry point for those trying out hyaluronic acid serums for the first time.
Shop NowBest For:
✅ Premium Capsule
✅ Highest Potency
✅ Hydrates & Soothes
Key Ingredients:
⭐ 1% Hyaluronic Acid
⭐ Glucomannan
⭐ Jojoba Oil
⭐ Coconut Oil
Key Features:
👍 Affordable Pick
👍 Perfect for Anti-Aging
👍 Makes a Great Gift!
Drink your tablets and apply your RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Serum Capsules for all-around health and wellness!
Its 3% hyaluronic acid content is considerably higher than other serums, as most hyaluronic acid serums only contain 1% HA. The fact that the company disclosed the percentage is rare and it’s a testament of the product’s potency and quality.
This is complemented by glucomannan, a polysaccharide that plumps the skin and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
RoC also contains jojoba oil, great for balancing oily skin, and coconut oil, which is incredibly nourishing for dry skin. The hydrating formula is kept fresh and sealed in each capsule and spreads lavishly across the skin without feeling oily.
Some users say that the content of each capsule is good for 2-3 applications.
The serum costs a little more than a quarter for each day of use. If you purchase the product through Amazon, you even get a free 7-capsule retinol gift!
Don’t worry; these are 100% biodegradable capsules, so you don’t have to worry about adding to plastic pollution by using RoC serum capsules.
According to a clinical study conducted by the company, users reported the following results:
Just note that several emollients are high up on the ingredient list. Although their effects are primarily superficial and will fade once you stop using the product, they make the skin feel soft and smooth for a short period.
Also, be aware that coconut oil is highly comedogenic, which could lead to clogged pores and breakouts.
Our Verdict: 2021 winner of People Beauty Awards for Best Night Serum, RoC Multi Correxion Hydrate + Plump Serum Capsules gives you younger-looking and more hydrated skin with 3% hyaluronic acid, glucomannan, jojoba oil, and coconut oil.
Shop Now
