12 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums for Plump and Hydrated Skin
Properly hydrated skin is one of the best ways to get glass skin with a healthy glow. Creams and moisturizing lotions are one thing, but nothing gets the job done quite like a good hyaluronic acid serum. Despite having the word acid in its name, this naturally found hydrating substance is the secret to baby smooth, soft skin that’s perfectly balanced. Since hyaluronic acid holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water, it is one of the most effective hydrators for skin that’s perfectly plump and healthy. And no matter your skin type or concerns, the best hyaluronic acid serums are the ones that make the skin look flawless and filtered every single day.
Our Top Picks
Best for Redness: jane iredale HydroPure Color Correcting Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and CoQ10 Best for Post-Procedure Skin: SENTÉ Hydrate+ Serum Best for Mature Skin: Lancer Skincare Ultra Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Complex Best for Acne-Prone Skin: NeoCutis HYALIS+ Intensive Hydrating Serum Best for Fine lines & Wrinkles: SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator Best for Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel Best for Sagging Skin: Dr Dennis Gross DermInfusions Fill + Repair Serum Best for Dehydrated Skin: COSMEDIX Surge Hyaluronic Acid Booster Best for Firming the Skin: NEOSTRATA Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum with Hyaluronic Acid Best for Dull Skin: ISDIN Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate Hydrating Serum
Meet the Expert
- Dr. Ashley Magovern - Board-certified dermatologist and member of Dermstore's Medical Advisory Board
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Since hyaluronic acid, a humectant, can draw water into an area and hold it, the acid helps hydrate the skin and improve its overall health. While the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, with age, the amount of it created begins to taper off, leading to skin that is naturally drier and less bouncy and plump. But adding one of the best hyaluronic acid serums into your daily skincare routine provides both immediate and long-term improvement.
Why Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Although hyaluronic acid is already present in our skin and body, it’s still important to include a hyaluronic acid serum in your skin care routine. Dr. Magovern explains: "As we age and go through life, our skin becomes increasingly dry and loses moisture. Aging skin loses its firmness, becomes less supple and often looks dehydrated. A product that contains hyaluronic acid can replenish the moisture that aging skin is lacking, improve the appearance of fine lines and make the skin look smoother."
Regardless of age, skin type or concern, everyone can and should be using a product containing hyaluronic acid, adds Dr. Magovern. "The great thing about hyaluronic acid is that it can be used on all skin types, even sensitive and acne- and rosacea-prone patients. There is nothing better at almost instantly giving a refreshed, hydrated, smooth appearance to the skin.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums
Best for Redness: jane iredale HydroPure Color Correcting Serum with Hyaluronic Acid and CoQ10
1 reviews
$58.00
Dry skin can often appear red and ruddy due to a lack of moisture and higher-than-normal levels of inflammation and irritation. This unique hyaluronic acid serum features a green tint that sheers out upon application to help reduce the signs of redness in the skin while soothing it and leaving it balanced and moisturized.
Key ingredients: Allantoin, CoQ10, hyaluronic acid
Skin Type: Sensitive
Beauty Insider Tip: For even more coverage, apply the serum first and follow with your favorite concealer to further camouflage red patches on the skin.
Best for Post-Procedure Skin: SENTÉ Hydrate+ Serum
1 reviews
$89.00
One of the best ingredients to use on post-procedure skin that’s been treated with a laser or other skin-rejuvenating devices is hyaluronic acid due to its hydrating abilities that don’t disrupt the skin’s balance but rather nurse it back to a state of healthy. This fast-absorbing serum moisturizes compromised skin while improving its barrier function and soothing any residual inflammation so that it looks and feels healthier and smoother faster.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, heparan sulfate analog (HSA)
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: Use the serum morning and night, and always allow the serum to fully absorb before moving on to thicker skincare products in your routine.
Best for Mature Skin: Lancer Skincare Ultra Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Complex
$95.00
Formulated to be the next thing to topical serums used post-treatment in Dr. Lancer’s dermatology clinic, this lightweight hyaluronic acid-rich serum nourishes dry, aging skin while locking in moisture, so it is well-hydrated and healthier. Thanks to a blend of seven different weights of hyaluronic acid, this magic bullet gets deep into the source of water loss to reinstate new life to the skin.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, olive oil extract, ceramides
Skin Type: Dry, Mature
Beauty Insider Tip: Always apply the serum to clean, dry skin and reapply throughout the day as needed, especially in the winter months.
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: NeoCutis HYALIS+ Intensive Hydrating Serum
37 reviews
$127.00
This oil-free, non-comedogenic serum deeply moisturizes the skin without clogging the pores, which is perfect for skin that breaks out easily. We also like that this silky-smooth texture helps to soften the skin, sending fine lines and wrinkles packing.
Key ingredients: Sodium hyaluronate, hyaluronic acid elastomer, sodium polyglutamate, acetyl glucosamine
Skin Type: Dry, Oily, Combination, Normal
Beauty Insider Tip: After applying the serum to the face, bring any extra product down the neck and onto the chest and decollete.
Best for Fine lines and Wrinkles: SkinMedica HA5 Hydra Collagen Replenish + Restore Hydrator
5 reviews
$192.00
All skin types need moisture, and that’s especially the case when fine lines and wrinkles are prominent. By delivering a double dose of hyaluronic acid and collagen to instantly hydrate and smooth the skin, lines and wrinkles seemingly blend away, and the skin appears plumper and dewy.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, avocado oil esters, vitamin F, passion fruit seed oil, vitis flower stem extract, lotus sprout extract, collagen
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: Provides immediate yet long-lasting hydration for up to 48 hours.
Best for Dry Skin: SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
1164 reviews
$90.00
A blend of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 comes together in this ultra-hydrating cult classic serum gel to restore the skin’s radiance while making it feel more comfortable. Perfect to use alongside your favorite vitamin C, this daily-use gel doubles as your daily moisturizer, helping to reduce the symptoms of chronically dry skin.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: For an extra dose of hydration, sandwich the gel with your favorite moisturizer.
Best for Sagging Skin: Dr Dennis Gross DermInfusions Fill + Repair Serum
4 reviews
$75.00
Consider this serum your at-home alternative to fillers and injectables. It helps restore volume to the skin, and this doctor-formulated formula helps restore a youthful contour. The skin plumps up immediately and over time.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, peptides, niacinamide
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: Four different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid penetrate the skin at various levels, adding a plumping and hydrating effect.
Best for Dehydrated Skin: COSMEDIX Surge Hyaluronic Acid Booster
$122.10
Dehydrated skin is one of the hardest to restore moisture, which is where this serum booster comes in. With a dewy finish and the ability to flood the skin with hyaluronic acid, just a few drops of this luxe formula refresh the skin instantly, leaving you looking like you just had an extremely hydrating skin treatment.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, kiwi fruit water, grapefruit
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: The cool and refreshing serum absorbs on contact and never leaves behind a greasy or sticky residue.
Best for Firming the Skin: NEOSTRATA Skin Active Tri-Therapy Lifting Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
12 reviews
$100.00
This triple-powered lifting serum enhances the skin and camouflages the look of lines and wrinkles for more youthful-looking skin. The more you use it, the more lifted and firmer the skin appears.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, aminofil, gluconolactone
Skin Type: Dry, Mature, Normal, Oily
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply the serum to areas where expression lines are evident by using the serum as a spot treatment
Best for Dull Skin: ISDIN Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate Hydrating Serum
3 reviews
$115.00
Layer on this water-gel serum and watch it work its magic. It offers deep hydration, a plumping effect, and natural radiance. The silky smooth texture leaves the skin looking and feeling soft, smooth, and more supple, breathing new life into your complexion.
Key ingredients: Hyaluronic acid, BioMarine, peptides, lentil extract
Skin Type: All Skin Types
Beauty Insider Tip: Apply using circular motions and gently massaging the serum into the face and neck, morning and night.
How to Choose the Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Your Skin
When it comes to using the best hyaluronic acid serum for your skin, it’s important to find one compatible with your skin type and current needs. Not all hyaluronic acid serums are created equally, and some may contain the ingredient in trace amounts or too large of a molecular size, which won’t do much to improve the skin. If you’re using a serum or a cream that aims to plump and hydrate the skin, there’s a good chance your product already contains hyaluronic acid. However, to get the most out of this ingredient, Dr. Magovern recommends looking closely at your product's ingredient list. "Some formulations claim that they contain hyaluronic acid even though the amount is very small," she warns. Rather than selecting just any serum with hyaluronic acid, look for ones that list sodium hyaluronate on the ingredient deck. "Sodium hyaluronate is a hyaluronic acid derivative with a lower molecular weight, which allows it to penetrate the deeper layers of the skin," explains Dr. Magovern, before noting how she also recommends to "look for other ingredients along with the hyaluronic acid, like ceramides, peptides, niacinamide or other antioxidants."
FAQs
Is Hyaluronic Acid Safe for All Skin Types?
Hyaluronic acid serums are generally safe for all skin types, including sensitive, rosacea, and acne-prone skin. Unlike other hydrating ingredients, hyaluronic acid is non-comedogenic, so it won’t clog the pores or feel heavy on the skin. For dry and dehydrated skin types, layering a hyaluronic acid serum with a more intense moisturizer may be necessary to provide an ample dose of hydration.
When to Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum?
The nice thing about hyaluronic acid serums is that they are light, so they can be used morning and night or just when a little bit more moisture is needed throughout the day. Hyaluronic acid serums also make great moisturizers in more humid climates and during the summer months.
How to Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum?
The best way to use a hyaluronic acid serum is as part of your daily skincare routine. On clean, dry skin, apply it morning and night as the last step in your routine, and always apply moisturizer over it. If you use hyaluronic acid serum during the day, follow that up with sunscreen. You can also use it as a makeup prep, giving the skin a smoothing and plumping effect. At night, try layering a hyaluronic acid serum under a heavier night cream and moisturizer so that it can go hard to work while you sleep.
Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin C?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid and vitamin C serums are among the best combinations to use since they target multiple aging-related factors. If you don’t want to layer the two ingredients, look for a serum that contains both to help streamline your skincare efforts.
Elise Minton Tabin is an award-winning beauty journalist, editor, and beauty expert with more than 16 years of experience. She previously held the title of Executive Beauty Editor at NewBeauty magazine, where she reported on beauty, plastic surgery, anti-aging, health and wellness. She was also instrumental in the launch of the beauty supplement brand Hush & Hush. A self-professed beauty junkie and retinol and sunscreen pusher, Elise knows what’s new, what works and who’s the best to go for every procedure under the sun. Follow Elise on Facebook, Instagram, and on her beauty blog, elisetabin.com
