Including one of the best hyaluronic acid serums in your skincare routine is a non-negotiable. Just like it's essential to use one of the best sunscreens for face, applying a good hyaluronic acid daily is a skincare basic that can work towards tackling (and avoiding) a number of different skin concerns and keep your skin at a level of basic health.
This is because hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the skin, but factors such as diet, environment and general ageing effects the levels that are produced. So a serum helps to replenish those levels and boost hydration at the deepest levels of your skin. It can also hold its own weight in water, multiple times over—so if used in the correct way, hyaluronic acid serums could make a huge difference in your skin's appearance, leaving you with a plumper complexion, with fine lines and wrinkles reduced.
Our expert contributing beauty writers and editors here at My Imperfect Life have tried and tested a bunch of the best hyaluronic acid serums on the market to find the very best ones to target different skin types and concerns. If you're after an affordable option, we found fan-favorite The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum to be a brilliant choice. Or, if you have a bit more budget to spend on your new HA, look to Medik8’s Hydr8 B5 Liquid Rehydration Serum to quench your skin’s thirst. Plus, we've also got options for those who want an option that isn't sticky on your skin, and for people with sensitive skin, who need to be super-careful about the ingredients they use.
Meet the experts in hyaluronic acid serums
- Daniel Isaacs (opens in new tab) is the director of research at science-based beauty brand Medik8 and is considered an industry expert in sunscreens and pigmentation.
- Ifeoma Ejikeme (opens in new tab) is the founder And Medical Director of Adonia Medical Clinic, with an MD and Board Certified Internal Medicine amongst other qualifications.
How we tested the best hyaluronic acid serums
The best hyaluronic acid serums should leave your skin feeling fresh and quenched afterwards—with the effects lasting throughout the day—without aggravating any other skin concerns. Texture can be down to personal preference, however, thinner formulas tend to sink into the skin better and be more comfortable to wear as they don't leave a layer of stickiness.
It's also important to look for the visible effects of a hyaluronic acid serum, as a good serum should plump the skin from within to smooth out fine lines. With that in mind, our testers tried out each serum for a month and during tests, they assessed:
- Texture and comfort
- How hydrated their skin felt
- Whether the formula was fast absorbing
- The plumping effect on fine lines
- How long the effects lasted
Our testers, who regularly seek out hyaluronic acid formulas for their skincare regimens, also spoke to dermatologists and skin experts to further their understanding of what they should look for in each formula in terms of texture, results and complementary ingredients. When deciding which products to test, our testers tried a range of the most popular drugstore hyaluronic acids on the market, as well as formulas from trusted brands that made exciting claims about their results.
I have quite dehydrated skin, which is why hyaluronic acid is a staple in my routine. Over the years, I’ve probably tried upwards of 30 different hyaluronic acid formulas, from high end to trusted drugstore brands, always with a view to plumping out fine lines and making my skin feel cushiony soft all day. I also love an active and lean towards functional, results-driven skincare rather than spa-like smells and textures.
Best hyaluronic acid serums as reviewed by our beauty experts and editors
Containing three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, The Ordinary’s offering is both super affordable and super effective. With tens of thousands of online reviews, the majority of which are five stars, the product is clearly very popular with the skincare enthusiast community.
I found that it sinks into the skin easily, layers well with other skincare products, and won’t leave a sticky residue (the key is not to apply too much). I would advise to apply it to damp skin for best results.
See our full The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum review for more information on its many benefits
At $36.99, the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 serum is one of the more pricey hyaluronic acid serums on the list, but our tester reckons its well worth the (slight) splurge.
"This option has both long-term and short-term effects on the skin," says Fiona. "Upon first application, I felt it immediately flooded our skin with moisture, plumping and ‘filling out’ dehydration lines and wrinkles. In the long-term, the ingredients madeccassoside and vitamin B5 help to boost collagen production, thereby improving firmness, elasticity, and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. It's a win-win! And it's why it's one of the best hyaluronic acid serums for mature skin.
"Sure, it's slightly more expensive, but La Roche-Posay's products are known for being kind to skin having been tested by dermatologists. So if you're someone who is after a gentle product that is very effective for hydrating and anti-aging, this should be your go-to, as it's one of the best hyaluronic acid serums around."
See our full La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 serum review to learn more about the clever science behind this intense skin-quencher
If you're keen to try a hyaluronic acid but aren't sure about your serum preferences/whether the formula is right for you yet, the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Supercharged Booster Serum is a great way to try it out without spending a fortune. A simple serum that won't break the bank, it does the job well, but don't expect and extra bells and whistles.
"With a slightly thicker gel consistency than other hyaluronic acid serums, the Neutrogena serum is best applied along with a jade roller (if you have the time), to ensure it really soaks into the face," says Fiona. "It certainly hydrates the skin and softened lines around our eyes, but it's probably best suited to the skin of someone in their teens/early 20s, which may not need the extra help with hydration that skin into our 30s, 40s and 50s does.
"The vitamin E delivery is probably the product’s most stand out feature. It’s dispensed via the pearls in the serum, maintaining its efficacy until the moment of use. Overall, it's an affordable product that provides a good starting point for your HA journey."
See our full Neutrogena Hydro Boost Supercharged Booster Serum review to learn why this budget option is perfect for beginners
Medik8 is known for its research-led, science-backed skincare products. The Hydr8 B5 is a multi-molecular weight hyaluronic acid serum, which isa real plus.
“The smallest hyaluronic acid molecules are able to penetrate deep into the skin, drawing moisture up from the lower layers of the dermis,” explains Daniel Isaacs, director of research at Medik8. “Larger molecules of hyaluronic acid sit on the skin as a moisture reservoir, feeding the upper layers and blocking water loss to the environment. Used together, low and high weights of hyaluronic acid distribute hydration throughout the entirety of the skin for a smooth complexion.”
I found that this formula is very fluid, sinking into the skin brilliantly, and so layers well as your first skincare step.
If you have the means to invest a bit more money in your skincare routine, you can't go wrong with Skinceuticals (see our edit of the best vitamin C serums next for another of their hero products).
This one is described as a gel moisturizer by the brand, but I found that it is truly a serum and helps to hydrate and plump the skin while supporting its barrier. These gels are the best moisturizers for oily skin. The best bit is that it’s not at all sticky, whether you use it on its own or under your moisturizer, and it’s a firm favorite in our bathroom cabinets. On the expensive side, but worth every cent!
Skingredients is the brainchild of Jennifer Rock, aka the Skin Nerd, and all six of the products are truly excellent. Described by the brand as a “hydrator and highlighter”, Skin Veg Serum is packed with so many fruit and veg extracts that it’s a bit like a hydrating green juice for your skin.
It also comes with the added benefit of polyhydroxy acid in the form of gluconolactone, which offers gentle exfoliation that’s suitable even for sensitive skin (read: way less harsh than glycolic acid). I had a serious *glow* after applying and also found that it plays really well with make-up as well as other skincare products. They also ship all over the world. We love it!
A powerful and affordable hydrator, the Vichy Mineral 89 serum had to make it onto our list because of it's intensive moisture-boosting qualities and its brilliant suitability for sensitive skin. After all, this ultra-hydrating formula has only 11 ingredients. When tested, this pick really did provide all-day hydration, thanks to the inclusion of sodium hyaluronate, which intensely plumps up the top layers of your skin.
It's also been packed with Vichy Volcanic Water, which helps to protect the skin from pollen and other pollutants, once again making it a great choice for those who suffer with allergies or any skin conditions. The Vichy HA has just 11 ingredients too, so you can rest assured that there aren't any unexpected nasties in there. Plus, the bottle looks great in a bathroom cabinet, or in your favorite mini fridge for skincare.
Overall, the soothing gel-like texture left our tester's skin feeling smooth, plump and hydrated—and it's also got the thumbs up from My Imperfect Life's deputy editor and in-house beauty expert, Aleesha Badkar, who said of the serum: "I was surprised by how quenched my skin felt after using this. I usually opt for more runny hyaluronic acid serums, as I feel they absorb into the skin better and tend to garner more visible results. However, I really enjoyed having this in my skincare routine, as left my skin feel fresh and plumped. It also helped me see even better results out of my favorite vitamin C serum, the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, as I applied it on top of the watery antioxidant formula to lock in all its goodness."
See our full Vichy Minéral 89 review to learn why it's such a crowd-pleaser among beauty experts
This science backed formula from COSRX is well worth the slightly elevated price tag, given how thoroughly and expertly it ensures moisture trickles through all the layers of your skin. This is because of its use of three different hyaluronic acids; High Molecular Hyaluronic Acid (aka sodium hyaluronate), which prevents moisture loss, Medium Molecular Hyaluronic Acid, which soaks into the layer below to plump skin from the inside out, and Low Molecular Hyaluronic Acid, which reaches the deeper layers of your skin. It worked expertly, giving our tester a level of seriously deep hydration.
The formula also boasts exfoliating lactobionic acid, which buffs away dead skin, to ensure the triple hyaluronic acid can reach its destination—so it feels incredibly smooth going on.
"I was left with plumper and juicier skin after applying this serum," says Fiona, "which would work for all skin types but especially those with acne-prone skin (see our guide to whether hyaluronic acid is good for acne) and dry, dehydrated skin. It's not greasy or tacky at all, and the difference is immediately noticeable, which I loved. However, I didn't love that there was no indication of the concentration of HA, but there seems to be plenty enough for it to work very well."
See our full COSRX Hydrium Triple Hyaluronic Moisture Ampoule review for a more in-depth breakdown of its benefits
Our tester's first impressions upon testing the L’Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler were positive—it massages easily into the skin, and though it is scented (which may potentially put off some with sensitive skin), the formula wasn't overpowering, and in fact, the scent made it nicely pleasant to use.
The serum contains 1.5% hyaluronic acid, which is more than many standard drugstore formulations—one of the reasons why our tester loves this L'Oreal offering and why it had to make it onto our guide of the best hyaluronic acid serums. The fact that the HA is the sole active means you can pair this with other serums easily, such as the best retinol serums.
"While this product gave me a great hydrating glow and plumped up my skin, the word 'filler' in its name is a bit deceptive," says Fiona. "It won't magically improve the look of grooves like an injectable would. But the semantics can be forgiven when the price, the ingredients and the independent clinical results are this good. Studies found that after two weeks using this serum, wrinkles were reduced by 47%; after six weeks that number goes up to 60%. And after six weeks of using it, I can certainly attest to that figure!"
See our full L'Oreal Paris Revitalift Filler serum review to learn exactly why this budget serum is such an industry favorite
You’ve probably seen this one doing the rounds on TikTok—CeraVe is an excellent, affordable skincare brand that has the backing of dermatologists all over the world.
This serum comes with the added benefit of the brand’s signature ceramide complex, which supports the skin barrier, helps to prevent moisture loss, and protects your skin. Its consistency is more of a cream than a serum, but it sinks in so easily and leaves skin feeling soft from the get-go.
Frequently asked questions on hyaluronic acid serum
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid—or (C14H21NO11)n for the science fans out there—is actually a substance that’s already present in our skin. “It's one of the major components of our natural extracellular matrix, which is the framework our skin sits on,” explains Daniel Isaacs, director of research at Medik8. “This is important for maintaining a firm and supple complexion.
“Hyaluronic acid can draw moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and lower skin layers to the top levels of the epidermis. This leaves the complexion both nourished and supple.”
It also has a pretty impressive CV as a skin-benefiting ingredient. “Hyaluronic acid is able to hold 1,000 times its weight in water, so functions as a humectant,” adds Dr. Ifeoma Ejikeme, aesthetics doctor and founder of the Adonia Medical Clinic. “Its role in the skin is to help retain moisture and lubrication. It can be a helpful addition to a skincare routine used once or twice a day.”
Together with other important skincare ingredients, hyaluronic acid serums could make a huge difference in your skin's appearance. You can also use hyaluronic acid in your hair—it's especially good for dry patches.
How to use the hyaluronic acid serums
Hyaluronic acid serums can be used once or twice per day, so it’s up to you whether you factor it into your morning or evening skincare routine. Apply a few drops to damp skin before other serums and your moisturizer so that it can really draw that moisture into your skin. Either drop your serum into your palms or directly onto the face before smoothing or pressing it into your skin.
You may be wondering, is too much hyaluronic acid bad for your skin? And it turns out, it is possible to use too much, so try to stick to one application per day, as least to start with.
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