Incorporating the best hyaluronic acid serums into your skincare routine can bring you one step closer to the skin you’ve always wanted – smooth, bouncy, and impossibly radiant. This remarkable ingredient offers a multitude of benefits.
“It works to retain moisture within, which leads to hydrated, plump skin and a more youthful appearance,” explains Dr. Orit Markowitz, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.
This ability to attract moisture makes hyaluronic acid a natural fit for those with dry or dull skin, who stand to gain the most from its hydrating properties. However, it also combats dehydrated skin, as hyaluronic acid can hold “one thousand times its weight in water,” says Dr. Michelle Henry, another board-certified dermatologist in New York. (Remember, dry skin lacks oil, whereas dehydrated skin lacks water.) And for those with oily skin, hyaluronic acid offers hydration without the heaviness, making it a key ingredient in lightweight moisturizers.
While hyaluronic acid is naturally present in our skin, it “naturally depletes with age, which is why it’s important to incorporate it into your skincare routine via topical products,” explains Dr. Markowitz. She recommends using a hyaluronic-acid serum a few times a week, once per day. “If you use hyaluronic acid every day, your skin will adapt too quickly and the results won’t be as impactful,” she notes.
Another pro tip, from aesthetician and Dior skin-care expert Sean Garrette, is to apply the serum on damp skin (either after cleansing or directly following your face essence or toner). New York-based aesthetician Samantha Mims agrees with this application technique, noting that “it aids in penetration and helps the hyaluronic acid to perform optimally in the skin, creating a plump, dewy look and feel.”
Below, skin experts share their recommendations for the best hyaluronic acid serums to help you achieve your most radiant and hydrated skin in any season:
* SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
* iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum
* La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
* PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
* Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%
* SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
* Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
* Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
* Rodial Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Mask
* Kiehl’s Vital Skin-Strengthening Hyaluronic Acid Super Serum
* Furtuna Skin Porte Per La Vitalitá Face & Eye Serum
* Noble Panacea The Absolute Nourishing Lift Oil
* Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Liquid Gel Cloud Serum
* Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum With Hyaluronic Acid
* Jan Marini Hyla3D Face Serum
* Yon-Ka Hydra No.1 Face Serum
As we mentioned, hyaluronic acid is found naturally throughout the body, where it helps lubricate the joints and plump skin. “Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning it acts like a magnet for moisture—it draws water from its surroundings and holds onto it,” says Dr. Geeta Yadav, a board-certified dermatologist in Toronto, Canada. Once in the layers of those, water molecules add volume, lending skin a plumper look.
First, consider the size. Not all hyaluronic acid is created equal; they come in various molecular sizes, or weights. “Smaller molecules are able to penetrate the skin more deeply than larger molecules,” says Dr. Yadav. Meanwhile, larger sizes remain near the top of skin, offering more immediate (though temporary) plumping. “For comprehensive skin hydration, consider looking for a hyaluronic acid serum that contains multiple molecular weights,” says Dr. Yadav. She also recommends looking for a formula with multiple humectants, such as glycerin and aloe. This offers the best possible hydration, which is critical for those with dehydrated skin (which can otherwise appear dull and prone to sagging).
In drawing water into the skin, hyaluronic acid “helps hydrate the skin, plumping and smoothing its appearance,” says Dr. Yadav. That can make it helpful not only if you have dryness, but also for those looking to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles—as dehydrated skin can exaggerate their appearance.
Anyone and everyone benefits from using a hyaluronic-acid serum. “Even if you don’t have dry skin, your skin can be dehydrated,” says Dr. Yadav. Furthermore, there’s the fact that the skin’s innate production of hyaluronic acid drops with age. To offset the consequences, “think of hyaluronic acid and other humectants as a glass of water for your skin,” she says. “Chances are, you can always benefit from a glass of water.”
For those with sensitive skin, there’s little reason to worry—since hyaluronic acid is naturally found in skin, even very sensitive skin types tolerate it well.
Hyaluronic acid is a bit of an extrovert, meaning it plays well with other active ingredients. For one, to get the maximum benefit of any active ingredient, hyaluronic acid included, “you’ll want to apply it to freshly exfoliated skin—it won’t get where it needs to go if there are dead skin cells in the way,” says Dr. Yadav. “Consider using a hyaluronic acid serum that features gentle chemical exfoliants like PHA.” And because hyaluronic acid draws moisture into skin, a healthy skin barrier helps keep it there—thus extending its benefits. So barrier-replenishing ingredients like ceramides and fatty acids can help you maximize the effects of hyaluronic acid.
