14 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums for Dewy, Hydrated Skin
When it comes to the ABCs of skincare, one of the most popular, buzzworthy words starts with the letter H—for hyaluronic acid. The skin-loving ingredient can be found pretty much everywhere and in almost any skincare product that promises to deliver plump, glowing skin that’s loaded with hydration. It’s true, the skincare world can't get enough of hyaluronic acid, and honestly, neither can we. It’s safe for all skin types (even sensitive skin and acne-prone skin) and can help with a host of skin concerns like dry skin, dark spots, signs of aging, skin texture, and more. While the ingredient may sound super science-y (it can also exist in skincare as sodium hyaluronate), it’s really a gentle, naturally occurring substance (it already exists in our bodies!) that does wonders to keep your skin looking dewy, supple, and moisturized. Bottom line: We’re big fans.
So what is hyaluronic acid? "Hyaluronic acid is an all-star humectant," says dermatologist Jennifer Herrmann, MD. "It binds to water, making the skin look dewy, hydrated, and glowing.” While hyaluronic acid is naturally found in your body, its natural aging process and exposure to the sun, smoke, and free radicals can decrease the amounts found in your skin over time.
According to Herrmann, applying hyaluronic acid topically will not only boost your skin's moisture levels but will also provide anti-aging benefits by "smoothing fine lines and filling hollows." The result? "A soft glow that isn’t oily in appearance," she says.
Are you ready to find your perfect HA serum match? You’ve come to the right place. Because we’re so obsessed, we compiled a list of 14 of the best hyaluronic acid serums to meet all your skincare needs.
Meet the Expert
Jennifer Herrmann, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon who studied at Princeton University and Harvard University. She is based in Los Angeles, California.
1. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum to Transition From Summer to Fall:
FIRST AID BEAUTY Hydrating Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
While a chill in the air after a long, hot summer may feel so refreshing, with fall weather also comes loads of dry skin issues (especially if you’ve got sensitive skin). Luckily, we keep this soothing face serum close by when we experience any cold-weather concerns like dryness, redness, and irritation. This hydrating hyaluronic acid serum is made with colloidal oatmeal to help calm skin while providing long-lasting hydration.
2. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Intense Hydration:
NIP + FAB Hyaluronic Fix Extreme4 Concentrate 2%
What we love most about this hydration helper is how baby soft our skin feels when we apply it before bed. Consider it a supercharged moisture shot for your skin that won’t leave your skin feeling sticky or greasy. One Ipster agrees, saying, “I have normal to dry skin, and this seemed to smooth out and overall hydrate my skin without leaving my skin feeling greasy. I can tell the difference if I skip this step in my normal routine.” The formula is super concentrated and contains both high and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to help hydrate skin’s surface as well as its deeper layers.
3. Best Collagen-Stimulating Hyaluronic Acid Formula:
DR. ZENOVIA Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Serum
If you’re looking to try to improve collagen and elasticity, peptides are where it's at. In a nutshell, their job is to send messages to your cells to increase the production of collagen and elastin—something that should be a part of any anti-aging skincare routine. What do we love about this formula? It’s also made with our bestie bakuchiol, which is basically a natural alternative to retinol, to help tackle all of our aging skin concerns, including the appearance of fine lines. “The serum is a gel-like consistency and spreads so beautifully across the face, neck, and chest. It’s fragrance-free which I appreciate. I apply this in the evening before bed, and when I wake up in the morning, my skin looks like glass,” one Ipster raves.
4. Most Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Lip Serum:
AVANT SKINCARE Hyaluronic Acid Replenishing Lip Serum
Dry, flaky lips don’t stand a chance with this mega hydrating lip saver. If you wake up with dry lips or find yourself reapplying lip balm all day, keep this little tube handy. Hyaluronic acid helps lock in moisture for smoother, plumper lips, while lactic acid helps improve skin tone—no sticky residue left behind either. “It’s a good product that hydrates well. I have found I'm not reaching for lip balm nearly as much since I began using this lip serum,” one Ipster says. Yay for soft, juicy lips 24/7!
5. Best Glycolic Acid–Infused Hyaluronic Acid Serum:
EIGHT SAINT SKINCARE Soulmate Brightening Treatment
What do you get when you mix hyaluronic acid with a dose of glycolic acid? A powerful pair of ingredients that helps increase cell turnover and deeply moisturize for brighter, more even-toned skin. We consider this more of a serum-lotion hybrid that we love to smooth on before applying moisturizer.
6. Best Hyaluronic Acid Treatment for Dark Spots:
ODACITÉ Brightening Serum Vitamin C & E + Hyaluronic Acid
With glowing reviews like this from one IPSY member, we made this our go-to serum to help even our skin tone and brighten up our dark spots: “I got this in my August box and it has worked miracles for my dark spots, plus it feels super silky going on. I highly suggest putting it in a skincare fridge and using it that way!” It’s all thanks to a cast of brightening skincare ingredients like our star, hyaluronic acid, plus squalane, vitamin c, and vitamin E that also help protect our skin barrier from free radical damage.
7. Best Ceramide-Infused Hyaluronic Acid Serum:
EVENPRIME Barrier Serum
Speaking of protecting our skin barrier, no tag team puts in work quite like the combo of hyaluronic acid and ceramides. They help hydrate and protect our skin from the environment, keeping the good stuff in and not-so-good stuff out (kind of like security at a club). Though they both naturally exist in us, the best way to replenish them is to add them to our skincare. With over 1,300 five-star reviews from fellow Ipsters, this light serum has a serious fan club. We trust it not to break out our oily skin and especially like to put some on before and after a long day in the sun.
8. Best Morning Hyaluronic Acid Serum With Vitamin C:
THISWORKS Morning Expert Hyaluronic Serum
This IPSY member review says it all: “There is a reason that is the brand name...it WORKS. It brightens my skin, brings life back to my dull spots, helps with discoloration from scars, and I’ve actually had significantly less breakouts since using it.” Besides, who doesn’t love having a little vitamin C in their morning routine?
9. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Dewy Skin All Day:
111SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster
If you’re on the hunt for a serum that gives you that glass skin glow, we give this one an A+. One Ipster loves how comfy it was on skin saying, “My skin absorbed it easily. It did not leave my skin overly oily or sticky and it made my skin look and feel amazing.” Also packed with aloe vera and lactic acid, which help exfoliate skin gently, this skin-nourishing treat will help give a naturally radiant glow.
10. Best No-Frills Hyaluronic Acid Formula:
THE ORDINARY Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
If you’re looking for pure hyaluronic acid serum without all extras, this brand best seller gets close. THE ORDINARY’s innovative formula uses three types of hyaluronic acid with varying molecular weights, as well as a hyaluronic acid crosspolymer, to offer seriously deep hydration and visible plumping action. To top it off, vitamin B5 helps lock in moisture day and night. It’s a best seller for a reason, and it’s also fragrance-free, oil-free, and vegan.
11. Best Antioxidant-Packed Hyaluronic Acid Serum:
SWEET CHEF Celery + Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Consider this like a morning shot of green juice for your skin. Loaded up with healthy vitamins and antioxidants (shout out to celery!), plus hyaluronic acid, a dime-size drop is all you need to help balance, plump up, and quench thirsty skin. We applied it after our cleanser and toner, before our makeup, and it didn’t cause any clumping or pilling. “The lightweight formula absorbs quickly, leaving a non-greasy finish. Packed with nourishing ingredients, it provides a noticeable boost in hydration. Over time, it contributes to a smoother and more radiant complexion,” says IPSY member, Rachana K.
12. Best Doctor-Created Hyaluronic Acid Serum:
DR. LARA DEVGAN SCIENTIFIC BEAUTY Hyaluronic Serum
When we found out that renowned plastic surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan had a medical-grade skincare line, we were beyond eager to try it. While it’s a splurge, it’s totally worth it. This mixed molecular weight hyaluronic acid serum left our skin feeling bouncy and plump like we just had a high-end facial. “It really does leave your face looking and feeling like glass,” says Kelli R.
13. Best Multitasking Hyaluronic Acid Serum:
FARMACY Filling Good Hyaluronic Acid Plumping Serum
We’re major fans of FARMACY already, but this do-it-all formula took our obsession to another level. Its impressive line of ingredients includes hyaluronic acid, thyme extract, amino acids, and vegan collagen to target multiple skincare concerns ranging from dry skin to anti-aging. “This serum is amazing!! I use it under my moisturizer, but it could stand on its own as well. Gives my face a nice healthy glow and moisturizes all day without leaving a greasy residue behind,” one Ipster shared. We call it our skin beautifier in a bottle.
14. Best Hyaluronic Acid Eye Serum:
SYMBIOSIS SKINCARE Hyaluronic Acid + R.N.A. De-Puffing & Dark Circles Relief Eye Serum
Looking for a little TLC around the eye area? This specialized eye serum pairs hydrating hyaluronic acid with R.N.A., a high-tech skin conditioning agent that dramatically fights signs of aging. Collagen also comes into play here to boost elasticity and skin suppleness. Just a few drops of this to the eye area in the morning provides long-term anti-aging benefits while also helping you look well-rested and ready to take on the day. "Love this under eye cream," one Ipster writes. "Truly makes a huge difference to dark under-eye circles with just a few uses!"