You’ve probably seen the term hyaluronic acid plastered across various products in the skincare aisle. (Or maybe you’ve seen Eva Longoria touting it in that L’Oreal Paris commercial, or noticed that Gwyneth Paltrow swears by a lip balm that includes the ingredient.) But do you know what it is? And is it safe to use?
What is hyaluronic acid?
When you hear the word “acid,” you might imagine an ingredient that could burn off the top layer of your epidermis. But that’s not the case here: Hyaluronic acid is something our bodies naturally produce, and is very mild on the skin. “Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar, and its primary function is to absorb water,” says Angela J. Lamb, MD, a New York-based dermatologist. But as we age, our production of hyaluronic acid decreases. “Our body naturally produces it, but there’s less production as we mature, which is why older skin tends to be drier,” says Dr. Lamb.
What does hyaluronic acid do?
Many moisturizers and serums contain hyaluronic acid because it plumps up your skin with much-needed hydration. “It’s used in many moisturizers, and it’s the primary ingredient in most cosmetic fillers,” says Dr. Lamb.
It’s also safe to use on all skin types and at all ages, according to Dr. Lamb, “because it moisturizes without being too heavy.”
The best part is that after just a few days of using a hyaluronic acid-based serum or moisturizer, you’ll start to see an improvement. “The main way it functions is by absorbing moisture, so you should see results quickly,” says Lamb.
So if your skin is already feeling as dry as the Sahara, it might be time to treat yourself to the extra moisture that hyaluronic acid can provide. Below, we’re sharing Dr. Lamb’s go-to serum, plus a few other hyaluronic acid products we love here at Katie Couric Media.
The Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums and Moisturizers
Best Overall: StriVectin
Sephora
Most skincare savants consider the StriVectin Hydration Multiplier Hyaluronic Acid Serum their holy grail. It features a unique two-part system: a clear gel and a cream dispense simultaneously, for a dual process. The result? Intense hydration that lives up to the product’s name.
Best Budget: The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The Inkey List
One of the best parts about hyaluronic acid is that you don’t have to spend a fortune to reap the benefits. The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum is one of our favorite budget-friendly, high-performing skincare brands, and their hyaluronic acid serum is a bestselling product backed by over one thousand five-star reviews. One reviewer put it best: “This is the holy grail from The Inkey List. Everyone should add this to their routine!”
Best for Dry Skin: PCA Skin
PCA Skin
If you have extra-dry skin, this is the product for you. PCA Skin’s Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum uses hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid — an ultra-small molecule designed to penetrate more deeply — delivering both instant and long-term hydration.
Best for Normal Skin: Peter Thomas Roth
Dermstore
Peter Thomas Roth’s ultra-hydrating Water Drench “cloud cream” with hyaluronic acid is accurately named: It feels like draping a soothing, damp cloud over your face. It’s gentle enough to use morning and night, and is super lightweight, so it never makes skin feel clogged or suffocated.
Derm-Recommended: La Roche-Posay
Dermstore
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum is Dr. Lamb’s go-to recommendation for daily use. The hyaluronic acid adds hydration to the skin, while the vitamin B5 keeps your skin feeling soft and smooth. After washing your face each morning and/or night, add a few droplets onto your hands, then massage the serum onto your face and neck.
Best for Glowing Skin: Merit
Merit
This lightweight, but powerful serum combines four types of hyaluronic acid that target multiple layers of skin, locking in hydration for all-day moisture. Merit Great Skin Serum adds even more glow with brightening niacinamide and caffeine-rich cacao seed extract that wake up your skin and leave it plumped and smooth. Wear it by itself or layer your makeup over it.
Best for Mature Skin: Caire Beauty
Caire Beauty
For anyone in hormone decline, it’s important to replace the hyaluronic acid lost within the skin barrier as well. Caire Beauty’s Triple Lift Molecule Mask and Theorem Serum both contain extra-tiny molecules of hyaluronic acid that hydrate and plump the skin from the inside out.
Best for Plumping: Glossier
Glossier
With three different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to help your skin retain moisture, Glossier Super Bounce will help keep your skin feeling and looking plumper. It works by helping skin pull moisture deep into its layers, which can give the appearance of a smoother complexion. This formula glides over your skin and doesn’t feel sticky, and it pairs well with other moisturizers and makeup, too.
Best Clean Beauty: OSEA
Nordstrom
You’ll feel good about putting this on your skin, but you should also feel good about the packaging it comes in. OSEA creates cruelty-free products in easily recyclable packaging, as reducing environmental impact is part of the brand’s mission. Inside its Hyaluronic Sea Serum, you’ll find a soothing serum full of hyaluronic acid, seaweed, and snow mushroom, all of which help plump and smooth skin from the inside out.
Best Skin Tint: ILIA
ILIA
We love a product that can multi-task, and ILIA’s Super Serum Skin Tint does just that by combining light coverage color with SPF 40 and — you guessed it — hyaluronic acid for a skincare-makeup hybrid that leaves skin nourished, moisturized, and even. Just ask our own staff!
Best for Lips: Paula’s Choice
Sephora
Give your lips a little lovin’ with this super lightweight moisturizer, Paula’s Choice’s Hyaluronic Acid and Peptide Lip Booster. The hyaluronic acid works to soften and soothe your lips while leaving them ultra-hydrated.
Best for the Body: Nécessaire
Sephora
Your face isn’t the only part of your body that deserves a full skincare routine. If you suffer from dry skin all over, consider using Nécessaire’s The Body Serum to help replenish your skin’s natural moisture. It is fragrance-free, so it won’t irritate those allergic to perfumes, and quickly absorbs into your skin, unlike some lotions.
