Hyaluronic acid is a true hero beauty ingredient: It plumps and hydrates skin without feeling oily, increases elasticity, and visibly smooths the appearance of fine lines. A good formula penetrates easily without leaving a sticky feel and layers well under other skincare and makeup. Our top pick for the best hyaluronic acid serum is Cosrx’s The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum due to how it sinks quickly into skin and its plumping power. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, we like Alastin’s HA Immerse Serum because it offers immediate gratification, boosting moisture and decreasing the appearance of fine lines over time.
Our bodies produce less hyaluronic acid as we age, but serums can be an effective way to treat visible signs of aging. “When applied topically in a serum, hyaluronic acid functions as a humectant, attracting and holding moisture on the surface of the skin,” says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Whitney Tolpinrud. “This delivers a visible plumping effect, leaving the skin smoother, dewier and more radiant.” Key factors to consider when serum shopping: molecular weight, concentration and additional ingredients like antioxidants, peptides and ceramides. Below, our expert-led edit of the best hyaluronic acid serums to incorporate into your routine as winter rounds the corner.
Our Top Recommendations
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum Overall: Cosrx The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum
- Best Value Hyaluronic Acid Serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- Best Luxury Hyaluronic Acid Serum: Alastin HA Immerse Serum
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum With Niacinamide: CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum With Vitamin C: Superegg Tonal Scenery Reparative Serum
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Mature Skin: SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Oily Skin: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Serum
- Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Dry Skin: Sunday Riley Tidal Deep Hydration And Plumping Serum
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum Overall
Popular Pick For A Hydration Boost
Cosrx The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum
For when dry, dull skin needs a pick-me-up, Cosrx’s hyaluronic serum is both hydrating and protective. The formula contains hyaluronic acid in a low molecular weight, which means it can permeate deeply to draw in moisture and turn skin from sunken to springy. It also has an amino acid complex to prevent against dehydration and ceramides to protect from environmental stressors. If you’re struggling with flaky skin and patchy makeup, reviewers report this layers well under makeup without pilling.
Best Value Hyaluronic Acid Serum
An Affordable Formula With High-Quality Actives
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
The Ordinary’s formula has five different forms of hyaluronic acid to penetrate different layers of the skin, it contains ceramides to support the skin barrier, and it has soothing vitamin B5, which ensures skin stays hydrated all day and night. Even better, it does all this at a fraction of the price of other serums. If you’re looking for a formula with a lightweight, non-sticky feel that makes skin feel tighter, smoother and plumper, this is a worthwhile option. To note: Some say it can pill under makeup.
Best Luxury Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Anti-Aging Formula With Long-Term Plumping Benefits
Alastin HA Immerse Serum
Alastin’s products are beloved by beauty editors (including Forbes Vetted deputy editor Jane Sung) and dermatologists because they’re backed by data and produce visible results. The brand’s HA Immerse Serum is a popular pick because while some serums only hydrate for a brief period, this one contains a proprietary Octapeptide-45 that bolsters the skin’s ability to create its own high-molecular hyaluronic acid. What this means: The transformative plumping and smoothing effects last—and you won’t find yourself looking into the mirror at tired, dull skin after a few hours.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum With Niacinamide
Instant Hydration And Future Skin Benefits
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The gel-cream texture of this hydrating formula has a lightweight feel that absorbs quickly and easily—there’s no heavy, oily consistency here. It’s also full of beneficial ingredients including calming and smoothing niacinamide, barrier-restoring ceramides and soothing vitamin B5, so you’re checking lots of beauty boxes in addition to addressing dry skin. Also nice: Cerave’s Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum has a patented delivery system, so it continually delivers moisture for up to 24 hours.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum With Vitamin C
A Hardworking, Reparative Formula With Three Types Of Vitamin C
Superegg Tonal Scenery Reparative Serum
It’s nice to feel like your beauty products are really working hard without a lot of effort on your part, and Superegg’s formula—a top pick of Sung’s—does just that. This multitasker soothes, smooths and rejuvenates with nutrient-rich botanicals and actives. Peptides improve skin firmness and stimulate collagen production, niacinamide, vitamin C and plant stem cells brighten skin, probiotics work as a protective shield from environmental stressors and bio desert oil improves the appearance of spots. So really, there’s a lot going on with this formula, and it results in more radiant, hydrated skin.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Mature Skin
Boosts Skin Texture And Overall Elasticity
SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan
As we age, it can sometimes feel like you’re in a constant battle against skin volume loss. SkinCeuticals’ formula helps hydrate, and then some. It fight dullness, creases and droopiness—so if you’re concerned about things like skin sag and jowls, this may be the serum for you. With ingredients such as soybean ferment extract and licorice root extract, SkinCeuticals’ HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan is designed to increase natural hyaluronic acid levels by 30%, improve skin elasticity, fill in fine lines and ultimately enhance the contours of your face. So basically, this is the holy grail.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Acne-Prone Skin
Non-Comedogenic Formula That Won't Exacerbate Breakouts
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum
La Roche-Posay’s products are high impact without a high price tag, and this one is particularly fitting for people with acne. It features two types of hyaluronic acid—to hydrate at both the surface and at a deeper level—and soothing vitamin B5 to support the skin barrier. Both work in conjunction with madecassoside, an ingredient that is anti-inflammatory, reduces redness, protects against free radical damage and promotes wound healing.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Oily Skin
A Gel-Like Serum With A Matte Finish
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Serum
Adding moisture to oily skin can be complicated because many skin-softening ingredients can make you feel even more greasy. The oil-free, liquid gel texture of this formula melts into the skin and dries to a matte finish, so you’re left plumped and healthy-looking, but without feeling like the serum is weighing heavily on the surface. Peter Thomas Roth’s Water Drench also includes a sodium PCA, a humectant, and silk proteins to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Dry Skin
Five Different Hyaluronic Acids For Parched Skin
Sunday Riley Tidal Deep Hydration And Plumping Serum
This recently-released serum works in two phases—first, it infuses the skin with various layers of moisture, then it locks it in. This formula seems to approach skin dryness from all different angles. It contains five types of hyaluronic acid to penetrate different layers of the skin; polyglutamic acid holds onto moisture; lotus-derived vegan mucin plumps and enhances elasticity; and finally, trehalose (a sugar-derived humectant) seals in moisture. I like that this leaves me dewy without feely oily or sticky, it gives my skin a nice bounce and youthful elasticity, and it makes my pores appear less visible and more blurred.
Forbes Vetted’s beauty team meticulously researches and tests skincare, haircare and makeup products to ensure we’re providing thoughtful recommendations.
We began our careful selection of the best hyaluronic acid serums with a broad list of serums from top brands before narrowing down picks based on specific criteria, user reviews and expert insights.
Hyaluronic acid has become a buzzy skincare ingredient in the past several years, largely because it’s so effective. “It’s a naturally occurring molecule in our skin that functions like a sponge—it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water,” says Hovenic. It’s also critical to skin appearing youthful and elastic. “Hyaluronic acid is a key component of the skin’s extracellular matrix, and its natural levels begin to decline around age 25,” says Tolpinrud. “Overall, the best hyaluronic acid serums combine multiple molecular weights, an optimal concentration, and a thoughtful formulation to deliver both surface and deep hydration.”
Many hyaluronic acid serums list their concentration in their name or on the front of the bottle. “Many serums are about .5% to 1.5% hyaluronic acid, and in some cases 2%,” says Shamban. “The lower the concentration of hyaluronic acid, the lighter and thinner the serum formula, which helps with absorption so more of the work is done below.” Higher concentration formulas will be thicker and sometimes stickier, and they plump skin at the surface.
With concentration, more isn’t always better—this is because very high levels may not improve results and can affect product texture or tolerability, Tolpinrud says. Lighter, lower concentration serums that are water-based can be beneficial for sensitive or acne-prone skin.
Experts agree that hyaluronic acid serums that include a blend of low, medium and high molecular weights are most effective because they can hydrate multiple layers of the skin. “High weights help smooth and moisturize the surface, while lower weights penetrate more deeply for longer-lasting hydration,” says Hovenic. In general, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid stays on the skin’s surface, “drawing in water to provide immediate hydration and barrier protection, while low molecular weight hyaluronic acid penetrates deeper into the skin to support elasticity and collagen production,” says Tolpinrud. So to put it simply, higher weights offer immediate gratification while lower weights will have a greater impact on longer term hydration and collagen production.
Hyaluronic acid serums that are paired with complementary skin-benefitting ingredients pack an additional punch. “Look for supporting ingredients like ceramides, peptides, or panthenol that help lock in moisture and strengthen the skin barrier,” says Hovenic. The best ingredients to consider may depend on your skin needs and the skin issues you’re trying to address.
“Depending on your skin type, look for some of the pairings that work well with hyaluronic acid, including vitamin C, a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that is a great complement for brightening,” says Shamban. “Niacinamide is also an anti-inflammatory that supports regulation of oil production and improves texture.” Glycerin and ceramides are great partners to hyaluronic acid too, she says. “Glycerin is a humectant with similar functions, and ceramides are lipids that function like a retaining wall to protect moisture and strengthen the skin barrier to prevent transepidermal water loss.”