When it comes to getting dewy, hydrated skin, few skin-care products deliver the way some of the best hyaluronic acid serums do. While the fact that “acid” makes up 50 percent of the name hyaluronic acid, don’t be fooled into thinking the skin-care ingredient is not for everyone; in fact, the substance is naturally produced by our bodies and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water.
However, your skin’s level of hyaluronic acid decreases with age, so if you’re looking to maintain your moisture barrier and ramp up hydration levels, you may want to consider incorporating HA-laced products into your daily skin-care routine.
Known as a humectant, “[hyaluronic acid] is great at holding water and giving skin resilience and firmness,” New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Doris Day, MD, tells Allure. “We can inject hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the skin to help restore lost volume, but used in creams and serums it can also do wonders for rejuvenation and hydration.” (If fact, you can quite literally get hyaluronic acid fillers at your board-certified dermatologist’s office, but we’re just talking about the topical stuff in this story.)
With their non-irritating nature, hyaluronic acid serums are generally usable across multiple skin types, including sensitive skin, Jacquelyn Sink, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist, tells Allure. To get the most benefits out of your serum experience, she shares her preferred application method. “Hyaluronic acid serums are best applied to slightly damp skin and before applying other products,” Dr. Sink explains. “Moisturizing with a thicker cream or serum afterward can help lock in hydration.”
You’ll likely notice an immediate improvement in the hydration of your skin with use, Dr. Sink says. “Long-term benefits are seen as early as two weeks with continued improvement through several months,” she ads.
All year round, our skin craves moisture to counteract a rainbow of skin-care concerns, such as sun exposure, signs of aging (like fine lines), loss of elasticity, and plain ‘ol dehydrated skin. Here, we present 21 of the best hyaluronic acid serums to give your skin some serious TLC.