It does have its positives, particularly that my skin did feel extra smooth and hydrated after popping one ampoule on and my foundation glided on much easier after using it. Overall Look: We took note of how each product worked over the course of the testing period, and whether or not our complexion looked better with regular use. We also noted any issues we had with product fragrance and how the serums interacted with sensitive skin. It’s up to you if you use your HA serum as part of your morning or your night-time routine; if applying in the morning, give the product time to sink in before applying moisturiser and makeup, as serum formulations can be quite runny and may cause your makeup to slide off if not properly absorbed.

Sodium acetylated hyaluronate has the benefits of sodium hyaluronate but with longer-lasting results. It’s best for people who need moisture, such as those with dry skin, those who live in dry climates, or those looking for a product for the dry winter months. I very much like Skinceuticals’ products and frequently recommend them to my patients,” Dr. Yadav says, adding that it’s bursting with hydrators. A 1.3% concentration of hyaluronic acid is perfect for boosting water content in the skin, while 10% proxylane assists in helping skin retain its moisture for plumper skin. It’s ideal for mature, aging skin, notes Dr. Robinson. Wu B, Li Y-M, Liu Y-C. Efficacy of intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections in hip osteoarthritis: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Oncotarget. 2017;8(49):86865-86876. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.20995Yes, it’s safe to use hyaluronic acid on a daily basis. In fact, you can use hyaluronic acid in both your morning and evening skin care routines. It’s pretty gentle, so as long as you’re not using multiple sources of hyaluronic acid in the same regimen, it’s unlikely to cause irritation from daily use. Known for hydrating & plumping skin to perfection, we explore what hyaluronic acid actually does, how to use it & the best hyaluronic acid serums We’re big fans of The Ordinary’s inexpensive Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. After testing it for eight weeks, we saw an improvement in the appearance and feel of our skin—most notably with how supple it looked. Although we’re unsure about whether or not the product’s plumping capabilities or hydrating effects work, we were pleased with how soft our skin felt. Caitlyn Martyn is a commerce writer on staff at Byrdie, where she covers all things beauty and style. She gathered insights and testimonials from our experienced team of editors and in-house lab testers to curate this list of hyaluronic acid serums that actually do what they say they will. CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum ( Ulta.com) is easy to find, gentle on the skin, and combines hyaluronic acid with moisture-retaining ceramides.

Hyaluronic acid is generally safe for all skin types and doesn’t typically lead to any adverse reactions when applied topically, Marchbein says. “Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in our skin, and as a result, one should not expect any problems,” Dr. Rothaus says. “When patients complain of rashes or other problems related to hyaluronic acid–containing products, it is often a result of a problem with another ingredient, such as one of the preservatives.” Preservatives extend the life of a product, but some, including parabens, formaldehyde-releases, and isothiazolinones, can lead to irritation, according to DermNet.

The best hyaluronic acid serums to buy

To answer this properly, we must first explain what hyaluronic acid itself is (or allow Dija to). “It’s a large sugar molecule that is naturally produced in large quantities by the body,” Dija tells us. “It acts as a humectant, enabling the skin to retain water so it’s very good at helping the skin stay supple and hydrated,” she continues. Serums, as you might be aware, are products applied after cleansing, but before moisturising, that house high concentrations of active ingredients to target certain skin concerns you may have. So, there you have it! Hyaluronic acid also has healing and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent product to use to heal and hydrate irritated or sensitive skin. A great product to help dry skin retain moisture, hyaluronic acid is a good lightweight and non-greasy ingredient to help balance oilier skins. How should I apply my hyaluronic acid serum? Skinceuticals is a well-respected brand in the skin care market, but it doesn’t come cheap. Is it worth the splurge? According to multiple dermatologists who independently recommended it and our editors who tested it for eight weeks, when it comes to the Skinceuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier, the answer is yes. It’s true that hyaluronic acid is especially beneficial for those who lean on the dry side, but dermatologists want you to know that this hydrator is great for all skin types. One of its best attributes is its ability to strengthen the skin’s natural barrier by reducing trans-epidermal water loss, says Jill Salyards, DO, a board-certified dermatologist with a private practice in Knoxville, Tennessee. The results will be most visible on those with dryness or loss of elasticity, but it can certainly rejuvenate any and all skin. You can find this superstar ingredient in all types of skin care products, but a hyaluronic acid serum is a great choice because serums tend to be watery and more potent. The benefits of hyaluronic acid on the skin has to do with its molecular weight and concentration. In this case, size matters! The molecular weight refers to its mass, or how big the HA molecule is. This is measured in something called unified atomic mass units — daltons, or kDa for short.

As a Senior Beauty Editor with chronically thirsty skin, I was the ideal person to research this list of the best hyaluronic acid serums and lead the charge with testing (which the rest of the team were kind enough to help with). Even though HA is present in lots of products, from day creams, best body moisturisers and even haircare, I still think it's quite the underdog. In my opinion, there's no point using high-potency retinoids or thinking about getting Botox until you have a committed relationship with HA. Its main job is hydration, sure – but this leads to plumper, bouncier skin and (admittedly temporarily) filled wrinkles.I'm firmly on the HA side of the hyaluronic acid vs retinol debate. As one of the industry’s most popular active ingredients, there’s no shortage of hyaluronic acid serums to choose from. We tested 27 of the top-rated products on the market, but only 12 made the cut. Here are some that were also in the running. They didn’t make our final list of recommendations, but since skin care is personal, they may be ideal for some people. Draelos ZD, et al. (2021). Efficacy evaluation of a topical hyaluronic acid serum in facial photoaging. Hyaluronic acid is an active ingredient in skin care products that works by increasing hydration (water content) in the skin. More specifically, it’s a humectant, which means it retains moisture. There are many humectants to choose from, but hyaluronic acid is considered the gold standard for reducing dryness. After one month, they found that treatment with 130 kDa HA was the most effective, increasing skin elasticity by 20 percent. Both the 50 and 130 kDa groups had significant improvement in wrinkle-depth and skin roughness after 60 days. All the other molecular weights still improved elasticity and skin hydration, just less so. You can read more about this molecular weight analysis from the original breakdown here. Diameter of hyaluronic acid

The added B5 and ceramides make this serum a great choice for all skin types, but especially sensitive skin. Costagliola M, et al. (2005). Second-degreeburns: A comparative, multicenter, randomized trial of hyaluronic acid plussilver sulfadiazine vs. silver sulfadiazine alone. DOI: Immediate and long-term effects of a topical serum with five forms of hyaluronic acid on facial wrinkles and intrinsic skin moisture content. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2016;74(5). doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2016.02.072 Frenkel JS. The role of hyaluronan in wound healing. International Wound Journal. 2012;11(2):159-163. doi:10.1111/j.1742-481x.2012.01057.x

Hyaluronic acid is] an effective moisturizer because it can hold one thousand times its weight in water,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist practicing at Shafer Clinic in New York.Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid is hyaluronic acid that has been broken down into elements small enough to penetrate the skin, Gasquet says. It’s moisturizing, but not the most moisturizing option, so it’s best for people who have oily or combination skin, since these skin types want to avoid over-moisturizing.