Hyaluronic acid is an ingredient that’s talked about a lot, so finding the best hyaluronic acid serum – in which the star ingredient is concentrated – is an essential for plump, juicy and hydrated skin. Considered a cornerstone in many of today’s formulations, it’s renowned for its ability to hold as much as 1,000 times its own weight in water, which means that not only does it hydrate, but it can help with subtle volume too.
An essential in any good skincare routine, we tested an array of the best hyaluronic acid serums that promise to deliver healthy, hydrated and glowing skin. They lived up to their promises, too. Here goes:
In this article:
- What percentage of hyaluronic acid should products contain?
- Is there a difference in types of hyaluronic acid?
- Is hyaluronic acid suitable for all skin types?
- Is it okay to use hyaluronic acid every day?
- How much hyaluronic acid should I use?
- What should you not use hyaluronic acid with?
Medik8’s Hydr8 B5 Liquid Rehydration Serum tops our list of some of the best hyaluronic acid serums. “It’s lightweight and plays well with all the other products in my routine,” says contributing beauty editor Lauren Murdoch-Smith. “It’s the kind of formula that my skin drinks up, so it alleviates dryness, but it’s also not sticky. It works wonders at plumping and smoothing the face, neck and hands over time too. I’m obsessed.” Combining smaller HA molecules with heavier ones, it works on multiple layers of the skin.
Best hyaluronic acid serums at a glance:
- Best overall hyaluronic acid: Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Rehydration Serum, £45
- Best affordable hyaluronic acid: CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £23
- Best hyaluronic acid for dry skin: Vichy Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum, £35
- Best low molecular weighted hyaluronic acid: 111SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster, £100
- Best multi-weight hyaluronic acid: Alpha H Hyaluronic 8 Super Serum with PrimalHyal Ultrafiller, £54
- Best hyaluronic acid under £10: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, £9
How we tested the best hyaluronic acid serums
We asked the wider Vogue team to test different hyaluronic acid serums, and based on their feedback – which took into account consistency, feel under make-up and efficacy – we came up with this shortlist. The below are HA serums that we really rate, and which are tried and tested by a number of different skin types.
Below, shop British Vogue’s edit of the best hyaluronic acid serums and lotions to try now.
H.A. Intensifier Multi-Glycan
Best hyaluronic acid for deep hydration
Why it’s Vogue approved:
This hardworking serum doesn’t just treat dehydration from the outside, but it also works to amplify the skin’s own HA production over time. It contains 1.3 per cent hyaluronic acid and 12 per cent proxylane to improve skin quality and texture, as well as a postbiotic ferment extract to help increase and preserve hyaluronic acid levels in the skin’s upper layers.
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum
Best hyaluronic acid for skin bounce
Why it’s Vogue approved:
South Korean skincare brand Innisfree knows how to make skin feel fresh-out-the-spa, even if you’re at home. This serum pairs multiweight hyaluronic acid with niacinamide and camellia, a tea leaf extract known to stimulate collagen production. Expect to enjoy skin that feels and looks smooth, soothed and bouncy. It has a refreshing scent that comes courtesy of limonene essential oil, which is worth noting if you’re fragrance averse.
CeraVe
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Best affordable hyaluronic acid
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Rich in ceramides and emollients, this serum has a creamy consistency. More like a moisturiser than a lightweight liquid, it combines all-important hyaluronic acid with nourishing ingredients to repair the skin and nurture the skin barrier. “I love everything about this serum, including how well it hydrates my skin so quickly, and how affordable it is. If in doubt, I always return to it,” Georgia Day, Vogue beauty contributor
111Skin
Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster
Best low molecular weight hyaluronic acid
Why it’s Vogue approved:
The most sophisticated hyaluronic acid formulas boost moisture without leaving uncomfortable residues or stickiness, and here you’re looking at a fine example. Light enough to be mixed with other skincare, this potent serum uses low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. Skin is moisturised from the inside out, plus brightened and protected thanks to the addition of niacinamide and urea.
Alpha H
Hyaluronic 8 Super Serum with PrimalHyal UltraFiller
Best hyaluronic acid for plumping
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Billed as a non-invasive alternative to injectable dermal fillers, the allure of this serum is its flash-filling formula. A whopping eight molecular weights of hyaluronic acid ensure hydration plumps tissues at every level, whilst the addition of an antioxidant called cureberry extract preserves skin’s collagen and elastin stores. Thick and tacky, it instantly binds moisture to the skin, and best of all, leaves no residue when massaged in.
Dermatica
Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid + Vit B5 Serum
Best hyaluronic acid for sensitive skin
Why it’s Vogue approved:
This fuss-free, lightweight HA is infused with vitamin B5, so is not only super moisturising, but it’s also great for smoothing over fine lines and wrinkles. Fragrance-free, it’s brilliant for sensitive skin.
L'Oréal Paris
Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Best hyaluronic acid for mature skin
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Like filler in a bottle, L’Oréal’s fast-absorbing serum gives a plumping boost to faces that are feeling a little lax. Thanks to macro and micro molecules of hyaluronic acid, it works both on the surface and internally to smooth wrinkles, restoring lost volume with an optimal concentration of 1.5 per cent.
Vichy
Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
Best hyaluronic acid for dry skin
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Like other French dermo-cosmetic brands, Vichy’s product range is science-backed, so you can expect effective results. Vichy’s Minéral 89 is British Skin Foundation-approved and is made up of just 11 ingredients, including natural origin hyaluronic acid and volcanic water. “This Vichy serum is lightweight, sinks in quickly and works really well under make-up, plus I always feel like my skin gets a good drink whenever I use it,” says Vogue contributor Hannah Coates. “It’s a must-try.”
Glossier
Super Bounce Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Best hyaluronic acid for dewy skin
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Glossier practically invented the clean and dewy beauty look we’ve all come to love in recent years, so it should surprise no one that its hyaluronic serum is very good indeed. With 2 per cent hyaluronic acid complex and a generous helping of vitamin B5, it plumps skin with moisture and sinks in comfortably for a glossy, non-stick finish.
Read more: An Expert’s Guide To Concealer For Mature Skin
La Roche-Posay
HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Best hyaluronic acid for barrier repair
Why it’s Vogue approved:
With added niacinamide, vitamin B5 and thermal spring water, this serum offers a barrier-repairing boost. Great for restoring volume to dehydrated skin, its large molecular hyaluronic smooths wrinkles on the surface whilst a smaller molecule sinks in deeper to plump skin from within.
The Ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydration Support Formula
Best hyaluronic acid serum under £10
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Having democratised the industry with simple, super affordable, single-ingredient skincare, we can’t discuss the best hyaluronic acids without mentioning The Ordinary. This viscous serum is perfect for those with super dry skin – just make sure you apply it when your face is damp to make the most of the moisture-magnetising formula.
Votary
Hyaluronic Self-Tan Drops With Calendula And DHA
Best hyaluronic acid for a sun-kissed glow
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Blending HA with self-tanning DHA and candula’s natural skin-brightening properties, Votary’s serum promises that just-off-the-plane, sun-kissed radiance. Better yet: it contains soothing aloe vera and hydrating glycerin, too, so the skincare benefits go far beyond a glowing complexion.
Intense Hydrating Booster
Best hyaluronic acid for under make-up
Why it’s Vogue approved:
“This is my go-to serum to wear under make-up. It’s not tacky and doesn’t pill when layered, but just glides on smoothly and sinks in immediately,” says Georgia Day, Vogue beauty contributor. As well as low molecular weight hyaluronic acid that hydrates the skin’s deeper dermal layers, it also contains soothing rosewater and a proprietary complex with supports your skin’s natural defences to keep the skin barrier strong and resilient against further moisture loss.
Meet the experts
- Dr Barbara Sturm is an orthopaedic specialist, aesthetic expert and founder of Dr Barbara Sturm Skincare.
- Dr AJ Sturnham is a GP who specialises in dermatology and the founder of Decree.
- Daniel Isaacs is a chemist and director of research at Medik8.
FAQs
What does hyaluronic acid do to your skin?
“Hyaluronic acid is one of the major components of our natural extracellular matrix, which is the framework our skin sits on,” says Daniel Isaacs, chemist and director of research at Medik8. “With a unique ability to attract and retain more than 1,000 times its own weight in water, hyaluronic acid can draw moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and lower skin layers to the top levels of the epidermis.” Ultra-hydrating, it’s what gives your skin that supple, plumping effect.
While naturally occurring in the skin, our hyaluronic acid stores deplete as we age, leaving our skin increasingly unable to retain water, which results in dehydration, sallow skin, and ultimately fine lines and wrinkles.
When applied topically, the best hyaluronic acid serums work to reduce moisture loss, while bolstering the skin barrier function.
What percentage of hyaluronic acid should products contain?
Hyaluronic acid serums and creams can contain between 0.25 and 2 per cent HA. More isn’t necessarily better, as with many skincare ingredients. In fact, serums with a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid can make the skin more dehydrated, if you apply when it is already adequately hydrated and the air is dry. Often, it’s best to layer your hyaluronic acid serum with a moisturiser on top to prevent this from happening.
Are there different types of hyaluronic acid?
There are different sizes. Those that are high in molecular weight don’t penetrate the top layer of the skin and instead provide hydration and a plumping effect on the surface. Meanwhile, low molecular weight hyaluronic acid penetrates deeper into the skin to treat fine lines, wrinkles, elasticity and dehydration.
Is hyaluronic acid suitable for all skin types?
Yes, unless you have a specific sensitivity to the other ingredients in the serum. It’s a humectant – meaning it helps draw moisture into the skin – so it’s super versatile for the majority of skin types.
Is hyaluronic acid best in a serum form?
While one of the most popular forms of hyaluronic acid delivery, it is also often added to creams, lotions and masks.
Is it okay to use hyaluronic acid every day?
Hyaluronic acid is perfectly safe to use every day. In fact, most experts would encourage you to apply it twice a day, every day, as part of your morning and evening rituals. “It should be applied immediately after washing your face and before the application of lipid-based moisturisers.” Dr Barbara Sturm advises.
How much hyaluronic acid should I use?
When it comes to applying hyaluronic acid, it’s best to use high concentrations in smaller doses, so anywhere between one to two per cent. “As a raw material hyaluronic acid is thick and gloopy,” says Dr AJ Sturnham, founder of cult skincare brand Decree. “Your skin utilises it more effectively in smaller concentrated doses, staggered across a day and night routine.”
What should you not use hyaluronic acid with?
Perhaps the best thing about hyaluronic acid is that it has the unique ability to enhance the power of any and every product you layer on top of it, which means it’s not only safe to use with all your other products and ingredients (like your vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, moisturiser), it will actually increase their effectiveness, making it one of the best additions you could make to your skincare routine.
