14 Hyaluronic Acid Products to Quench Dry Winter Skin
Dewy, bouncy skin? Here you come.
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Don’t let the word “acid” scare you. While we love most acids for the different roles they play in our skincare routines, hyaluronic acid should be the one that scares you the absolute least: In fact, Hyaluronic acid is a moisture magnet, and we just can’t get enough of it.
Best Hyaluronic Acid Products
- Best Overall: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
- Best Face Mask: Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask
- Polder's Pick: Revision Skincare Hydrating Serum
- Most Potent Formula: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir
- Best Protection: ISDIN Flavo-C Ultraglican Serum Ampoules
- 24-Hour Hydration: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Face Serum
- Best Clinical Formula: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
- Best Luxury Formula: Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
- Budget-Friendly: L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care
- Best Moisturizer: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
To help simplify your search for the best hyaluronic acid serums and creams, we asked dermatologists why this TikTok-famous ingredient lives up to the hype, how to correctly incorporate it into your skincare routine, and their all-time favorite hyaluronic acid products. We also share standout hyaluronic acid serums and creams that are aligned with their expert guidance.
What Is Hyaluronic Acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance produced by skin cells, and it’s lauded by medical experts and beauty enthusiasts alike. It is a “powerful humectant,” which means hyaluronic acid loves water and helps retain it in your skin so that you’re well-moisturized. In fact, hyaluronic acid loves H20 so much, it can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Hadley King, M.D.
What are the benefits of hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is far from just a buzzy skincare ingredient — it has real staying power, and is effective at more than just hydrating your parched skin. For starters, the fast-absorbing clear liquid plumps your skin from the outside in so you can visibly see results, says board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kristel Polder, M.D.
You've also probably heard that you shouldn't combine certain acids (like alpha hydroxy acids) with other active ingredients in your skincare routine (like retinol), but hyaluronic acid is one that you can mix with nearly any other product out there. It replenishes the moisture that many other active ingredients diminish, so it's safe to mix and match accordingly.
A 2019 study even shows that this superhero beauty ingredient “produces anti-arthritic effects,” and is gentle enough to help treat wounds and burns.
What to Consider
What are the best forms of hyaluronic acid?
You can easily find hyaluronic acid in topical skincare products like serums and creams, but over the past few years, brands such as I.T. Cosmetics, Ilia, and Armani Beauty have infused it into foundations. King favors hyaluronic acid serums because they’re lightweight and hydrating. Plus, serums are typically followed by a face cream to lock in moisture.
Hyaluronic acid is so covetable that it’s even been found in lip and face fillers, hair care products, and pills. According to Polder, hyaluronic acid is safe when injected by a licensed medical professional, taken orally, or applied directly onto the skin. However, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, you might want to skip using it for the time being. “We do caution women who are pregnant or breastfeeding because the effects of hyaluronic acid are still unknown for breast milk and nursing infants,” she explains.
Is hyaluronic acid safe for all skin types?
Yes, all skin types can use hyaluronic acid, but there are a couple of guidelines for dry and oily skin types.
- If you have dry skin, be sure to always combine it with emollients and occlusives to prevent any moisture loss, suggests King.
- In oily skin, particularly if the environment is humid, "the sebum [an oily, waxy substance] contributes emollient and occlusive properties.” This means you may not need to follow up with a moisturizer, notes King.
Is it OK to use hyaluronic acid every day?
It’s totally fine and safe to use hyaluronic acid every day, according to King. You just have to apply it correctly to reap all of the skin benefits hyaluronic acid offers. Thankfully, there are only two correct methods of application:
- Hyaluronic acid should be applied first, followed by a moisturizer that contains emollients and occlusives. If you use an occlusive after hyaluronic acid, it won’t easily penetrate into your skin.
- Or it can be used as part of a moisturizer that contains hyaluronic acid, as well as emollients and occlusives. Why? Humectants (hyaluronic acid), emollients, and occlusives work together to moisturize the skin, and each plays an important role in your skincare routine.
When should you start using hyaluronic acid?
Whenever you start to experience any dryness, which can happen at any age due to numerous factors. But Polder says any time between your 20s to 30s is great as well.“The good habits established in your 20s will carry over into your 30s,” she says.
What does this mean for you?
When hyaluronic acid is applied correctly, your face will become dewy, glowy, and hydrated AF. If you use a hyaluronic acid serum, be sure to lock in moisture with a face cream, ideally made with occlusive and emollient ingredients. Or, use a hyaluronic acid face cream infused with emollients and occlusive ingredients. So, if dry skin has you down, try treating it with hyaluronic acid serums, creams, masks, and more.
These are the 14 best skincare products containing hyaluronic acid.
When it comes to a much-needed hydration boost, this serum from Drunk Elephant just can't be beat. It's infused with a hyaluronic acid derivative called sodium hyaluronate, which is smaller in molecular size, thus allowing it to penetrate more deeply into your skin.
The results? Intense hydration and a smoother look to fine lines and wrinkles that doesn't require a photo filter.
A favorite from clinical skincare brand SkinCeuticals, the Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier contains a potent blend of pure hyaluronic acid, proxylane, licorice root, and purple rice. It works to boost skin's hyaluronic acid levels, improving skin texture and restoring elasticity.
Just dab about five drops on your face (after antioxidant serums, but before moisturizer and sunscreen) daily to experience added hydration.
Revision Skincare’s Hydrating Serum comes highly recommended by Polder. “It contains sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid) that helps provide hydration and moisturizes the skin without oil,” she says. “Because of the hyaluronic acid within the formula, it attracts water and draws it into the skin.”
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte's Magic Serum Crystal Elixir
The combination of four humectants — hyaluronic acid, glycerin, lactic acid, and polyglutamic acid — will “help create an immediate plumping effect that makes skin look younger and smoother,” says King.
She also appreciates that it's formulated with non-greasy shea oil, brightening vitamin C, and niacinamide, which is great for improving the tone and texture of your skin.
“It has a very subtle iridescence — not enough to look shiny or glittery, but enough to make skin look luminous,” adds King.
King appreciates that this vitamin C and hyaluronic acid serum is sealed in small tinted glass ampules to protect the vitamin C from exposure to air and light. She also likes that it's formulated with very hydrating ingredients, yet feels lightweight on the skin. It has a subtle, clean, and refreshing fragrance.
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Face Serum
Looking for around-the-clock hydration? PCA's offering uses proprietary technology to ensure an ultra moisturizing blend of hyaluronic acid and ceramides, as well as soothing niacinamide.
All skin types — ranging from oily to dry (and even sensitive) — can safely use this high-quality hyaluronic acid serum up to twice a day.
If your skin looks dull, tired, and dehydrated, give it a first-class treatment with this hydrating overnight mask. Its silky-smooth formula is packed with hyaluronic acid-derivative sodium hyaluronate, plus another one of our favorite skin-refining ingredients: niacinamide!
Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
Dr. Barbara Sturm's luxurious products are beloved by celebs and editors alike. It's on the pricier side, but in our book, it's worth every penny for its impressive formulation of long- and short-chain hyaluronic molecules that reach different layers of the skin.
Long story short: It gets every layer of your skin to create a plump, dewy complexion.
L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care
Hydrated skin doesn’t have to be expensive. If you’re on a budget, we recommend L’Oréal’s incredible Hydra Genius collection.
The Daily Liquid Care is a water-based moisturizer formulated with hyaluronic acid and aloe that envelops skin with moisture while improving radiance. With results this legit, you'd never believe it's a drugstore product!
Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Cream
Doesn't Cloud Cream just sound like something you have to try? TBH, we love all of Peter Thomas Roth's Water Drench products (like these eye patches), but think this hyaluronic-packed moisturizer is an absolute essential. It's lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin, providing hydration for up to 72 hours.
SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
If you want to break out the big guns, reach for a bottle of SkinMedica's HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator. It features a proprietary blend of five different forms of hyaluronic acid that smooth the skin, decreasing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
We love pretty much any product from Image Skincare, so it's no surprise that the brand's Hyaluronic Filler is the stuff dreams are made of.
Formulated with our favorite ingredient — in addition to vitamin E — this serum glides on like silk and seriously plumps the skin, filling in fine lines and wrinkles.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Water Gel
Another budget moisturizer we swear by, Neutrogena's Hydro Boost Water Gel instantly quenches parched skin, thanks to its generous amounts of hyaluronic acid. It's also formulated with olive extract to add even more moisture, in addition to antioxidant powers that work to protect your skin as it hydrates.
This stuff is magic in a bottle. It combines two powerhouse ingredients: hyaluronic acid and EGF (or epidermal growth factor, of penis facial fame).
If the thought of traditional EGF makes you cringe, fear not. While EGF is a protein found in human skin, Bioeffect uses plant-based EGF that provides the same incredible benefits.
Nicole Saunders is the beauty editor at Best Products with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing lifestyle content. She specializes in breaking down complicated topics, like high-frequency wands and microcurrent devices, into easy-to-understand guides. She takes great pride in heavily researching and testing featured beauty products, — such as hairdryers and foundations — on our site, and spotlights her all-time seasonal favorites in her quarterly column Best New Beauty. And she tests quite literally thousands of launches for our Beauty Awards package.
Jennifer is the former beauty editor for BestProducts.com, where she’s testing out everything from the latest lip gloss to the craziest skincare trend sweeping the online beauty-verse. Her work has been featured in Allure, Byrdie, HelloGiggles, and more. When she’s not swatching eyeshadow all over her arms, you can find the NYC-based editor scouring for hours on end for vintage finds, eating pad thai, and hanging out with her cat, Chunks.
Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.
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