If you suffer from chronically dry skin, odds are you’re familiar with hyaluronic acid. The popular ingredient absorbs moisture and draws it into your skin to hydrate it, dermatologists say. Though it’s especially useful for dry skin, it’s a great hydrator for all skin types, says Dr. Mary Stevenson, assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health. “We don’t have a lot of products like that,” she says.
I spoke to dermatologists about how to use hyaluronic acid in your skin care routine. I also gathered their specific recommendations for the best creams and serums to buy, plus NBC Select staff favorites.
SKIP AHEAD What is hyaluronic acid? | How I picked the best hyaluronic acid products | Best hyaluronic acid products | How to shop for hyaluronic acid products | Why trust NBC Select?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring chemical your body produces that cushions and moisturizes the skin. It’s found in our skin, eyes, joints and connective tissue, says Stevenson. It acts as a humectant, which means that it draws in water like a sponge, she says.
Despite its name, hyaluronic acid should work for virtually all skin types since it isn’t actually an acid. “It’s not like salicylic acid or some of the other acids that can be more exfoliating or abrasive on our skin,” says Stevenson.
Hyaluronic acid is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. Experts recommend looking at the following factors to determine the best products with hyaluronic acid:
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Below, we rounded up dermatologist-recommended products with hyaluronic acid, as well as highly rated NBC Select staff picks.
For a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman likes this option from The Ordinary. It’s fragrance-free, alcohol-free and oil-free, which is beneficial for those with sensitive skin, experts say. “I’ve been using this hyaluronic acid serum every day for about six months and my skin soaks it right up. It’s super lightweight and dries quickly, and has a slight cooling effect, which I love,” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin. “Since I’ve started using it, I’ve noticed that my skin dries out less often, and looks more hydrated overall.”
What we like
This gel moisturizer is an NBC Select Wellness Awards winner and a favorite among NBC Select staff. It works as an occlusive, which creates a barrier on the skin and locks in moisture, according to the brand. Malin says the moisturizer’s gel-like consistency feels very lightweight on her skin, and NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio appreciates how it keeps her skin soft and hydrated for hours after applying, even during dry winter months.
What we like
NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson has used this serum for years. “I became obsessed with Skinceuticals back during my beauty editor days,” says Swanson. “This serum is great on its own or in addition to other hydrators.” She says it also helped keep her skin moisturized while on Accutane.
What we like
This serum is a favorite of NBC page Ella Morrissey, who struggles with dry skin. She applies one to two pumps on her face and neck at night before bed, and wakes up with smooth, hydrated skin that doesn’t look too shiny, she says. “Especially in the winter, I don’t have those red flaky dry spot flare ups as much anymore after using this product,” says Morrissey.
What we like
Something to note
This serum is a favorite of NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris, who purchased it after her esthetician recommended it. She says it’s especially effective during winter when her skin feels drier than normal. In addition to hyaluronic acid, this Dermalogica booster, which has a lightweight oil consistency, also has ingredients like panthenol and algae extract that help reduce the appearance of dehydration lines, according to the brand. Dermalogica recommends using the serum before your moisturizer or adding a few drops to your favorite cream or lotion.
What we like
Goldman recommends this Vichy serum because it has mineral water to help hydrate the skin. This oil- and fragrance-free serum is noncomedogenic (which means it won’t clog pores) and has a non-greasy formula that you can wear comfortably on its own or underneath your favorite moisturizer, according to the brand. It has the National Eczema Association seal of approval, so it’s suitable for sensitive skin.
What we like
NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez uses this gel mask twice a day and says it works wonders on her skin. It has a hyaluronic acid complex and Pentavitin (a plant extract) to moisturize, plus vitamin E and aloe to hydrate dry skin. Rodriguez recommends storing the gel in the fridge “for an added cooling effect.” (If you prefer a serum, Peter Thomas Roth makes one, too.)
What we like
Something to note
Cosrx’s Snail Mucin line is arguably its most popular, but if Morris could only use one hydrating product from the brand, it would be this essence, which she’s been using for years. It’s made from a highly-concentrated natural hyaluronic acid, according to the brand, and is hydrating enough to work in both summer and winter. Morris likes massaging it into her skin twice daily — it has a lightweight feel that absorbs quickly, and it blends well with her other products. Plus, one bottle lasts for months, says Morris.
What we like
This Tatcha cream “couples antioxidant ingredients with deep moisture in an elegant, non-greasy formula” says Dr. Annie Chiu, a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist. The noncomedogenic cream uses a mixture of Okinawa algae blend and hyaluronic acid to capture water and hydrate the skin, according to the brand.
What we like
This popular Glossier serum, which has a 4.5-star average rating from over 700 reviews at Glossier, has both hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid) for added hydration, according to the brand. It also has a non-sticky formula that you can wear underneath makeup, according to Glossier.
What we like
This daily moisturizer has broad-spectrum SPF 30 to protect skin from sun damage. The noncomedogenic lotion has ceramides to help restore the skin’s barrier and niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that can calm irritated skin, according to the brand. “Like most people, I’ve heard that you are supposed to use sunscreen everyday, regardless of the weather. This CeraVe AM lotion makes that as painless as possible for me,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz, who has used the lotion for over three years. “Each pump is just enough lotion to cover my entire face comfortably, not too much, not too little.” Plus, the lotion feels more like a thick, hydrating moisturizer than a sunscreen you might keep nearby for beach day, says Rabinowitz.
What we like
Something to note
Korean skin care brand Glow Recipe, which makes one of our favorite blackhead treatments, also makes a highly rated hyaluronic acid serum. It uses five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate each layer of the skin, according to the brand. The serum has a 4.6-star average rating from over 1,100 reviews on Amazon.
What we like
NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown recommends this hydrating serum for people who want a short yet effective skin care routine. “What I love most about this serum is that it absorbs crazy fast — I just hate making the process longer than it needs to be,“ she says. Lately, she’s been using this serum to combat the dryness of New York winters and although she hasn’t been using it for very long, she says she can already tell it’s helping to boost the effectiveness of her moisturizer because her skin feels normal again, and it looks moisturized too.
What we like
Something to note
Several dermatologists have previously recommended La Roche-Posay as a great drugstore skin care brand, and it’s a favorite among NBC Select staff. This serum has glycerin and vitamin B5 for added moisture in addition to hyaluronic acid, according to the brand. It’s also highly rated, with a 4.6-star average rating from over 28,200 reviews on Amazon.
What we like
Ilia’s vegan face moisturizer and serum hybrid, which has a 4.6-star average rating from over 900 reviews at Sephora, is designed to be lightweight and calming, according to the brand. Formulated with lipids, fatty acids and antioxidant extracts, it also addresses uneven texture and redness, according to Ilia, and you can use it both day and night.
Hyaluronic acid is most often found in serums and creams. While water-based serums typically have a higher concentration of the active ingredient and are therefore a better option, creams can be great for those who don’t have time to wait for their skin to absorb a serum, experts say.
“I think you get the best bang for your buck with a serum just because you’re getting the most concentrated hyaluronic acid with water and it’s going straight into your skin,” says Stevenson. “[But] sometimes you need a one and done deal [and] for those patients, I think a cream is just fine.”
Serums will often advertise what percentage of hyaluronic acid is in the product. Anywhere from 1% to 2% is a reasonable concentration, says Stevenson. Some products are formulated with hyaluronic acids at different molecular weights — that’s because “different weights penetrate differently, so you want a combination,” according to Stevenson.
“In general, low and medium [molecular weights] penetrate deeper into the lower levels of skin while high molecular weights hydrate the top or surface of the skin,” she says.
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
Morgan Greenwald is a former editor for NBC Select. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness, home and kitchen and more. For this story, they spoke to board-certified dermatologists about the best hyaluronic acid products, including product recommendations and advice on how to shop for your own.
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