The Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums for Plumper, Smoother Skin

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, licorice root, purple rice | Who it's for: everyone

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Fine Lines: Alastin HA Immerse Serum

Why it's worth it: Alastin's HA Immerse Serum doesn't just supply skin with hyaluronic acid. Rather, this strategic formula also contains a peptide that encourages skin to produce its own hyaluronic acid for long-lasting hydration. And, as if that weren't good enough, this overachiever contains yet another peptide that stymies the breakdown of your skin's natural hyaluronic acid, keeping its levels high over time. Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Westport, Connecticut, has previously called Alastin one of her go-to's for "replenishing fine lines and lost volume," so mature skin types will also love its skin-plumping properties.

Tester feedback: "To me, the mark of a noteworthy product (especially a serum) is one that your routine feels truly lonely without. That's how I feel about Alastin’s HA Immerse," says Allure commerce director Shanna Shipin. "It makes any moisturizer I layer over all the more soothing, hydrating, and effective, but even without any next step, this serum helps me avoid the too-tight feeling I get after waiting too long to moisturize after washing my face. As someone with facial eczema flare-ups and borderline-mature skin, ever since using this serum, I've noticed fewer flakes and an all-over more supple look and feel."

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, silver mushroom extract | Who it's for: anyone dealing with chronic dryness, and those with mature skin

Best Custom Hyaluronic Acid Serum: Prose Custom Serum

Why it's worth it: If you want a formulation truly tailored to your skin's specific needs (like dryness), take the bespoke approach with Prose's Custom Serum. Based on your virtual consultation results—which takes into consideration factors such as age, sun exposure, stress, sleep, and diet, as well as the state of your skin and your skin-care goals—your formula will feature a slew of skin-enhancing ingredients, like vitamin C for a brightening boost or niacinamide for hyperpigmentation reduction.

Tester feedback: "I'm all about serums that deliver and maintain hydration via multiple ingredients," says commerce editor Sarah Han. "Of course, we all adore hyaluronic acid, but my Prose Custom Serum formula also contains bakuchiol, glycerin, allantoin, and reishi mushroom to speed up cell turnover, reduce transepidermal water loss (TEWL), and boost elasticity. My skin instantly looks hydrated and bouncier, and the texture is silky and divine. All wins in my (skin-care) book."

Key ingredients: dependent on virtual consultation results | Who it's for: anyone

More hyaluronic acid serums we love:

Highest Hyaluronic Acid Concentration: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum

Why it's worth it: Sometimes, it's not the ingredient itself that matters but how much of the ingredient is incorporated into the formula. Each bottle of Peter Thomas Roth's Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum contains 75% hyaluronic acid to ensure each and every drop instantly plumps and softens your skin. This oil-free, fragrance-free formula is also spiked with other heavy hydrators including sodium PCA and silk proteins, so it's especially great for those with moderate to severe dryness and flaking.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, sodium PCA, silk proteins, mineral complex | Who it's for: all skin types, but especially anyone with dry-to-normal skin who wants a heavy concentration of hyaluronic acid in their routines

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Dark Spots: Superegg Tonal Scenery Reparative Serum

Why it's worth it: Superegg's Tonal Scenery Reparative Serum features the hydrating benefits of hyaluronic acid paired with emollient bio desert oil (a strain of fermented yeast that fortifies the barrier) to seal in moisture. This clear, viscous serum features microcapsules that preserve the active ingredients—like niacinamide and collagen-stimulating plant stem cells to brighten your overall complexion—until they come into contact with your skin.

Editor's tip: This formula is fragrance-free and has a gentle, mild formula that's delicate (yet effective) on skin. Hussein says it's one of her favorite HA serums for its souped-up formulation that won't irritate her reactive skin. "This serum tackles my dryness, dark spots, and fine lines all at once without causing redness—it's like a green juice for my skin," she says.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, peptides, probiotics, plant-derived stem cells | Who it's for: everyone, including sensitive skin types

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Dull Skin: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum

Why it's worth it: This silky serum "contains a blend of five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin at each level," says New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Marisa Garshick, MD, who is a fan of its lightweight, gel-like texture. She also calls out the three types of plum, which offer skin-brightening antioxidants, a light, fruity scent, and intense hydration to make skin look glowy and radiant. In other words, it's a one-and-done for healthier-looking skin, which is why it's one of our top picks. Bonus: The slightly tacky texture makes this formula an ideal makeup primer, especially for people with blemishes and uneven complexions.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, kakadu plum, vegan collagen | Who it's for: people looking for weightless hydration

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Oily Skin: Isdin Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate

Why it's worth it: Pores looking a little concerning to you? No problem: Not only does this oil-free, non-comedogenic serum contain multiple types of hyaluronic acid, but Isdin's Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate also offers lentil extract, which can help refine pores—making this a great option for oily and acne-prone skin types. P.S. New York City board-certified dermatologist Shari Marchbein, MD, is also a fan of Isdin's Hyaluronic Booster Deep Hydration Serum Ampoules, which she recommends using right after cleansing.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, peptides, lentil extract | Who it's for: people prone to excess oil or breakouts

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Dry Skin: Paula's Choice Boost Hyaluronic Acid Booster

Why it's worth it: One pump of Paula's Choice concentrated Boost Hyaluronic Acid Booster goes a long way. This gel-like serum pairs hyaluronic acid with ceramides and soothing panthenol to address dryness and dehydration. Mix it into your serum or moisturizer for an added boost of hydration. You can even use it around the eyes, combined with an eye cream, to quickly minimize the appearance of fine lines.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, panthenol | Who it's for: people who want to streamline their a.m. routine

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Sensitive Skin: CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum

Why it's worth it: In addition to its hero ingredient, CeraVe's Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum contains the brand's classic trio of ceramides (ceramides AP, NP, and EOP, a.k.a. lipids naturally found in the skin barrier) as well as pro-vitamin B5 to help maintain skin's moisture levels, and, in turn, amp skin's hydration levels even more. Dr. Marchbein likes that it's fragrance-free, which helps minimize redness and irritation.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, ceramides, vitamin B5 | Who it's for: anyone with reactive or sensitive skin

Best Drugstore Hyaluronic Acid Serum: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Why it's worth it: La Roche-Posay's Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum contains not one, but two types of pure hyaluronic acid alongside vitamin B5; they work together to hydrate skin both immediately and over time. We love that this relatively affordable serum is safe for all skin types, even those prone to sensitivity (since it's been allergy-tested).

Editor's tip: Try pairing this hydrating formula with a retinol cream if you want to address (and/or help prevent) signs of aging, while minimizing any retinoid-induced irritation.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, Centella asiatica, vitamin B5 | Who it's for: people prone to redness

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum to Wear Under Makeup: Glossier Super Bounce Serum

Why it's worth it: Glossier's Super Bounce Serum has such a light, barely-there feel on skin that it plays well under thicker moisturizers, primers, and foundations without causing separation or pilling. Once applied, this face serum's combination of hyaluronic acid and conditioning vitamin B5 smooths out your skin texture for a bouncy, supple feel.

Key ingredients: hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5 | Who it's for: anyone who wants a light, makeup-friendly serum

Frequently Asked Questions

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. Even though we naturally produce hyaluronic acid in our bodies, as we age, those quantities decrease (similarly to collagen), so our skin becomes dehydrated more easily.

With consistent use of hyaluronic acid, you'll likely notice an immediate improvement in the hydration of your skin, Jacquelyn Sink, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist, tells Allure. "Long-term benefits are seen as early as two weeks with continued improvement through several months," she adds. 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 dehydrated skin.

As with all ingredients, over-the-counter, topical products don't have the same benefits as prescriptions or in-office treatments—but that doesn't mean you shouldn't incorporate them into your skin-care routine. "We can inject hyaluronic acid into the deeper layers of the skin to help restore lost volume, but used in creams, lotions, and serums, it can also do wonders for rejuvenation and hydration." You can quite literally get hyaluronic acid fillers at your board-certified dermatologist's office.

With their non-irritating nature, hyaluronic acid serums are generally usable across multiple skin types, including sensitive skin, according to Dr. Sink. 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."

As we previously mentioned, your skin's level of hyaluronic acid decreases with age, so if you're looking to maintain your moisture barrier and replenish hydration levels, you may want to consider incorporating hyaluronic acid-infused products into your daily skin-care routine. (You'll also see HA commonly listed as sodium hyaluronate, a stabilized version of the ingredient.)

Overall, hyaluronic acid is a gentle, non-active ingredient that's suitable for most skin types. "There are no known side effects of utilizing hyaluronic acid, as again, it's produced in our bodies," cosmetic chemist Sandra Bontempo previously told Allure. With that being said, Bontempo suggests talking to your doctor if you do experience side effects from a product that contains hyaluronic acid—in short, "it could be due to another active or inactive ingredient," Bontempo said.

• Doris Day, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
• Jacquelyn Sink, MD, a Chicago-based board-certified dermatologist
• Deanne Mraz Robinson, MD, a Westport, Connecticut-based board-certified dermatologist
• Shari Marchbein, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist
• Marisa Garshick, MD, a New York City-based board-certified dermatologist

When Allure tests a product, our editors look at it from every angle in an effort to best serve you. We review ingredients, scrutinize brand claims, and, when necessary, examine peer-reviewed scientific and medical studies. In addition to testing each and every product that's included in each and every review, we rely on experts who shape their fields, including dermatology, cosmetic chemistry, and medicine, to help us vet the ingredients and formulas.

For our review of the best hyaluronic acid serums, we enlisted the help of multiple editors, writers, contributors, and dermatologists interviewed for the piece—who all have different skin concerns and types, desired outcome (i.e., want a brighter complexion), and whether one product was tested and suitable across multiple skin types. Testers considered performance across three primary categories: efficacy, ingredients, and value. For more on what's involved in our reporting, check out our complete reviews process and methodology page.

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After all, can we really say a skin-care product is the "best" for people over 50 if the only testers we've solicited opinions from folks who have yet to hit 30? Can we honestly deem a high-end diffuser worthy of your hard-earned cash if it's never been tested on curls? We're proud that our staff spans a wide range of ages, skin tones, hair textures, genders, and backgrounds, which means that we are able to fairly assess any beauty product that comes into the beauty closet.

Now, read about more of our favorite skin-care ingredients:

• Snow Mushroom Might Be a Better Hydrator Than Hyaluronic Acid
• The Best Peptide Skin-Care Products for Smoother and Plumper Skin
• The Best Cica Skin-Care Products to Soothe Redness and Irritation
• Every Bakuchiol Skin-Care Product for Those Seeking a Natural Retinol Alternative

Done reading? Now, watch Sydney Sweeney run through her 10-minute beauty routine for sensitive skin:

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