“The little hydrating serum that goes a long way. ”
As the cold of winter sticks in our bones and dries out our skin, lighter moisturizers and serums alone may not cut it. Enter hyaluronic acid serum. While "acid" might seem harsh to skincare newcomers, hyaluronic acid is a property that occurs naturally in the skin and has the purpose of restoring and retaining moisture rather than stripping it. It depletes as we age, so treating our faces to a serum can help keep the skin barrier (which keeps moisture in and harmful toxins out) strong and impermeable. Delve into the recommendations our community has provided to find a hyaluronic acid serum you'll want to make part of your routine all year-round.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Recommended by Natalie Guevara, Marina Sulmona, alix gutiérrez, Lynette Nylander, @claremag, and @jean.catherine
A modern classic of good, affordable beauty, The Ordinary's hyaluronic serum stands up alongside the rest of their all-star products. It sets a standard of using a combination of "low, medium, and high-molecular weighted" hyaluronic acids to hydrate the skin deep beyond its surface. It's also vegan, cruelty-free.
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Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum
Recommended by Lynette Nylander, sukey novogratz, marjon carlos, and Fran Miller
Dr. Barbara Sturm's approach to skincare is rooted in science: known for blending clinical practice with aesthetic product development, her initial acclaim was for developing a proprietary plasma-based cream individualized to particular patients using their own blood cells. Her hyaluronic serum, too, uses the science at hand to create a balanced product intended to prevent and minimize wrinkles "caused by dehydration." Thanks to the addition of Purslane, the serum "calms the skin and reduces visible signs of irritation."
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Slurp Laboratories Hyaluid
Recommended by elaine huntzinger
Like other serums in the game, Slurp Laboratories' is made up of a blend of differently weighted hyaluronic acid molecules. Hyaluid clocks in with 8, a high amongst its competitors. Elaine Huntzinger counts it as her "fav at the moment," detailing what she likes about it: "My face feels hydrated, protected, and I love the texture. The Koreans know how to make great toner essences that hydrate."
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RoC Skincare MULTI CORREXION Hydrate & Plump Night Serum Capsules
Recommended by Rachel Nguyen
"I love this drugstore brand because they come in these dissolvable capsules, so the ingredients are never compromised until it's opened," explains Rachel Nguyen about what separates RoC Skincare's hyaluronic serum from the pack. An easy, usable option for plumping the skin. In Rachel's words: "chefs kisses."
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Monastery Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost
Recommended by holly liss
Another multi-weighted option wrapped in elegant packaging is Monastery's Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost. Added moisture comes from the addition of aloe combined with lavender which gives the luxurious touch of "relax[ing] the senses [for] an aromatherapeutic experience." As Holly Liss puts it, it's "effective and smells incredible!"
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If you're looking for something with a little tint, try Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint (recommended by Brianne Wills). For even more rec's, there's Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel (recommended by Hallie Gould), UBUNA Drench (recommended by Elaine Huntzinger), Eminence Organic Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum (recommended by Charlotte Hundley), NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex (recommended by Elaine Huntzinger), HADA LABO Goku-jyun Serum (recommended by @lei454), The INKEY List Hyaluronic Acid Serum (recommended by @badgalpripri), Cerave Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum (recommended by Eva Berezovsky), Furtuna Skin Face & Eye Serum (recommended by Holly Liss), and Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum (recommended by @badgalpripri).
Words by Marina Sulmona