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, drawing in water like a sponge, she says.
Despite its name, hyaluronic acid should work for virtually all skin types since it isn’t an actual 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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Listed below are dermatologist-recommended products with hyaluronic acid, as well as highly-rated NBC Select staff favorites.
For a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman likes this option from The Ordinary. It’s fragrance-, alcohol- 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.”
NBC page Ella Morrissey, who struggles with dry skin, loves this serum. 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.
Cosrx’s Snail Mucin line is arguably its most popular, but if NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley 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.
Several dermatologists have previously recommended La Roche-Posay as a great drugstore skin care brand, and it’s a favorite among NBC Select staff. In addition to hyaluronic acid, this serum has glycerin and vitamin B5 for added moisture, according to the brand.
This moisturizer is formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 30 to help shield your skin from sun damage while still keeping a lightweight consistency, according to the brand. 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.
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.
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.
This serum is another favorite of 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.
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.
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.)
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.
This popular Glossier serum, which has a 4.5-star average rating from over 790 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.
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 1,200 reviews on Amazon.
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.
This lightweight moisturizer from Ilia is designed to have a calming formula and a milky, serum-like texture, 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.
NBC Select editor Lindsay Schneider tried this serum after being sent a bottle by the brand, and says it “feels heavenly” on her skin. The serum is lightweight (“not in a sticky way,” she says) and helps to reduce signs of damage by addressing uneven skin tone, fine lines and texture using hyaluronic acid and licorice extract, according to the brand. “I’ve been wearing every day in the morning under my moisturizer, but I really love to put it on right after I wash my face or get out of the shower when my skin is so thirsty and really dry,” says Schneider. “It immediately restores some hydration.”
You can most often find hyaluronic acid 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 typically 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.
Hyaluronic acid is good for anyone who wants to plump and hydrate the skin, according to experts. It’s also great when used in conjunction with more drying ingredients like retinol. “Hyaluronic acid creams work well with retinol and vitamin C products to decrease the irritation that sometimes occurs,” says Goldman. “Hyaluronic acid matched with a retinol is a match made in heaven.”
Though hyaluronic acid gives the skin a healthier and more hydrated appearance, Stevenson says that it isn’t a “permanent fix” for wrinkles and fine lines. “Hyaluronic acid can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles because it’s basically plumping up the cell,” she says. “It will just kind of add moisture back immediately because it’s holding on to these water molecules around your skin cells. It’s basically like blowing up a float toy.”
Stevenson suggests applying hyaluronic acid before layering an emollient moisturizer (like First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream, which has ingredients that bring moisture to the skin) or an occlusive moisturizer like Vaseline, which creates a physical barrier to lock in hydration. Should you decide to use hyaluronic acid in conjunction with a product like retinol, Stevenson recommends sandwiching the retinol between the hyaluronic acid and a moisturizer to limit irritation.
There’s no limitation to how many times you can use hyaluronic acid in a day since it acts as a great hydrator, says Stevenson. She warns that some people may experience a reaction if they’re using hyaluronic acid products in conjunction with harsh ingredients like essential oils or fragrances. “People with eczema, rosacea or extremely sensitive skin might want to apply a product either behind the ear or on their inner wrist for a few days in a row before putting it all over their face,” 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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