Hundreds of Hyaluronic Acid Serums Later, Our Editors Agree These Are the 9 Best

As beauty editors, we have access to hundreds of skincare products at any given time. (It’s one of the perks of the job.) Serums are no exception. These potent skin solutions target everything from dryness to hyperpigmentation and fine lines and wrinkles. Our collections contain bottles of niacinamide, squeeze tubes of retinol, and vials of vitamin C. Amid all the variety, there’s one serum that we consider a staple of our modern-day skincare apothecaries: hyaluronic acid.

This hero hydrating ingredient attracts and holds water in the upper layers of the skin. Translation? It reverses dryness and gives our skin that smooth, plump look we want. Don’t think that means we’ll use any old hyaluronic acid serum, though. It’s quite the contrary. We’re discerning. The hyaluronic acid we use has to meet (or, even better, exceed) certain standards. It has to feel lightweight, play well with our other skincare products, and—get this—actually boost hydration. Because we’re constantly asked which hyaluronic acid serum is the best, we decided to undertake an in-depth research and testing process.

Here’s how it went. First, we spent days researching hundreds of hyaluronic acid serums. Then, we organized them into a color-coded spreadsheet. Then, based on ratings, reviews, and editor experience, we narrowed down the vast number of serums to a mere nine. After that, our editors got to testing. After a month, we combined our individual assessments and crowned one hyaluronic acid serum as the best. Ahead, see which serums were good enough to make the cut. You’ll also meet our consulting expert and learn more about our review process.

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums, At a Glance

• Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier
• Best for Dry Skin: Isdin Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate
• Best Budget: The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum
• Best for Fine Lines: La Roche-Posay Hyalu-B5 Serum
• Best for Textured Skin: Glossier Super Bounce Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums of 2025

Best Overall: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier

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Best for Dry Skin: Isdin Isdinceutics Hyaluronic Concentrate

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Best Budget: The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum

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Best for Fine Lines: La Roche-Posay Hyalu-B5 Serum

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Best for Textured Skin: Glossier Super Bounce Hyaluronic Acid Serum

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Best for Dull Skin: Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Glow Serum

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Best Plumping: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Acid Serum

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Best Lightweight: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum

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Best for Sensitive Skin: CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum

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Meet the Expert

Geeta Yadav, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of Facet Dermatology. As she is an expert on all things skin, we reached out to ask her questions—namely, why is hyaluronic acid so important, and what makes a high-quality hyaluronic acid serum?

How Does Hyaluronic Acid Work?

“Hyaluronic acid is a substance known as a glycosaminoglycan that is found naturally throughout the entire human body, including the joints, eyes, and the skin,” says Yadav. “Hyaluronic acid works by binding to water and retaining it (ingredients like this are known as humectants). In the joints and eyes, this helps lubrication; in the skin, it helps hold on to water, which makes it look plumper, smoother, firmer, and overall more youthful.”

What to Consider

Molecule size

The first thing you should consider when choosing a hyaluronic acid is the size of the molecule. “I’d recommend looking for a formula that contains sodium hyaluronate, which has a smaller molecule size, as well as other humectants, like aloe and glycerin, for amplified and comprehensive hydration benefits,” says Yadav.

On the other hand, larger molecules can’t penetrate the skin as deeply. “For example, lactic acid has a larger molecule size than glycolic acid, which is why it’s gentler—it can’t get far after application, so it’s less likely to irritate the skin, but it also won’t provide as powerful as a result as glycolic acid,” she says. “When using hyaluronic acid products with larger molecule sizes, you’ll see more of an effect on the very surface of the skin, but the effect may not last as a result.”

Skin type

Ingredients aside, you may want to think about your skin type and whether or not the serum you’re looking to invest in caters to your needs. “Hyaluronic acid is especially important for those with dry or sensitive skin,” says Yadav. “These skin types may have a skin barrier that is not functioning at its best and, as a result, water can more easily escape the skin, leaving it dry and irritated.”

To be clear, everyone can use hyaluronic acid, but those with dry skin may notice a bigger difference. “Using hyaluronic acid will help combat transepidermal water loss, especially if it is paired with lipids like ceramides or squalane, which will help seal in that water to leave skin comfortable and moisturized,” adds Yadav.

How to Use a Hyaluronic Acid Serum

You can use an HA serum as often as you’d like because it’s non-irritating and can be used by all skin types. “I’d recommend applying it to damp skin or with damp hands, which will give the molecules water to grab on to, as well as layering it under a nourishing moisturizer that’s formulated with lipids like ceramides, squalane, or jojoba oil,” says Yadav.

She adds that ceramides are naturally found in the skin barrier and act as the ‘grout’ between the ‘bricks’ of your skin cells to prevent water from escaping the skin. Protecting and strengthening your skin barrier with additional lipids will keep your skin as hydrated as possible.

How We Chose

Like all other roundups, this selection process took weeks to complete. In this case, it took about six weeks. We take our time researching the best products on the market. We started by gathering information on hundreds of products and formulas. Then, we created a master list. From there, we compared and color-coordinated the lists, based on ratings and reviews as well as personal experience.

After all of this, we had our nine hyaluronic acid serums. All that was left was to do our own rigorous testing. Each editor received the serums and was asked to test and review them. Once we had everyone’s responses, we assembled them into a document and ranked each one according to the in-depth feedback. By the end, we had crowned the best one.

Why Trust Us

Since 2006, Who What Wear has been a digital fashion, beauty, and lifestyle publication and community where people can discover the latest brands, trends, and must-have products to help define and evolve their personal style. Think of Who What Wear as your most trusted style and shopping resource.

This article was originally published at an earlier date and has been updated.