Hyaluronic acid is one of those ingredients that’s talked about a lot in the skincare industry. Considered a cornerstone in today’s skincare formulations, it’s renowned for its ability to hold as much as 1000x its weight in water, effectively hydrating and rejuvenating the skin. But while you know that it ought to feature in your skincare routine, how can you tell which is the best hyaluronic acid serum for your skin’s needs? To help you determine which one is suitable for you, and how it really works to help you achieve healthy, hydrated and glowing skin, British Vogue does a deep dive into the must-have ingredient.
In this article:
- What percentage of hyaluronic acid should products contain?
- Is there a difference in types of hyaluronic acid?
- Is hyaluronic acid suitable for all skin types?
- Is it okay to use hyaluronic acid every day?
- How much hyaluronic acid should I use?
- What should you not use hyaluronic acid with?
Topping our list of the best hyaluronic acid serums this year is Medik8’s Hydr8 B5 Liquid Rehydration Serum. Rich in multiweight hyaluronic acid, its smaller molecules ensure deep hydration while heavy-weight hyaluronic acid molecules provide moisture on the surface layers of the skin. “This serum has a lightweight texture that plays well with all the other products in my routine while being nourishing enough to thoroughly alleviate dryness,” says contributing beauty editor Lauren Murdoch Smith, “It’s got the kind of formula that skin drinks up without sticky residue, and it works wonders at plumping and smoothing the face, neck and hands over time.”
- Best affordable hyaluronic acid: CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £23
- Best hyaluronic acid pads: Abib Sedum Hyaulron Pads, £19
- Best hyaluronic acid spray: Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, £48
- Best hyaluronic acid for dry skin: Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Rehydration Serum, £45
- Best low molecular weighted hyaluronic acid: 111SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster, £100
- Best multi-weight hyaluronic acid: Alpha H Hyaluronic 8 Super Serum with PrimalHyal Ultrafiller, £54
- Best plumping hyaluronic acid: Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum, £41
- Best hyaluronic acid under £10: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, £9
Below, shop British Vogue’s edit of the best hyaluronic acid serums and lotions to try now.
Hydr8 B5 Intense
Packed with multiple weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate the skin as comprehensively as possible, this lightweight serum helps attract and retain up to 1000x its weight in water. In addition, natural moisturising factors are included to support extra hydration, while vitamin B5 helps plump out fine lines and wrinkles and address skin texture. A blend of potent antioxidant plant extracts adds an extra layer of protection against environmental aggressors.
H.A. Intensifier Multi-Glycan
Recently reformulated to work even harder to increase the skin’s hydration, this next-generation serum is designed to imbue hyaluronic acid back into the skin as well as amplify skin’s own HA production long-term. The new formula is just as effective with 1.3 per cent hyaluronic acid and 12 per cent proxylane to improve skin quality and texture, as well as a postbiotic ferment extract to help increase and preserve hyaluronic acid levels in the skin’s upper layers.
Institut Esthederm Cellular Water Antioxidant Face Mist
Why it’s Vogue approved:
The appeal of this pick lies in its spray bottle, which generates a superfine mist. Composed of HA and minerals naturally occurring in the skin, it’s a great choice for instant and lasting hydration. “This is more of a vapour than it is a mist – it envelops your face in a delightful cloud of hydration. I love using it to dampen the skin before applying moisturiser, or during the day when my make-up could use a refresh. It is full of antioxidants which defend against the polluted city air, and there are no surprises with the nozzle, which has an aerosol design to prevent those big wet droplets sprays can sometimes deposit. Because the formula incorporates mineral salts, it doesn’t just hydrate at the surface level – it leaves your skin fully quenched. 10s across the board.” — Tracy Achonwa, beauty commerce writer
The Perfect Peel Hyaluronic & Peptide Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
With hyaluronic acid plus tyrosinase inhibitors – including alpha arbutin and kojic acid – this serum both targets dark spots and prevents the irritation that causes post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. It’s non-sticky, fast absorbing, and Vogue beauty writer Tracy Achonwa’s current favourite: “Not only does this serum do a great job of clearing up acne marks and making skin glassy and smooth, but crucially, it’s non-comedogenic and doesn’t trigger new breakouts. Those who have struggled with their skin will know that alone makes it a godsend, but if you’re not convinced, look to its runny and non-pilling formula for further proof. Laying well under SPF and make-up, it’s a sound investment in your skincare routine for clearer skin.”
Innisfree Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
South Korean skincare brand Innisfree deals in the kind of formulas that leave your skin feeling completely pampered. Its serum pairs multiweight hyaluronic acid with niacinamide and camellia, a tea leaf extract known to stimulate collagen production. Free from stronger actives, this is the formula to choose for skin that’s smooth, soothed and bouncy. It has a refreshing scent that comes courtesy of limonene essential oil, which is worth noting for the fragrance-averse.
Abib
Sedum Hyaluron Pads
Why it’s Vogue approved:
K beauty is home to some of the best hydrating formulas that get you that step closer to glass skin. Abib’s bumper tub of 75 pads comes generously saturated with hyaluronic acid of eight different molecular weights, including smaller molecules that penetrate deeply as well as larger ones that keep your skin’s surface intact. A delight to apply, each pad is impregnated with mild PHAs to exfoliate dead skin cells, and sedum sarmentosum, a plant extract that kills bacteria and brightens skin. We’re obsessed with the dainty tweezers that come alongside for a sanitary, mess-free application each time.
111Skin
Hyaluronic Acid Aqua Booster
Why it’s Vogue approved:
The most sophisticated hyaluronic acid formulas boost moisture without leaving uncomfortable residues or stickiness, and here you’re looking at a fine example. Light enough to be dropped into your other skincare, this potent serum uses low molecular weight hyaluronic acid to penetrate the deepest layers of the skin. Skin is moisturised from the inside out, plus brightened and protected by the addition of niacinamide and urea.
CeraVe
Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Rich in ceramides and emollients, this serum has a consistency you might not expect. More like a moisturiser than a lightweight liquid, it combines all-important hyaluronic acid with nourishing ingredients. A great hybrid product with all the essentials for skin repair at every level, it attracts water and then keeps it locked in by fortifying the moisture barrier. “I love everything about this serum, including how well it hydrates my skin so quickly, and how affordable it is. If in doubt, I always return to it,” Georgia Day, Vogue beauty contributor
Alpha H
Hyaluronic 8 Super Serum with PrimalHyal UltraFiller
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Billed as a non-invasive alternative to injectable dermal fillers, the allure of this serum is its flash-filling formula. A whopping 8 molecular weights of hyaluronic acid ensure hydration plumps tissues at every level, whilst the addition of antioxidant cureberry extract preserves skin’s stores of collagen and elastin. Thick and tacky, it binds moisture to the skin instantly, and best of all, leaves no residue when massaged in.
MZ Skin
Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
This concentrated serum from Dr Maryam Zamani’s acclaimed product range has a rich texture that leaves the face feeling thoroughly nourished. Enriched with snow and reishi mushrooms, which support collagen production and minimise fine lines, it works hard to transform a dry complexion into one that looks youthfully plump. Editor’s tip: apply it on soaking wet skin for the best results – you’ll be surprised by how the full-bodied formula sinks in within seconds.
Dermatica
Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid + Vit B5 Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
As a brand designed by dermatologists, you know that you can count on Dermatica’s skincare formulas. This fuss-free, lightweight HA is infused with vitamin B5, so is not only super moisturising – it’s also great for smoothing over fine lines and wrinkles. It’s fragrance-free, too, so ideal for sensitive skin.
L'Oréal Paris
Revitalift Filler 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Like filler in a bottle, L’Oreal’s fast-absorbing serum gives a plumping boost to faces that are feeling a little lax. Thanks to macro and micro molecules of hyaluronic acid, it works both on the surface and internally to smooth wrinkles, restoring lost volume with an optimal concentration of 1.5 per cent.
Vichy
Minéral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Like other French dermo-cosmetic brands, Vichy’s product range is science-backed, so you can expect effective results. Vichy’s Minéral 89 is British Skin Foundation-approved and is made up of just 11 ingredients, including natural origin hyaluronic acid and volcanic water.
Glossier
Super Bounce Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Glossier practically invented the clean and dewy beauty look we’ve all come to love in recent years, so it should surprise no one that its hyaluronic serum is very good indeed. With 2 per cent hyaluronic acid complex and a generous helping of vitamin B5, it plumps skin with moisture and sinks in comfortably for a glossy, non-stick finish.
Read more: An Expert’s Guide To Concealer For Mature Skin
La Roche-Posay
HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
With added niacinamide, vitamin B5 and thermal spring water, this serum offers a barrier-repairing boost. Great for restoring volume to dehydrated skin, its large molecule hyaluronic smooths wrinkles on the surface whilst a smaller molecule sinks in deeper to plump skin from within.
The Ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydration Support Formula
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Having democratised the industry with simple, super affordable, single-ingredient skincare, we can’t discuss the best hyaluronic acids without mentioning The Ordinary. The brand’s offering is a viscous serum that the driest skin types will love – just make sure you apply it on wet skin to make the most of the moisture-magnetising formula.
Glow Recipe
Plum Plump Hyaluronic Serum
Why it’s Vogue approved:
This is a serum that comes with much fanfare, and after putting it to the test, we can see why. It’s an impossibly light fluid (considering it’s formed of five different types and weights of HA) which softens skin within seconds of applying. A mixture of silk proteins and vitamin C-packed plum extracts only add to its plumping effect, with the former restoring a healthy bounce and filling in fine lines.
Votary
Hyaluronic Self-Tan Drops With Calendula And DHA
Why it’s Vogue approved:
Blending HA with self-tanning DHA and candula’s natural skin-brightening properties, Votary’s serum promises that just-off-the-plane, sun-kissed radiance. Better yet: it contains soothing aloe vera and hydrating glycerin, too, so the skincare benefits go far beyond a glowing complexion.
Hyaluronic Serum
While multi-molecular weights of the star ingredient hyaluronic acid help provide both instant and long-term hydration to all skin layers, purslane is on hand to soothe and calm skin with any visible signs of irritation or sensitivity. The combination means the serum is not just great at leaving skin feeling plumped and healthier, it helps dampen down inflammation and gently improves and refines inflamed skin texture.
Intense Hydrating Booster
Like all Sarah Chapman’s formulas, this hyaluronic serum is formulated to deliver the best ingredients in the most efficacious way. As well as low molecular weight hyaluronic acid that hydrates the skin’s deeper dermal layers, it also contains soothing rosewater and a proprietary complex with supports your skin’s natural defences to keep the skin barrier strong and resilient against further moisture loss. “Since it’s been reformulated this is my go-to serum to wear under make-up. It’s not tacky and doesn’t pill when layered, but just glides on smoothly and sinks in immediately,” says Georgia Day, Vogue beauty contributor
FAQs
What does hyaluronic acid do to your skin?
“Hyaluronic acid is one of the major components of our natural extracellular matrix, which is the framework our skin sits on,” says Isaacs. “With a unique ability to attract and retain more than 1,000 times its own weight in water, hyaluronic acid can draw moisture from the surrounding atmosphere and lower skin layers to the top levels of the epidermis.” Ultra-hydrating, it’s what gives your skin that supple, plumping effect.
While naturally occurring, our levels of hyaluronic acid deplete as we age, leaving our skin increasingly unable to retain water, which results in dehydration, sallow skin, and ultimately fine lines and wrinkles. The good news is that there is a wealth of products that can combat all this.
Enter hyaluronic acid skincare. When applied topically to the skin, hyaluronic acid works to reduce trans-epidermal moisture loss and fortify the epidermal barrier function, leaving your skin hydrated and protected throughout the day.
What percentage of hyaluronic acid should products contain?
“Usually hyaluronic acid serums and creams contain between 0.25 per cent and 2 per cent. Well balanced preparations usually contain 2 per cent or just over 2 per cent,” advises consultant dermatologist Dr Volha Shpadaruk. “Higher concentration serums are not always beneficial as they can take water from the skin. Hyaluronic acid usually transports water from a more humid to less humid environment. So, if the skin is well hydrated but air is dry it would drag water out of the skin. Very often hyaluronic acid serums are [best] layered with the cream on the top to lock it in.
Is there a difference in types of hyaluronic acid?
“High molecular weight means huge bulky molecules that cannot go through the top layer of the skin. Instead, they sit on the skin’s surface, providing hydration and a plumping effect. Low molecular weight are smaller molecules that penetrate deeper into the skin, providing hydration at a more profound level. It is used for fine lines, wrinkles, elasticity and hydration. Hydrolysed hyaluronic acid is broken down into smaller molecules, making it easier for the skin to absorb,” says Dr Volha.
Is hyaluronic acid suitable for all skin types?
“Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the skin that depletes with age. It is essentially a sugar, composed of two sugar-like molecules: glucosamine and glucuronic acid. This structure contributes to hyaluronic acid's ability to retain water and provide moisture. Hyaluronic acid plays a vital role in wound healing and tissue regeneration, as well as exhibiting anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Due to these beneficial characteristics, it is commonly used in cosmetic products. Hyaluronic acid is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive, oily, and dry skin, unless there is a specific sensitivity to the ingredients in the serum or cream. As a humectant, it helps draw moisture into the skin without clogging pores, making it a versatile ingredient in skincare formulations,” says Dr Volha.
Is hyaluronic acid best in a serum form?
“Hyaluronic acid preparations come in gels, creams, dermal fillers (cross linked), lotions, serums, and implants, skin boosters (non-cross linked),” says Dr Volha. “Serums are usually the most popular form for hyaluronic acid, but it can be added to creams, lotions or masks; it all depends on personal preference and skin requirements.”
Is it okay to use hyaluronic acid every day?
The hero ingredient of any skincare routine, hyaluronic is perfectly safe to use every day. In fact, most experts would encourage you to apply it twice a day, every day, as part of your morning and evening rituals. “It should be applied immediately after washing your face and before the application of lipid-based moisturisers.” Dr Barbara Sturm advises.
How much hyaluronic acid should I use?
When it comes to applying hyaluronic acid, it’s best to use high concentrations but in smaller doses, so anywhere between one to two per cent if it’s over the counter. “As a raw material hyaluronic acid is thick and gloopy,” says Dr AJ Sturnham, founder of cult skincare brand Decree that offers an array of different hyaluronic acid products. “Your skin utilises it more effectively in smaller concentrated doses, staggered across the day and night regimen.” Sturm agrees. “The ideal formulation should be at its highest, optimal and absorbable dose or concentration so that it is able to pass the skin barrier to reach the dermis,” she says. Which is why it’s so important to always read product labels. If hyaluronic acid is not at its highest dose, it will be thin, watery and, therefore less effective.
What should you not use hyaluronic acid with?
Perhaps the best thing about hyaluronic acid is that it has the unique ability to enhance the power of any and every product you layer on top of it, which means it’s not only safe to use with all your other products and ingredients (like your vitamin C, niacinamide, retinol, moisturiser), it will actually increase their effectiveness, making it one of the best additions you could make to your skincare routine.
- Dr Barbara Sturm is an orthopaedic specialist, aesthetic expert and founder of Dr Barbara Sturm Skincare.
- Dr AJ Sturnham is a GP who specialises in dermatology and the founder of Decree.
- Daniel Isaacs is a chemist and director of research at Medik8.
- Dr Volha Shpadaruk is a consultant dermatologist.
