If you deal with discoloration, redness and dark spots, let us point you to this hyaluronic acid formulation that’s chock full of niacinamide, meaning that it can visibly even skin tone and reduce areas of hyperpigmentation. It also has prickly pear extract that helps soothe skin and leave your skin looking bouncier, fresh and resilient.
“This serum is extremely hydrating, so if you have dry skin this is like water bottle for your face. I have oily, combination skin and found it to be very lightweight. Though, it does have a tacky finish, so I would recommend using it for your nighttime skin care routine,” says Glamour senior commerce editor Jenifer Calle.
9. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Combination Skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping & Hydrating Serum
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Biossance Squalane
Original photo from Alanna Martine Kilkeary testing Biossance Squalane
- What we like: Hydrates dry patches but keeps an oily T-zone matte
- What could be improved: Price; slightly sticky feel
Formulated with a three-ingredient “plumping complex,” this intense hydration serum combines hyaluronic acid, copper peptides, and squalane to support skin’s collagen production, leaving it bouncy and smooth. Glamour’s Kilkeary can attest to the formula’s hydrating and plumping benefits on her combination skin type. “This hyaluronic acid serum is probably one of the best I’ve ever tried, not only because I see immediate plumping effects after I use it, but because my skin simply drinks it up,” she says. “My skin is combination and I love that this doesn’t overly hydrate it or make it feel greasy or dewy. Instead, it hydrates my dry patches but keeps my usually oily T-zone matte. My skin looks a lot smoother, flake-free, and plump—all the good things.”
10. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Under Makeup: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Original photo from Ariel Wodarcyk testing The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Original photo from Ariel Wodarcyk testing The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
- What we like: Only $10 and so lightweight, it feels like nothing
- What could be improved: Not as hydrating as some of the other serums on this list
When it comes to finding the best hyaluronic acid serum to wear under makeup, celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard says to look for “a nonsticky, lightweight formula.” “The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid is a low-cost option that does a great job,” he says. “It performs well under makeup because it’s a super lightweight, water-based formula that absorbs quickly into the skin without causing pilling or separation of the makeup. It rapidly plumps, smoothes, and pulls moisture deep into the skin.” “On my first day trialing this serum, I wore it under my base makeup for a photo shoot, which I knew was risky,” says Wodarcyk. “Luckily, the risk paid off—my foundation, concealer, and the rest of my base routine glided on smoothly, and I didn’t notice any pilling or breaking up of my makeup throughout the day. Since then, I’ve tested this under a variety of other base products, including skin tints and a simple spot-concealing routine, with equally successful results. As Spickard noted, this serum has a silky, lightweight consistency that I can hardly feel upon application. Despite its barely-there feeling, I was pleasantly surprised by the noticeable glow the serum gave my skin.”
11. Best Splurge: SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
Original photo from Brigitt Earley testing SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator
- What we like: Powerful, you can noticeably see a difference after just a few applications of plumper, firmer skin
- What could be improved: Very expensive
“This is a pricey product, but many people find that it works really well because it combines different molecular versions and forms of hyaluronic acid to improve absorption, and production in the skin. It’s certainly a smart product, and for people that are desperately looking for that added boost of moisture, this is where you’ll find it,” says Rachel Nazarian, MD and board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology.
Glamour contributor Brigitt Earley is a fan, too. “My skin skews really dry, and there’s not much out there that makes it feel as quenched as this formula does. I love its silky texture and appreciate how readily it soaks in. I can’t stand a product that feels heavy and greasy on my skin, and this one just leaves things feeling nice and smooth. Even on traditionally rough spots like my upper chin and forehead,” she says.
12. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Wrinkles and Mature Skin: Skinceuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan
- What we like: Very potent and instantly plumps the skin
- What could be improved: Expensive
If you have wrinkles and mature skin, we love this HA intensifier serum that gives a “multi-dimensional” plump to the skin. It has a blend of 1.3% hyaluronic acid, plus licorice root extract, soybean ferment and proxylane, a proprietary ingredient that works to improve skin resilience and firmness.