Having hydrated skin is desirable all year round, but it can feel especially dire in the height of winter when the cold, dry air has sapped your skin of its vital moisture. To help bring your skin out of its winter doldrums, we asked board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger to share the best hydrating serums that help keep your skin looking plump, hydrated and refreshed.

Dr. Schlessinger Recommends the Best Hydrating Serum for You

1. SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Hydrating Serum

Hyaluronic acid is one of the industry’s most talked-about hydrating ingredients, but did you know it occurs naturally in your skin? Hyaluronic acid helps retain water in your skin’s cells, but our bodies tend to produce less hyaluronic acid as we age. SkinCeuticals formulated this serum with this particular need in mind, combining hyaluronic acid with three ingredients that help preserve hyaluronic acid content in your skin: licorice root extract, purple rice extract and proxylane, a patented molecule that restores water to the skin. According to a clinical study, 12 weeks of regular use resulted in increased firmness and elasticity.

2. TEOXANE RHA Serum Fundamental Revitalizing Concentrate

The acronym RHA in this serum’s name stands for resilient hyaluronic acid, an advanced concentrated form that is especially effective when it comes to helping the skin retain moisture. This multi-benefit serum also contains copper, zinc and vitamin B6 to nourish the skin while antioxidants protect against aging caused by free radicals.

3. LovelySkin LUXE Cellular Anti-Aging Peptide Serum

“I love this serum because it does double duty as a skin rejuvenation product as well as a hydrator. Hyaluronic acid is one of the best hydration products out there, but this goes one step further as it also stimulates collagen production, giving skin a more robust look,” Dr. Schlessinger says. “When we formulated this serum, I specifically chose hyaluronic acid, specialized apple-derived regenerative cells, peptides and Persian silk tree extract, which all work together to provide lightweight hydration and minimize fine lines. It’s well-tolerated by a wide variety of patients, from those with sensitive skin to those who are seeing signs of aging and skin dryness.”

4. Obagi Daily Hydro-Drops Facial Serum

We can’t help but think this fast-absorbing hydrating serum from Obagi looks magical, with tiny golden bubbles that appear to be suspended in a clear gel. It’s not magic, but rather a microfluidic technology called Isoplenix that preserves three active ingredients—hibiscus oil, Abyssinian oil and vitamin B3—in their purest form. This trio works in tandem with glycerin, a powerful hydrator, to resist moisture loss and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.

5. SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator

This powerful serum provides both immediate results and long-lasting hydration thanks to a unique blend of five types of hyaluronic acid. Sodium hyaluronate works to quickly plump the skin, helping it look noticeably smoother in just fifteen minutes while time-released hyaluronic acid helps keep skin hydrated all day long. Other beneficial ingredients include antioxidant-packed Vitis flower stem cell extract, along with plankton extract and a peptide complex to support hydration.

Not sure how to tell the difference between hydrating and moisturizing products? Learn what ingredients to look for when reading skin care product labels on the LovelySkin blog!