In the skin care world, hyaluronic acid is a true hero ingredient. It can be found in some of the most popular dermal fillers and also does the heavy lifting by providing powerful hydration in an array of topical skin care products, from eye creams to sunscreens. Hyaluronic acid works by drawing moisture into the skin, which helps make fine lines look less prominent and skin appear plumper and firmer. If you’re not yet reaping the benefits of adding hyaluronic acid to your skin care routine, now’s the time to give it a try. Follow along as we cover some key topics, such as:

• What is the best way to use hyaluronic acid on your face?

• How to use hyaluronic acid serums

• What are the best hyaluronic acid serums to try at home?

What is the best way to use hyaluronic acid on your face?

One of the best ways to easily incorporate hyaluronic acid into your skin care routine is to try a hyaluronic acid serum. “Hyaluronic acid can be one of the absolute best moisturizers as it not only replenishes moisture, but helps to stabilize collagen at the same time,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. These standalone serums can be easily inserted into just about any skin care routine that you’re already doing, so it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to add one There are also a wide variety of hyaluronic acid serums available in today’s market, meaning you can easily find one that works best for you and your skin with little to no effort.

How to use hyaluronic acid serums

You can use a hyaluronic acid facial serum once or twice daily, with your morning or evening skin care routine. “The best way to use a hyaluronic acid serum is to apply it to skin that’s still slightly damp after cleansing,” says board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger. “It will act as a hydration booster, binding to water molecules and increasing the moisture content in your skin.”

8 derm-approved hyaluronic acid serums to try at home

Looking for the best hyaluronic acid serum to incorporate into your skin care routine? Here are a few of our favorites:

For tired, dull skin:

LovelySkin LUXE HA Peptide Serum

“When we developed this serum for our own LovelySkin LUXE line, we finely tuned the formula to not only hydrate skin effectively but also target visible signs of aging,” Dr. Schlessinger says. Hyaluronic acid has an instant plumping effect to help reduce the appearance of fine lines, while peptides support collagen production and apple stem cells help protect the life of skin cells. This serum also contains Persian silk tree extract, which helps reduce signs of skin fatigue to promote a more radiant complexion.
When developing this formula, we carefully chose the most effective ingredients to really maximize the benefits for skin every time you use it,” Dr. Schlessinger says.

TEOXANE RHA Serum Fundamental Revitalizing Concentrate

Another fantastic option for skin that’s looking dull and in need of a boost, this face serum is clinically proven to smooth and brighten skin in just fourteen days. The acronym RHA in this serum’s name stands for Resilient Hyaluronic Acid, a richly concentrated form of hyaluronic that helps improves your skin’s moisture content for a firmer, smoother look. An array of amino acids and antioxidant ingredients also work together to help reduce signs of skin fatigue.

For organic fans:

Eminence Organics Strawberry Rhubarb Hyaluronic Serum

The classic combination of strawberry and rhubarb isn’t just for pies. These organic garden goodies also add vitamins and a delicious scent to this hyaluronic acid serum. Hydrating aloe makes an effective companion to hyaluronic acid, which both work together to help plump skin for a softer, smoother appearance.

For dry skin:

SkinMedica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator

If your skin tends toward the dry side of the spectrum, trying this face serum could be the best way to use hyaluronic acid to maximize benefits for your skin. This unique formula contains five types of hyaluronic acid that work together to provide immediate and long-lasting hydration. “This is one of the most unique hyaluronic acid serums on the market because it actually helps your skin replenish its natural supply of hyaluronic acid,” Dr. Schlessinger says. It also contains a peptide complex and polysaccharides to help smooth rough skin texture and diminish the appearance of fine lines with continued use.

For irritated, sunburned skin or rosacea patients:

iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum

If you have been diagnosed with rosacea or have skin that’s easily irritated, this cooling serum could be the best way to use hyaluronic acid in your skin care routine. In addition to hyaluronic acid, it also contains gotu kola extract, which calms inflammation, and vitamin B5 to promote skin healing. If you accidentally ended up sunburned after too much time outside or applying too little sunscreen, this serum can also come in handy as a gentle skin soother.

More all-around picks for all skin types:

Replenix Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Serum

This face serum is powered by fractionated hyaluronic acid, which contains short-chain and long-chain molecules to maximize its ability to penetrate your skin. The addition of palmitoyl tripeptide 28, an advanced peptide, supports collagen production to help increase your skin’s firmness and elasticity. This serum gets its azure color from a naturally blue copper complex that helps to moisturize skin and target excess oil as well.

SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Hydrating Serum

With a lightweight serum-gel texture, this face treatment works well across all skin types, from oily to dry to sensitive. The starring ingredient, 1.3% hyaluronic acid, improves your skin’s texture with long-lasting hydration. This serum’s anti-aging benefits are bolstered by 10% Proxylane™, a trademarked SkinCeuticals ingredient that helps restore fullness to sagging skin, and 2% licorice root extract to improve your skin’s texture over time.

PCA SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Facial Serum

With a creamy texture and easy-to-dispense pump bottle, this versatile face serum is a much-needed addition to any skin care routine looking to fight signs of aging and increase hydration in one step. It contains hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid to deeply penetrate your skin and HA Pro-Complex, a proprietary ingredient that helps stimulate your skin’s own production of hyaluronic acid. It also contains ceramides and niacinamide to guard against moisture loss, which ensures all the beneficial hydration stays put.

Want more? Keep reading to learn even more about this hydration hero as you discover how hyaluronic acid benefits skin in products from ISDIN, an innovative Barcelona-based skin care line.