The Best Hyaluronic Acids

Like a giant drink of water for your face, hyaluronic acid quenches the skin, making your complexion appear more hydrated, glowy, and youthful. It's a truly magical ingredient that dermatologists, facialists, and skincare fiends everywhere praise for its single-handed ability to plump up the skin, smooth out wrinkles, and give you a dewy, moisturized look. Interestingly, HA is naturally produced by our own bodies and holds up to 1,000 times its weight in water (whoa). However, our skin's level of hyaluronic acid does decrease with age...which means it's super-important to purchase one (or several) HA skincare products as you get older. Conveniently, this acid pairs well with other ingredients, too, so you can easily incorporate it into your skincare routine. Here are our all-time favorite HA skincare products, for those times when you need an instant boost of radiance and shine.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Best for the skin and budget

The Ordinary makes an HA serum that checks all the boxes.

Best Overall

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Ask any skincare nut and they’ll tell you: The Ordinary makes a truly wonderful hyaluronic acid-based serum, one that’s made even more wonderful by that affordable price tag. This serum packs a mega-punch, since it combines HA with vitamin B5, another wonderfully moisturizing ingredient. Apply it before bedtime and expect to wake up with skin that’s happy, healthy, and oh-so-glowy.

Pros:

The potent combo of HA and vitamin B5 helps soothe and smooth like no other.
The affordable price point is awesome, to say the least.
Cruelty-free.

Cons:

Comes in a semi-small bottle, so you’ll probably be tempted to buy several.

Cosmedica Skincare Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Ideal for layering under all your other products

If you like to wear multiple serums and moisturizers, this Cosmedica HA serum is perfect, since it glides on smoothly and easily under other products.

Best for Layering

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Do you hate it when products leave behind a tacky residue? If so, the Cosmedica Skincare Hyaluronic Acid Serum is for you: This powerful little serum pairs extra-nicely with other products, smoothly layering under your thick creams, lotions, and other treatments. Thanks to the high concentration of skin-plumping HA, when used regularly, this serum can help smooth and improve your skin texture and restore moisture and radiance.

Pros:

Boasts a powerful (yet gentle) HA formula that plumps and hydrates the complexion, diminishing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Goes on well underneath other products.

Cons:

Has a light odor that isn’t the most pleasant scent.

TruSkin Vitamin C Serum with Hyaluronic Acid

The dream team

Vitamin C AND hyaluronic acid? Talk about a winning combo.

Best with Vitamin C

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If you don’t know about vitamin C and the wonders it can work on your skin, it’s time to find out about this powerhouse ingredient. In short, vitamin C helps to brighten the skin, boost sun protection, and feed the skin with essential antioxidants; and, when paired with hyaluronic acid like it is in this serum from TruSkin, well, that’s a miracle combo unlike any other. The Vitamin C Serum with HA is designed to target signs of aging, improve tone and clarity, and help reduce breakouts and fine lines. Talk about a gem of a skincare product.

Pros:

The vitamin C-hyaluronic acid combo is awesome for brightening, smoothing, antioxidant-boosting, and improving the appearance of acne and aging.
Certified cruelty-free.

Cons:

Vitamin C can be irritating if used with other powerful ingredients (like retinol), so tread carefully when incorporating this serum into your routine.

Asterwood Naturals Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Because you (and your face) are worth it

This Asterwood Naturals serum is pure luxury in a bottle.

Best Premium

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You only get one face; why not splurge on it? The Asterwood Naturals HA Serum may be pricey, but there’s a reason for that: put simply, it works. This serum contains a foolproof HA formula that intensely hydrates the skin, in addition to effectively smoothing out fine lines, resulting in skin that’s calmer, brighter, and well-nourished.

Pros:

Gives you plumper, smoother, brighter skin in minutes.
Absorbs quickly into the skin.
Cruelty-free.

Cons:

Not right for every budget.

M3 Naturals Eye Cream Infused with Collagen Stem Cell and Hyaluronic Acid

The eyes have it

Don't neglect your peepers; show them some love with this HA-infused eye cream from M3 Naturals.

Best Around the Eyes

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Fake a full night’s rest with M3 Naturals Eye Cream, which helps to plump the skin around the eye and give you a nice, well-rested glow (even if you didn’t get your full eight hours of sleep in). This cream’s ultra-nourishing formula is extra-special: The collagen helps to tighten and brighten, while the hyaluronic acid provides a burst of hydration that smooths out fine lines and wrinkles.

Pros:

The combination of collagen and hyaluronic acid is great for the eye area, since it pulls double-duty at firming, lifting, and hydrating.

Cons:

It’s on the pricey end of the spectrum.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does hyaluronic acid do for my skin?

Hyaluronic acid is like a goody bag for the skin; it contains so many benefits. This acid is a substance that’s found naturally in the skin, and it helps keep it supple, plump, and hydrated. Since the amount of naturally-occurring hyaluronic acid in our bodies decreases as we get older, it’s extra-important to add a product with HA into your skincare routine as you age.

Can I use hyaluronic acid with other skincare products?

As long as you use it correctly, yes, for the most part. Hyaluronic acid can be used in conjunction with other acids, retinol, and most types of peels; however, it’s recommended that you don’t use it with glycolic acid, as it may degrade the HA (thereby making it less effective).

What types of products contain hyaluronic acid?

It’s typically found in creams and serums.