Editor’s Picks: 12 of the Best Hydrating Serums to Plump and Moisturize Your Skin

As a beauty editor, I’ve tested and evaluated hydrating serums from a range of brands. These are my top picks for every preference:

Best Clean Beauty

• Herbivore Cloud Jelly Plumping Hydration Serum
• Summer Fridays Jet Lag Deep Hydration Serum

Best Clinical

• ClarityRx Daily Dose of Water Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
• SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
• Vichy Minéral 89
• PCA Skin Hydrating Serum

Best K-Beauty

• COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule

Best Minimalist

• Consonant HydrExtreme

Best for Sensitive Skin

• First Aid Beauty Hydrating Serum With Hyaluronic Acid

Best Budget

• Timeless Hyaluronic Acid 100% Pure
• The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics

Best Splurge

• Omorovicza Instant Perfection Serum

For more details on each formula, read on.

Most hydrating serums contain hyaluronic acid, but Herbivore Cloud Jelly Plumping Hydration Serum is powered by a potent alternative: Tremella mushroom. 

Also known as “Nature’s super moisturizer,” this ingredient is even better at retaining moisture, and holds 500 times its weight in water. It’s paired with other humectants (like aloe, glycerin and collagen), but no oils or silicones. (It’s also free of synthetic fragrance, and has a subtle, natural strawberry scent.) The texture is a spreadable gel—for best results, apply it on damp skin and it will absorb without stickiness.

• Pros: Hyaluronic acid alternative, clean ingredients
• Cons: May not feel hydrating enough for some people

Credo Beauty reviewer: “This is lovely and really plumps up my fine lines better than any serum I have tried (and I have tried literally almost all clean beauty hyaluronic acid serums). Beautiful texture and very soothing also.”

If you’ve been searching for a serum that delivers intense hydration, consider Summer Fridays Dream Oasis Deep Hydration Serum (formerly known as Dream Oasis). This jelly-like serum both draws in moisture and keeps it locked in your skin. 

Aloe, glycerin and hyaluronic acid are the key humectants, while squalane prevents water loss and supports the skin barrier. There’s also colloidal oatmeal to soothe, ceramides to repair, and amino acids for additional hydration. According to the brand, you can either wear this alone (if you’re oily) or layer it under moisturizer (if you’re dry).

• Pros: Prevents water loss, clean ingredients
• Cons: May not be suitable for acne-prone skin

Space NK reviewer: “I suffer from dehydrated skin so this product immediately appealed to me and I absolutely love it, so much so that I have already purchased a backup of it. I find it to be very hydrating and plumping and it leaves a lovely base for makeup when layered with a light moisturizer. I also find it soothing after using products with active ingredients. I have sensitive skin and have had no issues with this product at all. I would definitely recommend it. I also really like the packaging.”

ClarityRx Daily Dose of Water Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum is a lightweight serum that really does feel like a big glass of water for your skin. 

This formula boosts hydration with high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid—which is more effective than lower weights at binding moisture and reducing water loss.¹ True to the brand’s minimalistic approach, there are just four ingredients in total. It’s free of fragrance, oil and silicone, and has a fluid texture that absorbs instantly.

• Pros: Contains high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid, minimalistic formula
• Cons: Pricey

Dermstore reviewer: “This is my second bottle of this serum. I love that it’s not sticky and absorbs easily. I wear this under makeup with no pilling at all. This serum is so moisturizing, I sometimes use it alone. It keeps my skin very soft and supple. I would definitely recommend this and am planning to repurchase when this runs out again.”

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is the OG hydrating serum—it was first launched more than a decade ago, and it’s still one of the best options on the market. 

It’s named for its high concentration of provitamin B5 (in its water-soluble form, calcium pantothenate), which binds moisture to your skin in tandem with hyaluronic acid. The simple formula includes just four ingredients in all, and no fragrance, oil or silicone. It has a gel consistency, and a little goes a long way.

• Pros: Non-sticky, minimalistic formula
• Cons: Pricey

Dermstore reviewer: “I’ve been using this product for over a year now and wanted to pass along my experience. I’ve been very pleased with this product. It definitely helps to retain moisture from your other skin products. It’s not sticky so can be easily used with makeup application and another bonus is a little goes a very long way. I’ve found one drop is enough. This product spreads nicely and absorbs well. Definitely would recommend.”

Vichy Minéral 89 gets its name from an 89% concentration of mineral-rich thermal water—the same soothing ingredient that the brand uses in its popular face mist. 

Here, it is bolstered by two of the best humectants (glycerin and hyaluronic acid). Unlike most drugstore offerings, there’s no fragrance or silicone. It has the texture of a lightweight gel, and promises a full 24 hours of hydrated skin.

• Pros: Contains thermal water, affordable
• Cons: May not feel hydrating enough for some people

Ulta Beauty reviewer: “Love the elegant bottle it comes in, the simplistic formula and the lightweight but sufficient hydration it gives my oily yet dehydrated skin type. I can use this both AM and PM on damp skin, straight after cleansing, and often without needing to apply anything after. It doesn’t leave my skin feeling tacky or sticky once I’ve given it a few minutes to dry, and I only need a few drops, meaning this will last a LONG time. Love it!”

PCA Skin Hydrating Serum is packed with multiple humectants—so if you’re looking for more than just a basic hyaluronic acid serum, this formula is for you. 

It’s highest in glycerin, sodium PCA, aloe, sodium lactate and gluconolactone, which are all effective (and weightless) hyaluronic acid alternatives. It has a light, fast-absorbing texture, and it’s also fragrance-free, oil-free and silicone-free.

• Pros: Contains multiple humectants
• Cons: Pricey

Nordstrom reviewer: “By far my favorite serum and the only hydrating serum I’ve ever tried that actually works. I see an instant improvement in my skin’s appearance and texture within just a couple of uses. I’ve used PCA for 14 years... every once in a while I feel like trying another line and I come running back.”

COSRX Propolis Light Ampoule is a bestselling K-beauty serum that’s loaded with 83% propolis extract. 

Also known as “bee glue,” propolis has natural anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant and oil-controlling benefits in addition to offering hydration. The formula is free of fragrance, oil and silicone, and has a slightly thicker, gooey texture (which your skin will drink right up).

• Pros: Soothing, anti-inflammatory, affordable
• Cons: Thicker, slightly sticky texture

Ulta Beauty reviewer: “I absolutely love this serum! I noticed a huge improvement in my dry skin in just a few days, it really helped my skin look nourished and plump and diminished the dry texture I was getting. It does not irritate my sensitive acne-prone skin and looks beautiful under makeup! I use it twice a day morning and night and I will be repurchasing!”

Consonant HydrExtreme is one of the most effective hydrating serums, and believe it or not, it only contains two ingredients. 

One is glycerin, and the other is a naturally-derived plant sugar that replenishes moisture just like hyaluronic acid. In fact, it’s even better—in an independent clinical study, it outperformed the leading hyaluronic acid serum at maintaining hydration for a full 24 hours. This formula is also fragrance-free, oil-free and silicone-free, with a weightless watery texture.

• Pros: Minimalistic formula, hyaluronic acid alternative, weightless feel
• Cons: Pricey

Well.ca reviewer: “I purchased this product (with hesitation due to its price) and I’m so glad that I did, it has been a true skin saviour!!! I'm in my 30s with dry acne-prone skin. Although I moisturize quite liberally, my skin always feels dry, tight and is often peeling. I started using this hydrator... my dry and flaking skin resolved after the first application. I am truly amazed and relieved!!! This product absorbs fully with zero greasiness and zero breakouts. I am in love!”

Looking for a sensitive skin-friendly formula? First Aid Beauty Hydrating Serum With Hyaluronic Acid gives you both hydrating and calming benefits. 

It features a mix of humectants (including glycerin and soluble collagen) alongside soothing colloidal oatmeal, allantoin and aloe. Like all the brand’s products, it’s formulated without common irritants like fragrance, and it’s also oil-free and silicone-free. The texture is a light gel, and it’s quick to absorb into the skin.

• Pros: Soothing, safe for sensitive skin
• Cons: May not be suitable for acne-prone skin

Nordstrom reviewer: “This is definitely my favorite hyaluronic acid serum that I’ve tried. It absorbs quickly and doesn’t feel sticky at all. It immediately leaves my skin looking hydrated and plump. It’s also really soothing due to the colloidal oatmeal (one of my favorite skincare ingredients). Such a hit for me!”

Timeless Hyaluronic Acid 100% Pure is not only one of the most affordable hydrating serums, it’s also one of the most popular (with more than 5,000 four-star reviews on Amazon!). 

The four-ingredient formula contains a 1% concentration of what the brand describes as “medium-high” molecular weight hyaluronic acid, which gives it a slightly thicker gel texture. Even still, it sinks in completely with no stickiness, and is fragrance-free, oil-free and silicone-free.

• Pros: Affordable, minimalistic formula
• Cons: May not feel hydrating enough for some people

Timeless reviewer: “I love this stuff! Every time I put it on my skin (AM and PM) it hydrates my skin significantly. If I don’t use it my skin gets all dried up and flaky. It makes my skin look younger and feel younger. My makeup glides on more easily because of it as well! Love love love it!”

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics hydrates with “marine” ingredients rather than hyaluronic acid.

They include proteins and polysaccharides that are sustainably sourced from algae and marine bacteria—and they act the same way as other humectants to draw moisture into the skin. In fact, they are so lightweight that they give this serum an extremely weightless, watery, non-sticky feel. It’s also free of fragrance, oil and silicone.

• Pros: Affordable, hyaluronic acid alternative, weightless feel
• Cons: May not be suitable for acne-prone skin

The Ordinary reviewer: “I have literally tried 50+ serums from every major brand. Serums labelled as “light/water-based/gel-like,” and still found they were not that light, nor did they absorb fully. The Ordinary’s Marine Hyaluronics has the viscosity of water. And this is why I believe it does not leave a horrible layer of residue and absorbs fully before I apply my moisturizer. It’s the lightest serum I have encountered.”

It’s definitely a splurge, but Omorovicza Instant Perfection Serum floods your skin with moisture, plus an array of beneficial ingredients. 

It’s high in the brand’s signature Hungarian thermal water, which contains bioavailable minerals with skin-healing properties. It also has plant stem cells to help reverse sun damage, plus plumping hyaluronic acid and a sugar-based hydrating complex. It’s both silicone-free and oil-free, with a light, naturally-derived scent.

• Pros: Soothing, anti-aging
• Cons: Pricey

Omorovicza reviewer: “Everything this serum advertises, I can say has delivered in real time. Serum and one of their many mists is all you need to start your skin feeling fresh in the morning or before night routines. I found this serum to dry well, applied evenly, skin looks healthy and visibly less wrinkles. Visibly! Like a glass of water for the skin. I recommend this product.”