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When it comes to moisturizing, everyone’s skin has different needs. But there’s one product that we can all benefit from adding to our skincare routines: hydrating serum.

If you’ve never tried one before, you should know that it’s meant to be used after cleansing and exfoliating, and before moisturizer and sunscreen. Because the texture is fluid—ranging from thin and watery to milky or gel-like—it’s weightless and perfect for layering.

Best of all, hydrating serum is good for every skin type. That’s because it’s packed with a high concentration of humectants, which are ingredients that attract and bind water to plump and moisturize your skin. All you need are a few drops to boost your skin’s moisture level, whether you’re dry, oily or in between.

Here’s what to look for in a hydrating serum, plus the best products to try now.

The Best Hydrating Serums of 2024

Best hydrating serum

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 Mineral 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

What to Look For in a Hydrating Serum

For best results, you want a hydrating serum that is high in beneficial ingredients and low in anything that could be irritating, inflammatory or comedogenic.

These are the key things I scan for when reading labels:

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From The Skincare Edit Archives

  • High in humectants: Glycerin, aloe, hyaluronic acid and gluconolactone are all examples of humectants—ingredients that draw in moisture and help to plump up your skin.2 
  • Low in occlusives: Oil-based serums won’t hydrate your skin well, due to their occlusive nature.3 (They’re better for sealing in moisture after you’ve applied humectants.) Furthermore, if the oils are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), they will oxidize quickly and generate aging free radicals.4,5
  • Low in LMHA: Low-molecular weight hyaluronic acid (LMHA) is inflammatory, so you’re better off using formulas with medium- or high-molecular weight hyaluronic acid instead.6 Unfortunately, it’s not possible to determine the type of hyaluronic acid used from ingredient labels alone, and many brands will not disclose this information, even if you ask. One clue that a formula contains LMHA is if you see the words “fractionated hyaluronic acid” or “hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid.”
  • Low in fragrance: Synthetic fragrance and essential oils are common skin irritants, so they should be near the end of an ingredients list or (ideally) not present at all.7
  • Low in silicone: As a film-former, silicone gives the illusion of hydrated skin—but it doesn’t actually moisturize.8 It can also trap pore-clogging ingredients, aggravating acne-prone skin.

Sources

  1. Juncan, A. M., Moisă, D. G., Santini, A., Morgovan, C., Rus, L., Vonica-Țincu, A. L. & Loghin, F. (2021). Advantages of Hyaluronic Acid and Its Combination with Other Bioactive Ingredients in Cosmeceuticals. Molecules. 2021 Aug; 26(15): 4429.
  2. Baumann, L. (2018, November 14). What Are Humectants? Leslie Baumann M.D.
  3. Baumann, L. (2018, December 28). What Are Occlusives? Leslie Baumann M.D.
  4. Gardner, H. W. (1989). Oxygen radical chemistry of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Free Radical Biology & Medicine. 1989; 7(1): 65-86.
  5. Byun, H. J., Cho, K. H., Eun, H. C., Lee, M., Lee, Y., Lee, S. & Chun, J. H. (2012). Lipid ingredients in moisturizers can modulate skin responses to UV in barrier-disrupted human skin in vivo. Journal of Dermatological Science. 2012 Feb; 65(2): 110-7.
  6. Litwiniuk, M., Krejner, A., Speyrer, M. S., Gauto, A. R. & Grzela, T. (2016). Hyaluronic Acid in Inflammation and Tissue Regeneration. Wounds. 2016 Mar; 28(3): 78-88.
  7. Johansen, J. D. (2003). Fragrance contact allergy: a clinical review. American Journal of Clinical Dermatology. 2003; 4(11): 789-98.
  8. De Paepe, K., Sieg, A., Le Meur, M. & Rogiers, V. (2014). Silicones as nonocclusive topical agents. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology. 2014; 27(3): 164-71.