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!”