If I could, I would completely outlaw that tight, parched feeling that comes with dry skin (which, for me at least, sets in the minute I pat my face dry after washing it). Sadly, I don’t have that kind of power, so my next best defense is using a really good hydrating serum. When used immediately after cleansing (and before your moisturizer or sunscreen), these products can add a nourishing boost to your skin care routine—without feeling greasy or heavy.
“Hydrating serums are a game changer for maintaining healthy, radiant skin,” Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of AziMD Skincare, tells SELF. “They work by replenishing moisture levels in the skin, improving its elasticity and texture, and providing a plumper, smoother appearance.” She adds that the right ones can even help maintain a healthy skin barrier (a.k.a. the outer layer of your skin that retains moisture and keeps irritants out) and reduce the appearance of fine lines.
As with moisturizers and night creams, there are tons of face serums to choose from. That’s why we asked derms what makes a hydrating serum truly exceptional, plus how to find the best one for your skin’s needs. Find out which products made the cut below, according to experts, editors, and SELF Healthy Beauty Award testers.
Our top picksBest Overall: Olay Super SerumBest Budget Pick: The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid SerumBest for Sensitive Skin: Mixsoon Soondy Centella Asiatica EssenceBest for Mature Skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping & Hydrating SerumBest Splurge: Clarins Double SerumBest for Redness: Caudalie VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic SerumBest for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid SerumBest with Retinol: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting SerumBest Under Makeup: Anua 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier SerumBest for Dullness: True Botanicals Chebula Active SerumBest for Barrier Repair: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration SerumBest for Dark Spots: Ourself HA+ Replenishing SerumFAQs about hydrating serumsShould everyone have a hydrating serum as part of their skin care routine?
As we mentioned, hydrating serums can help with water loss, uneven texture, signs of aging, and other common skin concerns. Most importantly, though, “hydration is a fundamental part of skin health,” Dr. Shirazi says.
No matter your skin type, a hydrating serum can help keep your skin strong and glowy. “Even oily skin will benefit from lightweight hydration,” Rosemarie Ingleton MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Ingleton Dermatology in New York City, tells SELF, explaining that moisturizing products can regulate your skin’s oil production, which can help prevent breakouts.
How often should you use a hydrating serum?
All the derms we spoke to recommended hydrating serums for year-round use. Apply it after washing your face, while your skin is still damp—this will help the product absorb more easily into your skin. Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City, says it’s a good idea to follow up with a moisturizer on top, especially in the winter, when everyone’s skin is more prone to dryness and water loss.
Dr. Ingleton says you can use a hydrating serum twice a day (in the morning and at night) if you want—although you might not need it in the morning during the summer, when the heat and humidity can make your skin a little, er, moister.
What should you look for in a hydrating serum?
There’s a wide range of active ingredients that’ll moisturize your skin, but each comes with additional effects that are good to keep in mind.
One of the most common hydrating ingredients in skin care, glycerin is a humectant that attracts and retains water, Dr. Ingleton says. It’s suitable for all skin types, but it’s an especially good pick for dry skin because it draws moisture into deeper layers of the skin, Dr. Shirazi says.
Here’s another humectant that’s both intensely hydrating and lightweight. (That makes it popular among people with dry and oily skin alike.) Dr. Ingleton recommends it if you’re also concerned about fine lines—hyaluronic acid can have a smoothing, plumping effect.
Not only does squalane add moisture, but it can also decrease inflammation, Dr. Nazarian says. It’s a lightweight oil that plays nicely with dehydrated, acne-prone skin as well as very dry skin. Basically, if your face tends to flake, itch, or peel, squalane can help soothe that irritation and repair your skin’s surface.
Also known as vitamin B5, this humectant is calming, reparative, and great for reducing redness, Dr. Shirazi says. She recommends it for sensitive skin types due to its non-irritating formulation and ability to strengthen the skin barrier.
Niacinamide is another B vitamin that helps skin retain moisture, Dr. Ingleton says. It also has anti-inflammatory properties and may help address fine lines and hyperpigmentation. Consider it a solid pick for sensitive, oily, and dry skin.
Derms like to describe ceramides as the “mortar” that fills in the spaces between the “bricks” that are your skin cells. In other words, they play an important role in keeping your skin barrier strong and resilient, which helps prevent moisture loss and irritation. If you have dry, sensitive, or mature skin, they’re a key ingredient to look for.
Dr. Shirazi likes ultra-soothing aloe vera for sensitive skin. It’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and generally great if you need a reliable, time-tested source of hydration.
Shop the best hydrating serums
Ready for a glow up? Let’s dew do it.
Best Overall: Olay Super SerumProsGood for a range of skin concernsUnder $40Immediately improves skin’s appearanceConsContains fragrance that might irritate sensitive skinThis 2024 Healthy Beauty Award winner is a bit of a skin care Swiss Army knife. In addition to key moisturizers like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and glycerin, it also contains lactic acid for gentle exfoliation and vitamin C for dark spots and sun damage.
“If I could only have one skin care product on a deserted island, it would be this,” one of our testers said. “Because it’s made with a ton of my favorite ingredients, it’s my go-to whenever I travel and can’t bring all of my skin care essentials in a tiny makeup bag.”
Other notable ingredients
Vitamin E (a powerful antioxidant with hydrating, calming, and healing effects)
Best Budget Pick: The Inkey List Polyglutamic Acid SerumThe Inkey List
Polyglutamic Acid Serum
ProsUnder $20A little goes a long wayFeels great on dry, sensitive skinConsSlightly odd smellFeels sticky at firstUntil I can banish dry skin from my list of problems, I’ll stick with this serum from The Inkey List. Its star ingredient, polyglutamic acid, is a relatively recent addition to the world of skin care and works as a humectant. According to Dr. Shirazi, it doesn’t penetrate as deeply as other actives and there’s not much research on it yet, but it’s acceptable for most skin types and can prevent water loss through the outer layer of the skin.
Other notable ingredients
Best for Sensitive Skin: Mixsoon Soondy Centella Asiatica EssenceMixsoon
Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence
ProsFormulated to be less irritatingUnder $40Cute packagingConsFeels sticky at firstProducts that have short ingredient lists tend to be easier for sensitive skin to tolerate, so naturally Mixsoon’s Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence (and its whopping three components) is our top pick. It mainly contains centella asiatica, a plant extract that may help reduce redness and boost hydration, though research on its effects is limited.
Our tester finds it non-irritating and likes to dab it on as part of her nighttime routine (because it can feel a little tacky when you first apply it).
Other notable ingredients
Butylene glycol (a solvent and humectant)
Best for Mature Skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping & Hydrating SerumBiossance
Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping & Hydrating Serum
ProsGood for addressing common signs of agingLightweight formulaConsOver $60As its name suggests, this serum uses a combination of hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate and make skin more supple in one step. That’s partly why Dr. Shirazi likes it, but its peptide content is why she considers it especially helpful if you have mature skin (meaning your skin has begun to show signs of aging like lines, sagging, dullness, or increased dryness). “What truly makes it stand out is the inclusion of copper peptides, which not only support hydration but also promote collagen production and improve skin firmness over time,” she explains.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, panthenol, aloe
Best Splurge: Clarins Double SerumProsGlowy finishGood for dullness and fine linesConsVery priceyMultiple testers gave Clarins’s Double Serum a shout out and it’s easy to see why: In exchange for its higher price point, you get a host of benefits. On the surface, it smooths—even blurs—your skin’s texture and ups its radiance. Beyond that, it strengthens your skin barrier with squalane and deeply hydrates with glycerin.
We like that this serum also contains a range of calming ingredients. There’s tried-and-true aloe, plus colloidal oatmeal, which can help soothe dry, itchy, easily irritated skin.
Other notable ingredients
Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Best for Redness: Caudalie VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic SerumCaudalie
VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum
ProsSoothing formulaEasily sinks into skinConsOver $50Contains fragranceCaudalie’s VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum is another of Dr. Shirazi’s favorites. “It deeply hydrates the skin while providing a calming effect, making it ideal for those with sensitive or dehydrated skin,” she says, adding that it absorbs quickly without leaving any residue behind.
That calming effect is thanks to a combo of ingredients, including squalane and grape fruit extract, which is also rich in antioxidants. One thing to keep in mind: Although this serum has lots of expert-approved ingredients for sensitive skin, it also contains fragrance that could cause some irritation.
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid
Best for Acne-Prone Skin: La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid SerumLa Roche-Posay
Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
ProsLight and fast-absorbingUnder $50ConsContains fragranceDr. Nazarian calls this La Roche Posay serum “super lightweight” and recommends it for people who deal with acne and excess oil. One of its main moisturizers is hyaluronic acid that absorbs quickly without feeling greasy. Another one is panthenol, so it’s also worth a try if you deal with inflamed skin.
Other notable ingredients
Best with Retinol: Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting SerumClinique
Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum
ProsAddresses uneven textureReduces appearance of fine linesAbsorbs quicklyConsOver $75Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A that helps speed up skin cell turnover, has a reputation for being irritating and drying (and it can be, if you don’t ease into it). Luckily, there are lots of retinol creams and serums, like Clinique’s Smart Clinical Repair Wrinkle Correcting Serum, that moisturize while delivering retinol’s skin-renewing effects.
This multitasking serum won a Healthy Beauty Award in 2022, in no small part for its impressively quick results. “This silky smooth serum goes on easily and absorbs right away, leaving your skin feeling moisturized and protected,” one tester said. “I used this several nights in a row and after about the third night, I swear that I woke with less puffiness under my eyes, and my skin overall looked a bit more plump, less dry, and with some of the fine lines on my face smoothed out.”
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, squalane
Best Under Makeup: Anua 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier SerumAnua
7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum
ProsGlass skin effectsSmooth, lightweight consistencyUnder $30ConsFeels a little slimy at first, according to Ulta reviewers“I love this serum because it feels SO lightweight, so it’s a solid option if you hate the overly sticky, tacky residue of most serums,” one SELF staffer says, adding that Anua’s 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum is her go-to for both day and night. “It’s still hydrating and a great base for under makeup.”
On top of its elegant finish, it’s positively packed with good-for-you moisturizers like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and niacinamide.
Other notable ingredients
Honey extract (a humectant with antibacterial properties)
Best for Dullness: True Botanicals Chebula Active SerumTrue Botanicals
Chebula Active Serum
ProsGood for inflammation-prone skinFormulated to improve skin tone and textureConsVery priceyA little sticky, according to Nordstrom reviewersHere’s another splurge-worthy serum that comes highly recommended by one of our testers. Think of it as a nice, cool drink for dull, dry, easily irritated skin: Two of its main ingredients, green tea leaf extract and aloe vera, work together to soothe, hydrate, and ease inflammation.
“I use this daily and have enjoyed improvements in my skin,” one Nordstrom reviewer wrote. “Specifically: reduced redness; brighter, clearer, less dull-looking [skin]; improvements in sagging eyelids; improvements in smile lines; plumper, more hydrated skin.”
Other notable ingredients
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid
Best for Barrier Repair: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration SerumDrunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
ProsImproves texture and water retentionGreat texture; doesn’t leave any residue behindIntensely hydratingConsA little priceyCeramides, panthenol, hyaluronic acid—you’ll find all three in Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum. Dr. Shirazi recommends it if you’re concerned about your skin’s ability to hold moisture. “Together, these ingredients provide long-lasting hydration while improving the skin’s texture and barrier function,” she says.
Source : Self.com