The Best Hyaluronic Acid Skin Care to Get You From Dehydrated to Dewy

Long before peptides took over our vanities, there was hyaluronic acid (HA). Ushering in a wave of gentle, ingredient-focused skincare, HA proved that an active didn’t have to exfoliate or irritate to make a noticeable difference. As Dr. Shereene Idriss previously told Vogue, “Because of the popularity of hyaluronic acid, it is in almost every other product you’ll find.” Flip over just about any serum, moisturizer, or complexion products (think: skin tints or even blushes), and there’s a good chance you’ll spot it on the ingredient list.

While most of us are familiar with the term, you may still wonder: What exactly is this superstar ingredient? According to Dr. David Shafer, MD, FACS, a double board-certified plastic surgeon, hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring molecule in the body that plays a crucial role in maintaining your skin’s moisture balance. Translation? It keeps skin hydrated by drawing water into the epidermis, resulting in a plump appearance. And even though hyaluronic acid is seemingly the fix-all ingredient, Dr. Idriss reminds us to be intentional with our product choices. Rather than layering multiple HA products, she recommends limiting yourself to just one or two in your skin-care routine to avoid irritation.

Vogue’s Favorite Hyaluronic Acid Skincare

• Best Concentrated Serum: Isdin Hyaluronic Concentrate, $115
• Best French Pharmacy: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum, $40
• Best Luxe: Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum, $155
• Best Mixed Molecular Weight Serum: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum, $128
• Best Drugstore Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer, $26

Part of its popularity comes from its versatility: Hyaluronic acid plays nice with others. For starters, it’s generally well tolerated across skin types. Plus, it works in harmony with other ingredients like peptides, ceramides, niacinamide, and even vitamin C, amplifying the benefits of your entire skin-care routine.

Whether you’re battling dryness, fine lines, or simply want a dewy glow, hyaluronic acid can help. It’s a versatile ingredient that suits all skin types, including sensitive skin. Plus, its anti-aging properties make it a favorite for more mature skin types seeking smoother, firmer skin.

So, where to begin? To save you from sifting through an overwhelming sea of options, we’ve enlisted experts—and a few Vogue editors—to share their top hyaluronic acid skin-care picks.

Best French Pharmacy: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum

• Why We Love It: Beyond being a tried-and-true hyaluronic acid serum, La Roche-Posay included a few more skin-soothing ingredients to upgrade the formula. For starters, vitamin B5 (aka panthenol) offers skin-soothing benefits, while preventing water loss. Meanwhile, madecassoside (a form of centella asiatica) helps to boost collagen and prevent free radical damage. And as with all La Roche-Posay products, thermal spring water is rich with skin-soothing minerals. Plus, the formula is dermatologist and allergy-tested.

Best Drugstore Moisturizer: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Moisturizer

• Why We Love It: Noncomedogenic, oil-free, hypoallergenic, and packed with hyaluronic acid—this drugstore pick is perfect for anyone prone to breakouts. It helps your face stay hydrated without clogging pores. Board-certified dermatologist Hope Mitchell previously told Vogue that she especially likes “its lightweight, refreshing texture,” adding that “it’s packed with hyaluronic acid, which deeply hydrates the skin and locks in moisture.” It’s also a favorite of Bhanusali and fellow board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dara Spearman for it’s super fast absorption.

Best Retinal: Medik8 Crystal Retinal Serum

• Why We Love It: Like we said, hyaluronic acid can be in just about any product—even retinal. Medik8’s cult-favorite serum is powered by the vitamin A derivative, plus hyaluronic acid and glycerin to boost hydration and reduce irritation. “Medik8 Crystal Retinal is one of the most well-known retinal products because it uses a stabilized retinaldehyde system available in multiple strengths, which makes it easy for patients to gradually increase potency over time,” Kristina Collins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and Mohs micrographic surgeon, previously told Vogue. Another viral option from the brand is their Liquid Peptides Advanced serum, which also includes a healthy dose of HA.
• Editor’s Experience: “I like my retinals non-irritating and customizable, which is why I’ve been relying on Medik8’s Crystal Retinal 3 Serum. Encapsulated retinaldehyde leads the formula, working in tandem with glycerin and hyaluronic acid to improve fine lines, skin tone, and texture.” —Kiana Murden, beauty editor, shopping

Best Luxe: Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Sérum

• Why We Love It: Chanel offers a unique take on a hydrating serum: “What makes this serum special is its micro-bubble technology. Each tiny bubble holds camellia extract and oil keeping the ingredients fresh until you apply it. The bubbles burst on contact with your skin, for a rejuvenating release of intense nourishment that penetrates deeper into the skin for deeper penetration,” board-certified physician assistant Paula Brezavscek previously said. “The result is plumper, smoother, and more radiant skin that stays hydrated for up to 24 hours. It’s especially great for mature or dry skin because it strengthens the moisture barrier and leaves a soft, refreshed finish.”

Best Mixed Molecular Weight Serum: PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum

• Why We Love It: “This isn’t just an ordinary hyaluronic acid serum,” New York City–based esthetician and skin-care expert Sean Garrette previously told Vogue. The formulation features multiple types of hyaluronic acid, including sodium hyaluronate and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, which work together to deeply hydrate and penetrate all layers of the skin. “This formula also includes ceramides and niacinamide—two nourishing ingredients that are crucial for proper skin-barrier function. This blend of ingredients helps to soothe, hydrate, and nourish the skin.”

Best Sheet Mask: Dr. Jart+ Cryo Rubber Moisture Mask

• Why We Love It: Dr. Jart+ takes a different approach to the traditional sheet mask. Rather than using biocellulose—a material commonly found in sheet masks—the brand opts for a cooling rubber design inspired by Korean cryotherapy facials. It also departs from convention in another way: instead of arriving saturated in serum, the mask is paired with a separate hydrating ampoule that’s applied to the skin first. The rubber mask is then placed on top to help seal in the formula as it gets to work.
• Editor’s Experience: “I’m here to preach the Dr. Jart+ mask gospe—one of the most unique sheet masks I’ve ever tried. I like that you apply the product directly to your face (without worry that you’re leaving some of the good stuff inside the sachet) and lock in the hydration with the rubber mask that has an almost cooling feel. My skin looks fresh and bouncy after each use.” —K.M.

Best Eye Serum: Bioeffect EGF Eye Serum

• Why We Love It: Bioeffect’s eye serum takes treatment to the next level, for concerns like fine lines and crow’s feet. That’s because it contains one of the most innovative (and buzzy) ingredients of the year—growth factors, a superstar for skin smoothing and resurfacing. “These support the skin by increasing firmness and hydration and alleviating inflammation,” licensed esthetician Raquel Medina-Cleghorn explained in our best skincare products guide. “The light gel-serum texture glides on and absorbs effortlessly, and the cooling metal rollerball applicator feels incredible on post-procedural skin.”
  Plus, the formula includes hyaluronic acid and glycerin for added hydration.

Best with Peptides: Mizon 7 Vegan Peptide Booster Serum

• Why We Love It: Along with seven different peptides, Mizon’s viral serum also boasts two different forms of hyaluronic acid. “This serum works as a multi-layer hydration and barrier-support serum that is particularly helpful for dry or dehydrated skin because it combines humectants and peptides in one formula,” nurse practitioner Tama Tran, NP-C, previously told Vogue. In addition to mixed molecular weight hyaluronic acid, nicainamide offers brightening, while allatoin soothes for a well-rounded formula great for all skin types.

Best Milky Toner: Ilia The Base Face Milk

• Why We Love It: K-beauty really excels on the milky toner front. Of the American-made formulas, however, Ilia’s reigns supreme. This milky toner has a noticeably emollient texture, acting as “a deeply hydrating and skin-fortifying formula designed to replenish moisture and strengthen the skin barrier,” as board-certified dermatologist Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose explains. The proof is in the formula, which leans on hyaluronic acid, lipids, fatty acids, and microalgae extract for antioxidant-rich hydration.
• Editor’s Experience: “My skin seriously loves this stuff. Not only is it lightweight and never ever pills, but it’s also full of good-for-skin ingredients—hyaluronic acid, prickly-pear-flower extract, and squalane—that improve the look and feel. I like to use this when my skin is on the drier side and requires a little extra moisture before face cream.” —K.M.

Best Firming Mist: iS Clinical Copper Firming Mist

• Why We Love It: Talk about preventative skin care: Celebrity esthetician Shani Darden previously described iS Clinical’s hydrating spray as “a great antioxidant mist featuring copper and resveratrol to firm and hydrate the skin, helping to offset premature aging.” Actor Emmy Rossum (a client of Darden’s) is also a fan, as told in her 28-step beauty routine. “I like it anytime you just feel like you need to reset,” she said, while generously spritzing herself with the formula.

Best for Intense Hydration: SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier

• Why We Love It: Super dry skin? An intensely hydrating serum might just be your new best friend. “This serum features a high level of HA (1.3%), making it extremely potent and effective. It is also considered a corrective serum since it targets fine lines and wrinkles with ingredients like licorice root and purple rice,” board-certified dermatologist Dr. Ortiz Markowitz previously told Vogue. “It is the perfect combination of ingredients to deliver hydration, which will, in turn, improve the overall texture of the skin.”

Best Clean Beauty Serum: Osea Hyaluronic Acid Sea Serum

• Why We Love It: Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Erum Ilyas considers this clean beauty pick an “underrated gem,” and regularly recommends it to patients with dry skin. And that’s not just lip service. Dr. Ilyas uses this serum in her own routine too. “There is no other product line that can give my skin a glow and boost in hydration that compares to Osea products,” she previously told Vogue. A lavish blend of sea-infused minerals, this luxurious salve envelops the skin in deep hydration. Featuring dual-weight hyaluronic acid, rare Japanese miru seaweed, snow mushrooms, and a volcanic marine ferment, it’s an oceanic elixir that delivers unparalleled moisture and radiance.

Best Clean Beauty Serum: Blue Lagoon Skin Science BL+ The Serum

• Why We Love It: Sure, this serum is pricey—but it’s more cost-efficient than a trip to Iceland’s Blue Lagoon. Instead, this multitasking formula combines seawater and microalgae straight from the source, with vitamin C and three forms of hyaluronic acid to support firmer, more hydrated skin. The antioxidant-rich formula helps defend against environmental stressors while boosting collagen production. A win-win!

Best Concentrated Serum: Isdin Hyaluronic Concentrate

• Why We Love It: Dr. Engelman incorporates this ultra-concentrated serum into her own daily routine, calling it both intensely hydrating and soothing. The lightweight water-gel formula blends multiple forms of hyaluronic acid with peptides and lentil and biomarine extracts to deliver a firming, moisture-rich boost that leaves skin feeling refreshed and revitalized.

Best Moisturizer for Eczema: Aestura Atobarrier365 Cream

• Why We Love It: While skin-care lovers in the US are just beginning to discover the cult-favorite Aestura, the K-beauty brand has been a trusted staple in South Korea since the 1980s. Designed with sensitive skin in mind, this ultra-rich moisturizer is dermatologist-tested and hypoallergenic. Board-certified cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Y. Claire Chang describes it as her skin’s safety net. “It’s rich in barrier-boosting ceramides and hyaluronic acid that allow the formula to penetrate deep in the skin and stay within the barrier for longer, delivering up to 120 hours of moisture,” she adds, “It is uniquely designed for sensitive skin, making it great for those with rosacea or eczema.”