Here’s How to Choose the Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum of 2024 — Plus 5 Top Serums to Buy Right Now
The right Hyaluronic Acid serum can transform your skincare routine — here are the best to order now!
Dr. Jessica Clark, board-certified dermatologist with a decade’s worth of experience weighs in on a popular skincare topic — Hyaluronic Acid — and ranks 5 top serums to try.
As a clinical dermatologist, I can tell you that Hyaluronic Acid (HA) serums are one of the greatest skincare creations to come out in the last decade or so!
Here’s why:
They’re so easy to use. Whether you’re 24, 40, or 64 — Hyaluronic Acid serums can always be a great idea. All you need is a couple drops. Hyaluronic Acid serums also tend to go on smoother than other serums and can often absorb quicker than lots of heavy face creams.
Nearly instant firmer-feeling skin. Commonly referred to as “the sponge,” Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient that can support hydration, helping you achieve plumper-looking skin almost right away. Studies show that Hyaluronic Acid -- and this is amazing-- can soak-in up to 1000 times its weight in water! 1 No surprise then that studies show HA is able to promote firmer-feeling skin. 2 I can’t name many products that can give the types of visible results as quickly as a Hyaluronic Acid serum can!
Visible age-defying results. Beyond just plumper-feeling skin, Hyaluronic Acid serums are praised for their ability to combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This powerful ingredient is also known to promote a more rejuvenated-looking complexion that’s visibly radiant enough to light up a whole room! 3
.avif)
I feel like I can’t say enough great things about Hyaluronic Acid serums!
But maybe you’ve tried a hyaluronic acid serum before, and you weren’t overly impressed. Well, here’s the catch…
Not all Hyaluronic Acid serums are created equal!
Hyaluronic Acid serums can deliver the sorts of visible results you need — so long as you know what to look for in the right formulation.
When choosing a Hyaluronic Acid serum, I always recommend looking at the formula and seeing where this miracle ingredient falls on the list.
Generally speaking the higher an ingredient is on the list means it’ll make up a higher percentage of the product — so ideally, you want to choose a serum that has named Hyaluronic Acid close to the top.
It’s always great when there are other ingredients in there that offer wonderful visible benefits to your skin, but you need to be careful of ingredients filled with synthetic fragrances or harsh ingredients that could potentially trigger reactions.
As someone with sensitive skin, I tend to skew towards products that only include naturally-derived ingredients and are formulated without common allergens and synthetic fragrances.
Does this sound like a lot to consider? Don’t worry!
Finding the right serum doesn’t have to be complicated…
In fact, I’m going to make it as easy and straightforward as ever for you today.
Below, I’ve studied, tested and ranked 5 popular Hyaluronic Acid serums taking into consideration their formulations, price for value, and the visible results they can deliver.
So whether you’re a busy parent looking to get rid of dull or tired-looking skin for good…
Or you’re a person who just wants to reduce the appearance of those fine lines and wrinkles…
Or simply want to complete your low maintenance skincare routine, here’s what I recommend!
Here’s My Favorite Hyaluronic Acid Serums For Age-Defying Skin!
1. Renew Resurfacing Night Serum by Naked & Thriving
When it comes to my absolute favorite combination of ingredients for the price, the Renew Resurfacing Night Serum from Naked & Thriving is my best - the results I saw were just breathtaking!!
In terms of real, visible results, I fell in love with Renew’s ability to help soften the appearance of fine lines. I noticed these results within about 4-6 weeks of using Renew daily. Even my husband said my skin looked brighter!
It’s not just me either – my sister had struggled with blotchy-looking skin, visible dark spots, and blemishes for years. I gave her a bottle of Renew and now her skin looks more even in tone, her dark spots have visibly faded, and people keep asking her “are you on some kind of new prescription!?” — but she’s not! The only change she made was using Naked & Thriving’s Renew Resurfacing Night Serum.
First off, you’re benefiting from all that multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid has to offer. Hyaluronic Acid molecules have different weights and the size of each molecule can offer different skincare benefits. 4 Lower molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid molecules are known to help skin look and feel firmer, while medium/larger molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid molecules are praised for retaining water better. 5 So with Renew, you’re able to reap the rewards of all these pluses.
Plus, you’re also getting the powerful synergy of Glycolic Acids and Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs). Studies show that Glycolic Acids work effectively when used in combination with other AHAs. 6 These two powerful ingredients are known to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and visibly improve the skin’s texture. 7
AHAs are also praised for gently exfoliating and promoting natural turnover for a more visibly rejuvenated, radiant-looking complexion. 8Renew is also formulated with Ferulic Acid, which can be a high-end and expensive ingredient in skincare — and yet, I was shocked at how affordable Renew is for the quality of the ingredients. Ferulic Acid is an antioxidant that’s known to help reduce visible signs of aging and improve uneven skin tone. 9 This could explain why my dark spots look like they are almost gone since adding Renew to my nighttime routine!
Another thing that I really adore about this serum is that as someone with sensitive skin, it didn’t trigger any negative reactions. That’s why I happily consider it a serum that’s suitable for most skin types, – I’d happily recommend this serum to any patient of mine!
It’s just a serum that makes you go, WOW!
So, if you’re on the hunt for the must-have Hyaluronic Acid serum of 2024 to help visibly improve the look of your skin in the super short and long-long-term, I would wholeheartedly recommend trying Renew out.
The brand also offers a generous 30-day guarantee so you can try it absolutely risk-free, right now!
2. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 by The Ordinary
Next up, we’ve got The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5. If you’re looking for an affordable yet effective entry-level option, this is a wonderful Hyaluronic Acid serum to try.
Similar to Renew, this serum feels more hydrating on my skin than some of the ones lower on this list – it feels mostly oil-free and its formulation is listed as non comedogenic, so it should be suitable for those with blemish-prone skin.
I also find the addition of Vitamin B5 in this serum’s formulation a big positive. Studies show B5 has moisturizing properties along with Hyaluronic Acid, which can help the skin look plump and visibly smooth. 10
Just like Renew, The Ordinary’s formula contains multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid molecules, which are known to help offer multiple visible benefits. 11
To be truthful, placing this serum in second place is quite generous — I’m ranking it second for those new to skincare.
It’s a great serum at a great price – that’s true – but the formulation is very bare bones. You likely won’t get dramatic results using this serum. I saw much better results with Renew than with the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
However, if you’re looking for a more affordable alternative, this is what I’d recommend.
3. Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum by La Roche-Posay
Next, we’ve got the Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum by La Roche-Posay. Like The Ordinary’s serum, the B5 adds to the hydrating potential of this serum.
What makes this one unique? It’s formulated with an ingredient called Madecassoside. It's made from the Centella Asiatica plant, and it's known for its nourishing properties. 12
I'll be honest — as a dermatologist, I wasn't outright familiar with that ingredient at first, because I hadn't seen it in other products before. But I’m happy to see it here, and I do think it’s an ingredient that’s capable of visibly soothing and hydrating the skin - always a nice added bonus!
On the other hand, a serious downside with this product is that Hyaluronic Acid is the 12th ingredient listed, which is a little low for my liking. 13
This serum also has a noticeable fragrance, which I recommend avoiding if you have sensitive skin. The Environmental Working Group (EWG) lists fragrances as a potential irritant.
But on a brighter note, La Roche-Posay is based out of France, and their products are notoriously formulated with thermal water, as opposed to sterile water that many other brands use. Although I personally haven’t seen any concrete data to support that thermal water helps deliver more visible results than sterile water, some dermatologists argue that it does.
Overall though, I believe this could be a great product for some – but it wouldn’t be my top choice if you have sensitive skin – especially if it’s somewhat sensitive to fragrance!
4. Super Bounce by Glossier
Similar to the first 2 on this list, the Super Bounce by Glossier is formulated with multi-weight Hyaluronic Acid, which is always a positive in my books. This popular serum goes on nicely — it’s a super pleasant feeling, not sticky or tacky! Hyaluronic Acid is 6th on the ingredient list here - not bad. B5 is also a positive addition to the formula!
I wanted to try this serum out of sheer curiosity, so I bought a bottle for myself and my daughter. We both used it, but neither of us saw visible results that were noticeable enough to make us want to purchase another bottle. Maybe it just wasn’t right for our skin – which happens from time to time. A lot of my patients love it though!
I was surprised to see Acrylates in the ingredient list. Acrylates are a known contact allergen that can cause serious reactions in those sensitive to it. 14 Acrylates are found in acrylic nails — so if you have ever had an issue with those, I would not recommend the Super Bounce.
5. Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Lastly we’ve got the Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Neutrogena is a brand that I’ve used often over the years. They have a serum, a gel and a cream as well, and I’ve tried all of them. They’re affordable and they’re available at most drugstores, so they’re easy to find and get ahold of.
The Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum feels lightweight. It doesn’t feel as hydrating and moisturizing on my skin as some of the other options on the list, but that may be due to Hyaluronic Acid being the 19th ingredient listed in its formulation — which is very low.
Another downside I noticed with this product is that if you’re applying it in the morning, it will cause your makeup to look a bit streaky. That’s why this is a product I’d generally recommend more for men or those who don’t wear makeup and don’t need a ton of hydration.
In my opinion, if you’re looking to target visible fine lines and wrinkles, dark spots, and other visible signs of aging, there are better serums out there in a similar price range.
However, if you’re super new to skincare and you’re just looking for an entry-level option that isn’t greasy or heavy, this could work for you.
That being said – for the best age-defying results at a slightly higher price, I’d most definitely recommend the Renew Resurfacing Night Serum.
Even still – this serum is sure to find an audience for some, so I feel like it’s well-positioned on this list!