In the ever-expanding world of skincare, few ingredients have stood the test of time quite as well as hyaluronic acid. Once buried within the ingredients lists of your favourite dry skin moisturiser, the humectant is now a standalone skincare staple for many, be it in budget serums or luxury formulas that promise glass skin levels of hydration.
To get to the bottom of how the hero ingredient works, I spoke to Simon Ourian, MD, co-founder of the eponymous brand and dermatologist to the likes of Kim Kardashian and Lady Gaga. Hyaluronic acid is “a naturally occurring molecule found in our bodies to help maintain moisture in our skin and lubricate the joints”, he explains. In skincare, it works by “drawing moisture from the environment and the deeper skin layers into the outer layers, creating a plump, smooth, and well-hydrated appearance”.
With such a popular skincare component comes the choice of formulas. Do you want a hyaluronic acid serum, cream or fluid? Would you like your formula to pile on peptides and niacinamide as a bonus? Pinning down the best one for you can feel overwhelming. So, with Dr Ourian’s advice in tow, I set about testing all manner of affordable, high-end and trending products to compile a definitive guide of the industry’s crème de la crème offerings. Here’s my final selection.
The Vichy mineral 89 hyaluronic acid booster serum was one of the first serums I used, and it remains one of my favourite formulas for instant and lasting hydration. Not only does it revive dull skin, giving it a temporary boost in elasticity, but it also feels cooling. After using the serum all these years, I’ve seen it bring my dry winter skin back to life each morning, not to mention being lightweight enough for the warmer months. It pairs excellently with other products without leaving a greasy residue.
It’s always a nice surprise to find affordable yet effective skincare and this serum from Simple is just that. It hydrates and softens without breaking the bank and, if you’re someone who’s overdone it with the AHAs/BHAs or perhaps a retinol, the included pentavitin here will be a welcome sight. Plus, while it might not have the immediate clout of amber glass to protect its ingredients, it’s worth noting that this serum’s white glass is actually opaque for the same effect.
Skinceuticals’s HA intensifier multi-glycan serum feels tailor-made for oily and combination skin types that want hydration without heaviness. The texture is definitely more serum-like than watery or oily, and leaves the skin notably chilled and invigorated after applying. It melds neatly with other product and neither pills nor leaves skin feeling slick. That said, I noticed it beginning to remedy my skin’s dullness after just one use and, regarding my pores, its plumping abilities rendered them less gaping and eye-drawing within seconds.
