Here Are the Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums to Give you healthy, radiant skin
Best Overall:
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In This Article
Our Top Picks
Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum by Habitual Skin:
£39 (30ml)
Skin Type: Safe for All Types | Size: 30ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Application: Small amount, daily, morning and evening
Key Benefits
- Formulation makes for quick absorption and hydrates skin easily
- Supports moisture retention
- Minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Achieves fresh, youthful appearance
Active Ingredients
- 100% pure Hyaluronic Acid
What We Like
- Lightweight high potency formula that’s easily absorbed into the skin
- Cruelty-free and gluten-free
- A great vegetarian and vegan-friendly option
- Paraben-free, sulphate-free, phthalate-free, formaldehyde-free, no added fragrance
- Great value for its price; special offers available on their website (with up to 50% discount).
What Makes Us Think Twice
- Currently, it is only available for purchase on the official company website. Stock problems may occur due to the high demand for the product.
Why We Love Habitual Skin and Its Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Habitual Skin’s Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum was by far the highest quality product that delivered the most optimal results.
When compared with other brands, Habitual Skin uses Hyaluronic Acid as its sole active ingredient to ensure high potency and elevated purity, rather than using fillers to make up the required serum weight, or other active ingredients in the hope of achieving the desired skin outcome but would subsequently reduce the amount of Hyaluronic Acid that reaches your skin.
Habitual Skin offer free shipping on all orders which allows customers to spend more money on the actual products. They also offer a 90-day money-back guarantee which gives customers significantly longer than other brands to trial products and determine if they achieve real results. This clearly demonstrates that they believe in their product and its ability to produce true, high-quality skin benefits.
StriVectin Hyaluronic Dual Response Serum
£65 (30ml)
Skin Type: Safe for All Types | Size: 30ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Application: 1-2 pumps, daily, morning and evening
Key Benefits
- Reinforces the skin barrier
- Heightens skin hydration with its six different hyaluronic acid variants
- Contains essential anti-ageing ingredients like peptides, niacin and vitamin B3
- Offers a unique dual delivery system to increase absorption and hydration
Active Ingredients
- Hyaluronic Acid (6 variants)
- Ceramides
- NIA-114™
What We Like
- StriVectin is a certified cruelty-free skincare brand.
- Use of a patented complex that StriVectin claims reinforces the skin barrier.
- Blended with peptides and six anti-ageing variants of Hyaluronic Acid that promote the look of youthful, healthy and vibrant skin.
- StriVectin offers 10% off when opting for their auto-delivery subscription model.
What Makes Us Think Twice
- Contains added fragrance.
- Pricey, at £65, compared to some of the serums tested. Unsure if the auto-delivery subscription discount of 10% applies to orders within the UK..
- Humectant ingredients give a tightening feeling but with no visible results.
Why We Love StriVectin and Its Hyaluronic Dual Response Serum
SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier
£90 (30ml)
Skin Type: Dry Skin, primarily; Safe for All Types | Size: 30ml | Cruelty-Free: No | Application: 4-6 drops, daily, morning and/or evening
Key Benefits
- Promotes firmness and elasticity
- Gel-like texture is easy to apply and feels good on the skin
- Includes purple rice and liquorice extract—natural brightening agents
Active Ingredients
- 1.3% Hyaluronic Acid
- 10% Proxylane™
- 2.0% Licorice Root Extract (dipotassium glycyrrhizate)
- 0.2% Purple Rice Extract
What We Like
- Paraben-free
- Proprietary formula designed to increase the hyaluronic acid levels present in the skin and improve the firmness and elasticity.
- Created with a unique complex of purple rice and liquorice root extracts.
- Can be bought through its online store and through authorised retailers.
What Makes Us Think Twice
- It is not cruelty-free and may be tested on animals and/or humans
- At £90, this lovely product is a pricey option not everyone may consider.
- Formula has an unusual smell
- SkinCeuticals does not offer free domestic shipping.
- SkinCeuticals animal testing policy is unclear.
Why We Think About SkinCeuticals and Its Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Serum
PCA Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
£105 (30ml)
Skin Type: Safe for All Types | Sizes: 30ml and 88ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Application: 1-2 pumps, daily, morning and evening
Key Benefits
- provide lasting hydration and increase the natural production of hyaluronic acid
- Includes different variants of hyaluronic acid
Active Ingredients
- Hyaluronic acid and sodium hyaluronate
- Hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid
- HA-Pro ComplexTM
- Ceramides
- Niacinamide
What We Like
- Award-winning product of the Women’s Health award.
- Created by PCA Skin, a brand trusted by doctors and dermatologists.
- Proprietary formula uses multiple forms of HA and ceramides.
- Free of synthetic dyes and fragrances
What Makes Us Think Twice
- At £105, this product is one of the priciest in the market today.
- Lack of transparency with its complete ingredients list; unclear if this product has parabens or not.
- Not gluten- or vegan-free
What We Think About PCA Skin and Its Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%
£6.40 to £12 (30ml)
Skin Type: Safe for All Types | Sizes: 30ml | Cruelty-Free: Yes | Application: 1-2 drops, daily, morning and evening
Key Benefits
- Just 1-2 drops, twice a day, is all you need for a plumper, smoother complexion.
Active Ingredients
- 100% sodium hyaluronate (a pure, stable, water-soluble form of hyaluronic acid)
What We Like
- Budget Friendly
- Zero parabens and mineral oils
- Alcohol- and fragrance-free
- Vegan and cruelty-free
What Makes Us Think Twice
- May leave a sticky residue behind
- Weaker percentage of Hyaluronic Acid
- Cult Favourite for Teens - may not be suited for mature skin
What We Think About The Ordinarys Hyaluronic Acid 2%
What Do I Need To Look For in a Good Hyaluronic Acid-based Skincare Product?
- Active Ingredients – Active ingredients are the key components in a serum or moisturiser that does the heavy lifting, having been scientifically proven to achieve the desired effects. When shopping for a hydration serum, always look for the active ingredients, not just the list of ingredients.
- High Potency – Serums and moisturisers may have varying and proprietary ingredients and different levels of potency (or, ingredient strength). High potency is the indicator for whether your serum is fast-acting or slow-release, as well as whether the moisturiser you’re using is ideal for your sensitive or dry skin. Beware: some products often claim high potency cure-alls but can be dangerous to use because of your skin type. So, knowledge is your best ally here.
- Purity – Not all serums and moisturisers are equal, just as natural and organic active ingredients are not all pure. When canvassing for a serum, check the purity of the active ingredients and whether these are natural or synthetically produced (in a lab). They may have the same names, but the processes for producing them are different and can result in different and harmful reactions, putting your safety at risk.
- Clinically Proven – Advancements in skin care and technology have ensured that the serums and moisturisers we use today are safe (and a joy!) to use. But make sure that the serum you’re using has been clinically proven (and cruelty-free, of course!) with relevant results, before making your purchase.
Honourable Mentions
- Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum, £14.99 (30ml)
- Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster, £36.00 (15ml)
- L’Oréal Paris Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, £22.37 (30ml)
- Klur Immersion Serum Concentrate, £52.21 (30ml)
- Marla Rene Beauty & Co. Moisture Recovery Hyaluronic Serum, £41.02 (30ml)
Final Verdict
Our team of professionals fell in love with Habitual Skin’s Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum, and how it rapidly moisturises and softens the skin. This potent serum is one of the best hydrating tested products based on pure hyaluronic acid and fermented plant extracts. Our group of testers with dry skin type shared in their reports that the lightweight formula of this serum not only quickly absorbed into their skin but also turned their skin soft after the first application.
A perfectly balanced blend of a few simple ingredients, with Hyaluronic Acid at the top of the list, is the secret behind Habitual Skin’s Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This hydrating and anti-ageing serum smoothes fine lines and improves the look of dry skin.
Our team also reported their satisfaction when they found Habitual Skin is a gluten-free and vegan-friendly solution.
Although Habitual Skin’s Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum is currently only available to purchase through the company website, it’s very much worth it for anyone searching for a high-quality Hyaluronic Acid Serum. Habitual Skin offers up to 50% off when buying up to four and more Hyaluronic Acid Serums. In addition, Habitual Skin provides free shipping to the U.K. and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, tumbling down any objections when testing it.
The Good - What to Look For
- Active Ingredients – It’s not surprising that women are left confused when selecting premium skin care, when labels use phrases to grab their attention but the products themselves are filled with inactive ingredients that produce lacklustre results. Active ingredients have been scientifically proven to do what they say they will do and achieve the desired effect by working to address the target skin concern of the product. Active ingredients ensure the label actually matches the outcome.
- High Potency – Everything in a skin care formula should contribute to its overall purpose. Each formula should consist of research determined optimal ingredient strength to successfully address the target skin concern without causing irritation, and zero fillers that jeopardize or dilute their effectiveness.
- Purity – not all formulations are created equally. In most cases, active ingredients can be found naturally and derived safely; however, when created synthetically, or hazardous processes are used, these same ingredients can result in a harmful effect on health and put consumer safety at risk.
- Clinically Engineered – understanding and accurate use of modern technology and up to date advancements in skin care ensure the product formulations created for and used by consumers will achieve clinically significant and proven results.