If I may, I’d utterly outlaw that tight, parched feeling that comes with dry pores and skin (which, for me a minimum of, units within the minute I pat my face dry after washing it). Sadly, I don’t have that sort of energy, so my subsequent greatest protection is utilizing a very good hydrating serum. When used instantly after cleaning (and earlier than your moisturizer or sunscreen), these merchandise can add a nourishing enhance to your skincare routine—with out feeling greasy or heavy.
“Hydrating serums are a game-changer for sustaining wholesome, radiant pores and skin,” Azadeh Shirazi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and founding father of AziMD Skincare, tells SELF. “They work by replenishing moisture ranges within the pores and skin, bettering its elasticity and texture, and offering a plumper, smoother look.” She provides that the best ones may even assist preserve a wholesome pores and skin barrier (a.okay.a. the outer layer of your pores and skin that retains moisture and retains irritants out) and scale back the looks of advantageous traces.
As with moisturizers and evening lotions, there are tons of face serums to select from. That’s why we requested derms what makes a hydrating serum actually distinctive, plus tips on how to discover the most effective one to your pores and skin’s wants. Discover out which merchandise made the lower under, based on specialists, editors, and SELF Wholesome Magnificence Award testers.
Our prime picks
- Greatest Total: Olay Tremendous Serum
- Greatest Finances Decide: The Inkey Checklist Polyglutamic Acid Serum
- Greatest for Delicate Pores and skin: Mixsoon Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence
- Greatest for Mature Pores and skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Fast Plumping & Hydrating Serum
- Greatest Splurge: Clarins Double Serum
- Greatest for Redness: Caudalie VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum
- Greatest for Zits-Inclined Pores and skin: La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
- Greatest with Retinol: Clinique Good Scientific Restore Wrinkle Correcting Serum
- Greatest Underneath Make-up: Anua 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum
- Greatest for Dullness: True Botanicals Chebula Energetic Serum
- Greatest for Barrier Restore: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
- Greatest for Darkish Spots: Ourself HA+ Replenishing Serum
On this article
FAQs about hydrating serums
Ought to everybody have a hydrating serum as a part of their skincare routine?
As we talked about, hydrating serums might help with water loss, uneven texture, indicators of getting old, and different widespread pores and skin issues. Most significantly although, “hydration is a basic a part of pores and skin well being,” Dr. Shirazi says.
Regardless of your pores and skin sort, a hydrating serum might help hold your pores and skin sturdy and glowy. “Even oily pores and skin will profit from light-weight hydration,” Rosemarie Ingleton MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of Ingleton Dermatology in New York Metropolis, tells SELF, explaining that moisturizing merchandise can regulate your pores and skin’s oil manufacturing, which might help stop breakouts.
How typically must you use a hydrating serum?
All of the derms we spoke to really useful hydrating serums for year-round use. Apply it after washing your face, whereas your pores and skin continues to be damp—this can assist the product take in extra simply into your pores and skin. Rachel Nazarian, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York Metropolis, says it’s a good suggestion to observe up with a moisturizer on prime, particularly within the winter, when everybody’s pores and skin is extra vulnerable to dryness and water loss.
Dr. Ingleton says you should use a hydrating serum twice a day (within the morning and at evening) in order for you—though you may not want it within the morning throughout the summer time, when the warmth and humidity could make your pores and skin just a little, er, moister.
What must you search for in a hydrating serum?
There’s a variety of lively elements that’ll moisturize your pores and skin, however every comes with further results which might be good to bear in mind.
One of the widespread hydrating elements in skincare, glycerin is a humectant that draws and retains water, Dr. Ingleton says. It’s appropriate for all pores and skin varieties, nevertheless it’s an particularly good decide for dry pores and skin as a result of it attracts moisture into deeper layers of the pores and skin, Dr. Shirazi says.
Right here’s one other humectant that’s each intensely hydrating and light-weight. (That makes it well-liked amongst folks with dry and oily pores and skin alike.) Dr. Ingleton recommends it for those who’re additionally involved about advantageous traces—hyaluronic acid can have a smoothing, plumping impact.
Not solely does squalane add moisture, however it may well additionally lower irritation, Dr. Nazarian says. It’s a light-weight oil that performs properly with dehydrated, acne-prone pores and skin in addition to very dry pores and skin. Principally, in case your face tends to flake, itch, or peel, squalane might help soothe that irritation and restore your pores and skin’s floor.
Often known as vitamin B5, this humectant is calming, reparative, and nice for lowering redness, Dr. Shirazi says. She recommends it for delicate pores and skin varieties as a result of its non-irritating formulation and talent to strengthen the pores and skin barrier.
Niacinamide is one other B-vitamin that helps pores and skin retain moisture, Dr. Ingleton says. It additionally has anti-inflammatory properties and will assist tackle advantageous traces and hyperpigmentation. Take into account it a stable decide for delicate, oily, and dry pores and skin.
Derms like to explain ceramides because the “mortar” that fills within the areas between the “bricks” which might be your pores and skin cells. In different phrases, they play an necessary function in maintaining your pores and skin barrier sturdy and resilient, which helps stop moisture loss and irritation. When you’ve got dry, delicate, or mature pores and skin, they’re a key ingredient to search for.
Dr. Shirazi likes ultra-soothing aloe vera for delicate pores and skin. It’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and customarily nice for those who want a dependable, time-tested supply of hydration.
Store the most effective hydrating serums
Prepared for a glow up? Let’s dew do it.
Greatest Total: Olay Tremendous Serum
Execs
- Good for a variety of pores and skin issues
- Underneath $40
- Instantly improves pores and skin’s look
Cons
- Incorporates perfume which may irritate delicate pores and skin
This 2024 Wholesome Magnificence Award winner is a little bit of a skincare Swiss Military knife. Along with key moisturizers like niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and glycerin, it additionally incorporates lactic acid for light exfoliation and vitamin C for darkish spots and solar injury.
“If I may solely have one skincare product on a abandoned island, it could be this,” one in all our testers stated. “As a result of it’s made with a ton of my favourite elements, it’s my go-to at any time when I journey and might’t carry all of my skincare necessities in a tiny make-up bag.”
Different notable elements
Vitamin E (a robust antioxidant with hydrating, calming, and therapeutic results)
Greatest Finances Decide: The Inkey Checklist Polyglutamic Acid Serum
Execs
- Underneath $20
- Somewhat goes a great distance
- Feels nice on dry, delicate pores and skin
Cons
- Barely odd scent
- Feels sticky at first
Till I can banish dry pores and skin from my record of issues, I’ll follow this serum from The Inkey Checklist. Its star ingredient, polyglutamic acid, is a comparatively latest addition to the world of skincare and works as a humectant. Based on Dr. Shirazi, it doesn’t penetrate as deeply as different actives and there’s not a lot analysis on it but, nevertheless it’s acceptable for many pores and skin varieties and might stop water loss via the outer layer of the pores and skin.
Different notable elements
Greatest for Delicate Pores and skin: Mixsoon Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence
Execs
- Formulated to be much less irritating
- Underneath $40
- Cute packaging
Cons
Merchandise which have quick ingredient lists are usually simpler for delicate pores and skin to tolerate, so naturally Mixsoon’s Soondy Centella Asiatica Essence (and its whopping three parts) is our prime decide. It primarily incorporates centella asiatica, a plant extract that will assist scale back redness and enhance hydration, although analysis on its results is restricted.
Our tester finds it non-irritating and likes to dab it on as a part of her nighttime routine (as a result of it may well really feel just a little cheesy if you first apply it).
Different notable elements
Butylene glycol (a solvent and humectant)
Greatest for Mature Pores and skin: Biossance Squalane + Hyaluronic Acid Copper Peptide Fast Plumping & Hydrating Serum
Execs
- Good for addressing widespread indicators of getting old
- Light-weight system
Cons
As its identify suggests, this serum makes use of a mixture of hyaluronic acid and squalane to hydrate and make pores and skin extra supple in a single step. That’s partly why Dr. Shirazi likes it, however its peptide content material is why she considers it particularly useful you probably have mature pores and skin (which means your pores and skin has begun to point out indicators of getting old like traces, sagging, dullness, or elevated dryness). “What actually makes it stand out is the inclusion of copper peptides, which not solely assist hydration but in addition promote collagen manufacturing and enhance pores and skin firmness over time,” she explains.
Different notable elements
Glycerin, panthenol, aloe
Greatest Splurge: Clarins Double Serum
Execs
- Glowy end
- Good for dullness and advantageous traces
Cons
A number of testers gave Clarins’s Double Serum a shout out and it’s simple to see why: In trade for its increased value level, you get a number of advantages. On the floor, it smooths—even blurs—your pores and skin’s texture and ups its radiance. Past that, it strengthens your pores and skin barrier with squalane and deeply hydrates with glycerin.
We like that this serum additionally incorporates a variety of calming elements. There’s tried-and-true aloe, plus colloidal oatmeal, which might help soothe dry, itchy, simply irritated pores and skin.
Different notable elements
Hyaluronic acid, vitamin E
Greatest for Redness: Caudalie VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum
Execs
- Soothing system
- Simply sinks into pores and skin
Cons
- Over $50
- Incorporates perfume
Caudalie’s VinoHydra Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum is one other of Dr. Shirazi’s favorites. “It deeply hydrates the pores and skin whereas offering a relaxing impact, making it ideally suited for these with delicate or dehydrated pores and skin,” she says, including that it absorbs rapidly with out leaving any residue behind.
That calming impact is because of a combo of elements, together with squalane and grape fruit extract, which can be wealthy in antioxidants. One factor to bear in mind: Though this serum has numerous expert-approved elements for delicate pores and skin, it additionally incorporates perfume that would trigger some irritation.
Different notable elements
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid
Greatest for Zits-Inclined Pores and skin: La Roche Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Execs
- Gentle and fast-absorbing
- Underneath $50
Cons
Dr. Nazarian calls this La Roche Posay serum “tremendous light-weight” and recommends it for individuals who take care of zits and extra oil. Certainly one of its essential moisturizers is hyaluronic acid that absorbs rapidly with out feeling greasy. One other one is panthenol, so it’s additionally value a strive for those who take care of infected pores and skin.
Different notable elements
Greatest with Retinol: Clinique Good Scientific Restore Wrinkle Correcting Serum
Execs
- Addresses uneven texture
- Reduces look of advantageous traces
- Absorbs rapidly
Cons
Retinol, a spinoff of vitamin A that helps pace up pores and skin cell turnover, has a status for being irritating and drying (and it may be, for those who don’t ease into it). Fortunately, there are many retinol lotions and serums, like Clinique’s Good Scientific Restore Wrinkle Correcting Serum, that moisturize whereas delivering retinol’s skin-renewing results.
This multitasking serum received a Wholesome Magnificence Award in 2022, in no small half for its impressively fast outcomes. “This silky clean serum goes on simply and absorbs instantly, leaving your pores and skin feeling moisturized and guarded,” one tester stated. “I used this a number of nights in a row and after concerning the third evening, I swear that I woke with much less puffiness beneath my eyes, and my pores and skin general seemed a bit extra plump, much less dry, and with a number of the advantageous traces on my face smoothed out.”
Different notable elements
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, squalane
Greatest Underneath Make-up: Anua 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum
Execs
- Glass pores and skin results
- Clean, light-weight consistency
- Underneath $30
Cons
- Feels just a little slimy at first, based on Ulta reviewers
“I like this serum as a result of it feels SO light-weight, so it is a stable choice for those who hate the overly sticky, cheesy residue of most serums,” one SELF staffer says, including that Anua’s 7 Rice Ceramide Hydrating Barrier Serum is her go-to for each day and evening. “It is nonetheless hydrating and an excellent base for beneath make-up.”
On prime of its elegant end, it’s positively filled with good-for-you moisturizers like ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and niacinamide.
Different notable elements
Honey extract (a humectant with antibacterial properties)
Greatest for Dullness: True Botanicals Chebula Energetic Serum
Execs
- Good for inflammation-prone pores and skin
- Formulated to enhance pores and skin tone and texture
Cons
- Very expensive
- Somewhat sticky, based on Nordstrom reviewers
Right here’s one other splurge-worthy serum that comes extremely really useful by one in all our testers. Consider it as a pleasant, cool drink for boring, dry, simply irritated pores and skin: Two of its essential elements, inexperienced tea leaf extract and aloe vera, work collectively to appease, hydrate, and ease irritation.
“I take advantage of this each day and have loved enhancements in my pores and skin,” one Nordstrom reviewer wrote. “Particularly: decreased redness; brighter, clearer, much less dull-looking [skin]; enhancements in sagging eyelids; enhancements in smile traces; plumper, extra hydrated pores and skin.”
Different notable elements
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid
Greatest for Barrier Restore: Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Execs
- Improves texture and water retention
- Nice texture; doesn’t depart any residue behind
- Intensely hydrating
Cons
Ceramides, panthenol, hyaluronic acid—you’ll discover all three in Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum. Dr. Shirazi recommends it for those who’re involved about your pores and skin’s means to carry moisture. “Collectively, these elements present long-lasting hydration whereas bettering the pores and skin’s texture and barrier perform,” she says.