If you suffer from chronically dry skin, odds are you’re familiar with hyaluronic acid. The popular ingredient absorbs moisture and draws it into your skin to hydrate it, dermatologists say. Though it’s especially useful for dry skin, it’s a great hydrator for all skin types, says Dr. Mary Stevenson, assistant professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Health. “We don’t have a lot of products like that,” she says.
I spoke to dermatologists about how to use hyaluronic acid in your skin care routine. I also gathered their recommendations for the best creams and serums to buy, plus NBC Select staff favorites.
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The best hyaluronic acid products in 2026
Best serum
For a lightweight hyaluronic acid serum, board-certified dermatologist Dr. Barry Goldman likes this option from The Ordinary. It’s fragrance-, alcohol- and oil-free, which is beneficial for those with sensitive skin, experts say. “I’ve been using this hyaluronic acid serum every day for about six months and my skin soaks it right up. It’s super lightweight and dries quickly, and has a slight cooling effect, which I love,” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin. “Since I’ve started using it, I’ve noticed that my skin dries out less often, and looks more hydrated overall.”
Best non-greasy
Former NBC page Ella Morrissey, who struggles with dry skin, loves this Cerave serum. She applies one to two pumps on her face and neck at night before bed, and wakes up with smooth, hydrated skin that doesn’t look too shiny, she says. “Especially in the winter, I don’t have those red flaky dry spot flare ups as much anymore after using this product,” says Morrissey.
Best essence
Cosrx’s Snail Mucin line is arguably its most popular, but if NBC Select associate SEO reporter Ashley Morris could only use one hydrating product from the brand, it would be this essence, which she’s been using for years. It’s made from a highly concentrated natural hyaluronic acid, according to the brand, and is hydrating enough to work in both summer and winter. Morris likes massaging it into her skin twice daily — it has a lightweight feel that absorbs quickly, and it blends well with her other products. Plus, one bottle lasts for months, says Morris.
Best toner
This Haruharu toner is a favorite of NBC Select senior social media and newsletter editor Julie Huang, who loves that it has no added alcohol or fragrance. “It’s lightweight,so it’s perfect for summer months, and sinks into my skin in the most calming way,” says Huang. “My face is always extra glowy and bouncy afterwards.”
Best with SPF
This CeraVe moisturizer is formulated with broad-spectrum SPF 30 to help shield your skin from sun damage while still keeping a lightweight consistency, according to the brand. The noncomedogenic lotion has ceramides to help restore the skin’s barrier and niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3 that can calm irritated skin, according to the brand. “Like most people, I’ve heard that you are supposed to use sunscreen everyday, regardless of the weather. This CeraVe AM lotion makes that as painless as possible for me,” says NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz, who has used the lotion for over three years. “Each pump is just enough lotion to cover my entire face comfortably, not too much, not too little.” Plus, the lotion feels more like a thick, hydrating moisturizer than a sunscreen you might keep nearby for beach day, says Rabinowitz.
Best moisturizer
This Selfmade gel moisturizer is an NBC Select Wellness Awards winner and a favorite among our NBC Select editors. It works as an occlusive, which creates a barrier on the skin and locks in moisture, according to the brand. Malin says the moisturizer’s gel-like consistency feels very lightweight on her skin, and NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio appreciates how it keeps her skin soft and hydrated for hours after applying, even during dry winter months.
Best splurge
This SkinCeuticals serum has been a staple of NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson ‘s routine for years now. “I became obsessed with Skinceuticals back during my beauty editor days,” says Swanson. “This serum is great on its own or in addition to other hydrators.” She says it also helped keep her skin moisturized while on Accutane.
Best face oil
This Dermalogica serum is another favorite of Morris, who purchased it after her esthetician recommended it. She says it’s especially effective during winter when her skin feels drier than normal. In addition to hyaluronic acid, this Dermalogica booster, which has a lightweight oil consistency, also has ingredients like panthenol and algae extract that help reduce the appearance of dehydration lines, according to the brand. Dermalogica recommends using the serum before your moisturizer or adding a few drops to your favorite cream or lotion.
Best oil-free
Goldman recommends this Vichy serum because it has mineral water to help hydrate the skin. This oil- and fragrance-free serum is noncomedogenic (which means it won’t clog pores) and has a non-greasy formula that you can wear comfortably on its own or underneath your favorite moisturizer, according to the brand. It has the National Eczema Association seal of approval, so it’s suitable for sensitive skin.
Best cooling
Former NBC Select editorial projects manager Rebecca Rodriguez uses this Peter Thomas Roth gel mask twice a day and says it works wonders on her skin. It has a hyaluronic acid complex and Pentavitin (a plant extract) to moisturize, plus vitamin E and aloe to hydrate dry skin. Rodriguez recommends storing the gel in the fridge “for an added cooling effect.” (If you prefer a serum, Peter Thomas Roth makes one, too.)
Best cream
This Tatcha cream combines antioxidant ingredients with deep moisture in an elegant, non-greasy formula, says Dr. Annie Chiu, a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist. The noncomedogenic cream uses a mixture of Okinawa algae blend and hyaluronic acid to capture water and hydrate the skin, according to the brand.
Best for body
This body serum is a favorite of NBC Select editorial intern Kalohe Danbara. “I hate applying lotion after showering because it feels sticky and uncomfortable, so I switched to this body serum. My skin drinks it up like water,” she says. Danbara loves how it leaves her skin feeling soft, smooth and hydrated without leaving behind a greasy residue. It’s unscented and has a gentle formula, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin, according to the brand.
Best exfoliating
It might seem counterintuitive to reach for an exfoliating toner when looking for hydrating skin care, but these Medicube toner pads are gentle and hydrating while also working away at blackheads and enlarged pores. Rodriguez uses these pads every night and loves that they give her smoother skin without causing irritation.
“The pores on my nose and chin are far less visible the morning after using these,” says Danbara. “Most toners I’ve used in the past are stripping and drying, but this one left my skin super hydrated.”
Best mask
You can use this as both a 15-minute mask or an overnight moisturizer, according to the brand. It has squalane and hyaluronic acid to hydrate your skin and vitamin C to even out texture. Morris loves using it as a night cream because of its thick, rich texture that keeps her skin soft and hydrated until the morning.
Best fast-absorbing
NBC Select senior editor Nikki Brown recommends this hydrating serum for people who want a short yet effective skin care routine. “What I love most about this serum is that it absorbs crazy fast — I just hate making the process longer than it needs to be,“ she says. Lately, she’s been using this serum to combat the dryness of New York winters and although she hasn’t been using it for very long, she says she can already tell it’s helping to boost the effectiveness of her moisturizer because her skin feels normal again, and it looks moisturized too.
Best soothing
This lightweight moisturizer from Ilia is designed to have a calming formula and a milky, serum-like texture, according to the brand. Formulated with lipids, fatty acids and antioxidant extracts, it also addresses uneven texture and redness, according to Ilia, and you can use it both day and night.
Best luxury serum
Former NBC Select senior editor Lindsay Schneider tried this Lancôme serum after being sent a bottle by the brand, and says it “feels heavenly” on her skin. The serum is lightweight (“not in a sticky way,” she says) and helps to reduce signs of damage by addressing uneven skin tone, fine lines and texture using hyaluronic acid and licorice extract, according to the brand. “I’ve been wearing every day in the morning under my moisturizer, but I really love to put it on right after I wash my face or get out of the shower when my skin is so thirsty and really dry,” says Schneider. “It immediately restores some hydration.”
How I picked the best hyaluronic acid products
Hyaluronic acid is generally well-tolerated by most skin types. Experts recommend looking at the following factors to determine the best products with hyaluronic acid:
- Consistency: Generally speaking, you’ll find hyaluronic acid in lightweight serums, but you’ll also see it in face creams, gels and lotions.
- Hydrating ingredients: Hyaluronic acid works well with other moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, vitamin E and aloe that offset any dryness or irritation that can come from using harsher ingredients like retinol.
- Molecular weights: Hyaluronic acid is usually present in products at different molecular weights, which affects how it penetrates the skin. Look for a combination of low and medium molecular weights to help it penetrate both the skin’s surface and lower levels, experts say.
- Uses: You can use it morning and night and/or alongside retinol as needed.
What is hyaluronic acid?
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring chemical your body produces that cushions and moisturizes the skin. It’s found in our skin, eyes, joints and connective tissue, says Stevenson. It acts as a humectant, drawing in water like a sponge, she says.
Despite its name, hyaluronic acid should work for virtually all skin types since it isn’t an actual acid. “It’s not like salicylic acid or some of the other acids that can be more exfoliating or abrasive on our skin,” says Stevenson.
How to shop for hyaluronic acid products
You can most often find hyaluronic acid in serums and creams. While water-based serums typically have a higher concentration of the active ingredient and are therefore a better option, creams can be great for those who don’t have time to wait for their skin to absorb a serum, experts say.
“I think you get the best bang for your buck with a serum just because you’re getting the most concentrated hyaluronic acid with water and it’s going straight into your skin,” says Stevenson. “[But] sometimes you need a one and done deal [and] for those patients, I think a cream is just fine.”
Serums typically advertise what percentage of hyaluronic acid is in the product. Anywhere from 1% to 2% is a reasonable concentration, says Stevenson. Some products are formulated with hyaluronic acids at different molecular weights — that’s because “different weights penetrate differently, so you want a combination,” according to Stevenson.
“In general, low and medium [molecular weights] penetrate deeper into the lower levels of skin while high molecular weights hydrate the top or surface of the skin,” she says.
Frequently asked questions
Hyaluronic acid is good for anyone who wants to plump and hydrate the skin, according to experts. It’s also great when used in conjunction with more drying ingredients like retinol. “Hyaluronic acid creams work well with retinol and vitamin C products to decrease the irritation that sometimes occurs,” says Goldman. “Hyaluronic acid matched with a retinol is a match made in heaven.”
Though hyaluronic acid gives the skin a healthier and more hydrated appearance, Stevenson says that it isn’t a “permanent fix” for wrinkles and fine lines. “Hyaluronic acid can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles because it’s basically plumping up the cell,” she says. “It will just kind of add moisture back immediately because it’s holding on to these water molecules around your skin cells. It’s basically like blowing up a float toy.”
Stevenson suggests applying hyaluronic acid before layering an emollient moisturizer (like First Aid Beauty’s Ultra Repair Cream, which has ingredients that bring moisture to the skin) or an occlusive moisturizer like Vaseline, which creates a physical barrier to lock in hydration. Should you decide to use hyaluronic acid in conjunction with a product like retinol, Stevenson recommends sandwiching the retinol between the hyaluronic acid and a moisturizer to limit irritation.
There’s no limitation to how many times you can use hyaluronic acid in a day since it acts as a great hydrator, says Stevenson. She warns that some people may experience a reaction if they’re using hyaluronic acid products in conjunction with harsh ingredients like essential oils or fragrances. “People with eczema, rosacea or extremely sensitive skin might want to apply a product either behind the ear or on their inner wrist for a few days in a row before putting it all over their face,” she says.
Meet our skin care experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Dr. Barry Goldman is a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Goldman Dermatology in New York City. He is also a clinical instructor at Cornell NY Presbyterian Hospital.
- Dr. Mary Stevenson is a board-certified dermatologist and associate professor at NYU Langone Health’s Department of Dermatology. She is a dermatological surgeon who specializes in Mohs surgery, as well as laser and cosmetic procedures.
- Dr. Annie Chiu is a board-certified cosmetic and general dermatologist. She is the founder of The Derm Institute in North Redondo Beach, California, and currently serves on the Dermatology staff at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Why trust NBC Select?
Morgan Greenwald is a former editor for NBC Select. Ashley Morris is an associate SEO reporter for NBC Select, covering skin care, wellness, home and kitchen and more. For this story, they spoke to board-certified dermatologists about the best hyaluronic acid products, including product recommendations and advice on how to shop for your own.
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