With its ability to moisturize the skin and give it a plump and smooth appearance, hyaluronic acid (HA for short) is one of the most popular ingredients in skincare. A great way to start reaping the benefits of this ingredient is by using a hyaluronic acid serum, but for beginners, the multitude of options available can be overwhelming. If you’re new to HA, we can help you get started.
- The benefits of hyaluronic acid serum
- How to use hyaluronic acid serums
- The best hyaluronic acid serums for beginners
The benefits of hyaluronic acid serum
Hyaluronic acid’s most important quality is its ability to moisturize. It acts as a humectant, attracting and retaining water molecules in the skin. According to board-certified dermatologist and LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, “Adding a hyaluronic acid serum to your routine can be beneficial at any age. Because it helps maintain hydration in your skin, applying hyaluronic acid regularly can help your skin look plump and smooth.” When your skin has lower hyaluronic acid levels, fine lines and wrinkles can appear more noticeable. You can find more information about the benefits of hyaluronic acid serum on the LovelySkin Blog.
How to use hyaluronic acid serums
Most hyaluronic acid serums are intended for use on the skin after cleansing in the morning and evening. They serve as an excellent first step in your skincare routine and for some people, can even act as a lightweight moisturizer. Because serums have a concentrated formula, only a few drops are needed for application to the entire face. To maximize the benefits of a hyaluronic acid serum, it’s best to apply it to damp skin after cleansing or after a shower or bath, or to moisten the skin first with a facial mist such as Vichy Mineralizing Thermal Water.
The best hyaluronic acid serums for beginners
Are you ready to try using a hyaluronic acid serum for the first time? These four options can easily be added to your existing skincare routine and work well for all skin types.
Vichy Mineral 89 Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
French skincare brand Vichy describes this serum as a booster because it literally helps boost your skin’s moisture content. It combines pure hyaluronic acid to visibly plump and hydrate the skin with Vichy Volcanic Water, which contains fifteen essential minerals that help strengthen the skin barrier and protect it from environmental stressors such as pollution.
Vichy Mineral 89 is one of the best hyaluronic acid serums for beginners due to its lightweight feel that absorbs quickly into the skin, allowing you to move on to the next step in your routine. In a clinical study, nine out of ten users felt their skin looked more luminous and glowing after using this hyaluronic acid serum for one month.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum
If skin irritation is a concern, this formula could be a natural choice for your first hyaluronic acid serum. In addition to hyaluronic acid, it also contains nutrient-packed La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water and vitamin B5, an anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps damaged skin repair itself. The addition of madecassoside, an ingredient derived from the centella asiatica plant, also provides nourishing benefits.
LovelySkin LUXE HA Peptide Serum
This face serum from Dr. Schlessinger’s own LovelySkin LUXE line combines sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid, with glycerin, another powerful humectant to improve the skin’s moisture content. If fine lines and wrinkles are a concern for you, it also includes peptides, Swiss apple stem cells and Persian silk tree extract to plump the skin, fight signs of skin fatigue and minimize fine lines.
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Hyaluronic Acid Gel Serum
Another excellent option for hyaluronic acid beginners, this hydrating serum helps replenish lost moisture in the skin, leaving it looking smoother and more radiant. It also contains vitamin B5, which works together with hyaluronic acid to benefit the skin by drawing moisture to where it’s needed most.
Because this product has a gel-serum texture that’s slightly thicker than most serums, it’s meant to be applied after an antioxidant serum and before sunscreen in the morning. At night, it should be applied after retinol.
If acne and uneven skin texture are a top concern for you, you can learn more about how Vichy Normaderm BHA Exfoliating Serum can help improve your skin on the LovelySkin Blog.
