Serums are one of the most effective ways to combat skin problems. Known for their ability to target specific skincare issues, like dehydration, dark spots, or dullness, they’re formulated to do just one job and do it well. To help you find the hydrating serum that’s best for you, we’ve rounded up our 10 favorite hydrating serums. No matter what skin type you have, you’ll find one that’s perfect for restoring hydration to your skin.
1. Best Overall Hydrating Serum
Fleur & Bee: Just Dew It
Our award-winning hydrating serum is great for all skin types and combines hyaluronic acid with 13 other nourishing actives to keep your skin deeply hydrated and glowing all day long. Antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn oil protects and further hydrates your skin; this naturally bright yellow oil is what lends the serums its pretty yellow hue. We’ve also included prickly pear oil, which is bursting with vitamin E to soothe and brighten the skin. Jojoba oil, grapeseed oil and squalane moisturize while balancing the skin’s natural oils.
2. Best Drugstore Hydrating Serum
The Ordinary: Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
This popular hyaluronic acid serum is our top pick for a hydrating serum you can easily find at your local drugstore. Super accessible and budget-friendly, this hyaluronic acid serum by The Ordinary is made for all skin types. Hyaluronic acid is a hydrating super-ingredient; it adds and pulls water into your skin, restoring much needed hydration to your complexion. It is also fortified with vitamin B5 to keep your skin smooth and healthy.
3. Best Nighttime Hydrating Serum
The Body Shop: Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil
Have extra-parched skin? Try The Body Shop’s Vitamin E Overnight Serum-in-Oil for a serious hydrating treatment while you sleep. Packed with antioxidant vitamin E, this serum is a “mega hydrator,” infusing the skin with hydration and moisture, leaving it smooth and protected without feeling greasy. We also love that this iconic brand uses Community Fair Trade sesame seed oil as one of its moisturizing ingredients.
4. Best Hydrating Serum for Sensitive Skin
Drunk Elephant: B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
Adding ceramides to your skincare routine effectively restores your skin’s natural protective barrier, making it the ideal ingredient for those with sensitive skin. While hyaluronic acid will deeply hydrate your skin, ceramides hold in that water and moisture. With pineapple-derived ceramides plus Vitamin B5, this super hydrating serum will replenish, soothe and smooth your complexion.
5. Best Splurge Hydrating Serum
U Beauty: The Super Hydrator
When money is no object, turn to this high-performance, award-winning patented formula from U Beauty. The Super Hydrator features long-chain hyaluronic acid to deeply penetrate the layers of your skin to deliver a “mega-dose of moisture” that keeps your skin hydrated for 48 hours. It also features purified oat extract to soothe and shea butter and avocado oil to moisturize.
6. Best Anti-Aging Hydrating Serum
Tata Harper: Rejuvenating Serum
Also a bit of a splurge, Tata Harper can always be counted on for highly effective products packed with botanicals. This anti-aging serum features 40 ingredients pulled directly from Mother Nature, such as mango, jojoba oil, sandalwood, chamomile, jasmine, and patchouli. Dual weight hyaluronic acid delivers a major dose of hydration, while naturally occuring powerhouse antioxidant vitamin A gets to work on fine lines and wrinkles.
7. Best Hydrating Eye Serum
Tatcha: Luminous Deep Hydration Firming Eye Serum
The skin around the eye area is one of the most delicate parts of the face in large part because it doesn’t produce much oil. Fine lines and wrinkles usually show up here before anywhere else on our face, so you can see why it’s so important to treat the eye area in particular. Luckily, this serum from Tatcha does just that, using caffeine to firm and reduce the look of puffiness. This indulgent eye serum uses the “fine dust of 23-karat gold” to brighten the skin and diminish dark circles under the eyes, plus Okinawa red algae to infuse the eye area with moisture.
8. Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Vitamin C
Fleur & Bee: Nectar of the C Vitamin C Serum
If your skin is looking dull, uneven, and lacking proper hydration, look no further than our Nectar of the C vitamin C serum. Skin-brightening vitamin C also works to reduce the appearance of dark spots and fine lines, while squalane smooths and hyaluronic acid restores hydration. We’ve also included 9 other nourishing actives, including jojoba oil, aloe vera, and vitamin E to keep your skin well-balancing and glowing.
9. Best Hydrating Serum to Combat Redness
Yellow Bird: Blue Tansy Face Oil
To calm redness and irritation that often comes along with dry skin, we recommend this face oil by The Yellow Bird. Blue tansy oil and lavender soothes temporary redness, while squalane and jojoba help to restore hydration and moisture to the skin.
10. Best Hydrating Serum for Oily Skin
The INKEY List: Niacinamide Oil Control Serum
Keep oily skin balanced with a combination of niacinamide (also known as vitamin B3) and squalane in this serum from super-affordable brand The INKEY List. It will also plump up your complexion with hyaluronic acid for just the right amount of hydration for a glow that shines– but not too shiny.
Hope you enjoyed reading our picks for the best hydrating serums on the market. No matter what your skin type or skin issue, you’ll find the right serum to keep your complexion happy, healthy and properly hydrated.
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