Say goodbye to dry skin and hello to hydrated skin.
If there is one step we all need in our skincare routines, it has to be hydrating serums. Every skin type, from dry to oily and combination, can benefit from a little extra hydration.
It guarantees that your skin looks and feels great because it gives an instant plumping and comforting effect.
Hydrating serums are light and airy in texture and usually go in as the first step after cleansing, and this gives a good foundation for the rest of your routine.
Humectants are the most common ingredients in hydrating serums- they attract and retain moisture in your skin’s cells.
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The golden question: Is a hydrating serum the same as a moisturizer?
The simple answer to this question is no. Hydration occurs when your skin absorbs moisture from the air and infuses it into its cells to enhance the skin’s ability to receive water and nutrients. Moisturizing strengthens your skin’s natural protective barrier by capturing and locking in moisture.
What to look for and what to avoid
Ingredients to look for in hydrating serums
- Glycerin is an excellent humectant and one of the cheapest out there. It is relatively easy to find and very effective at hydrating your skin. Some people feel it can be heavy and sticky, but there are other fantastic alternatives too. It is considered to be the most effective humectant.
- Panthenol feels terrific on the skin. It is a form of vitamin B5 and can help repair your skin’s barrier too, which makes it a tremendous multitasking ingredient.
- Hyaluronic acid is the most famous and trendy of the humectants and is easy to find. It works very well at attracting water to the skin. The only downside to hyaluronic acid is that its best used in humid environments because if used in drier climates, the reverse can happen.
- Urea is a bit underrated humectant. Apart from drawing moisture from the environment, it is also an emollient. It works perfectly for people with skin conditions like eczema and dehydrated skin.
- Propylene glycol is also easy to find in products and helps repair your skin barrier.
Ingredients to avoid in your hydrating serums
- Fragrances- because your serums are put directly on your skin, I suggest avoiding fragrances by all means because they can be very sensitizing to most skin types. These include essential oils and synthetic fragrances. Let’s say a particular product has an almost perfect ingredient list, and fragrance happens to be at the bottom of the list; maybe you can get away with it, but just try to avoid them altogether.
- Oils– your serum can have oils but not too much because oils don’t hydrate your skin. Most of them cannot penetrate your skin and are meant to moisturize.
- Denatured alcohol– tends to cause skin irritation and redness; it does more harm than good. Apart from the above, it is drying, which makes the whole purpose of “hydrating” your skin futile. There is an excellent article on Byrdie about denatured alcohol; take a quick read at the super informative article.
- Silicones– are occlusive by nature, so they will reduce the ability of your hydrating serums to penetrate deeply into your skin. They are, however, excellent in moisturizers.
Best hydrating serums by skin types
To make things easier for you, I’ve organized the serums by skin type compatibility because, let’s face it, we don’t all require the same level of hydration.
Best hydrating serums for dry skin
ClarityRx Daily Dose of Water Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum
Essential ingredients list that will be gentle and effective for dry skin. It has no unnecessary filler ingredients and has a lightweight texture.
Shop the ClarityRx Daily Dose of Water Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum here.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
You have probably heard about this product before, and understandably so- it’s great. The ordinary was one of the first brands to make products with highly effective ingredients more attainable for the average person. After using this serum, your skin will feel replenished and recharged. It also has a pretty simple ingredients list with added vitamin B5, which helps keep your skin healthy and soft and is fragrance and alcohol-free.
Shop The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% +B5 here.
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum
I don’t know what this list would be without the famous CeraVe, which I’m sure you’ve tried before, and, more times than not, loved it. This serum does not fall short of the brand’s outstanding reputation, and it’s simple yet effective and has one of the most gorgeous gel-cream textures I’ve ever felt.
It contains hyaluronic acid and 3 essential ceramides, which makes it practical for dry skin types with a compromised skin barrier. It is excellent for all skin types, honestly.
Shop the CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Serum here.
Best hydrating serums for oily skin
Dr. Brenner Hyaluronic Acid Serum
This particular serum is oil-free, which is excellent for oily skin and will not clog your pores. It is a simple yet effective serum for oily skin that needs some hydration and has a very light texture.
Shop Dr. Brenner Hyaluronic Acid Serum here.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
You should have heard of the “Drunk Elephant” brand by now. They have a plethora of fantastic products that are designed with the customer’s needs in mind. Because of its ultra-light texture, this serum will simply absorb into your skin, providing immediate hydration and improving the overall texture and tone of your skin. Glycerin is present in the product.
Shop the Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum here.
Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence
I didn’t like the texture of this essence at first, and it has a slimy and highly smooth texture that is unusual. As typical, I gave it a shot and was blown away by the results. My skin improved dramatically, and it’s safe to say I finished it all. It’s one of those products you won’t realize you need until you try it. The hype surrounding this product is well-deserved.
Shop Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence here.
Best hydrating serums for combination skin
Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Hydrating Serum
At first glance, the serum didn’t appear to do much, but later I noticed a difference in my skin. It is moisturizing enough for the dry parts of your face while not overly hydrating for the oily areas of the face. Kiehl’s has created a well-thought-out and underrated product. Because the texture is smooth and contains a lot of glycerin, your skin will love it. It improves the texture and tone of your skin, and after using it for a while, you will notice a significant reduction in fine lines.
Shop Kiehl’s Hydro-Plumping Hydrating Serum here.
Clarins Double Serum
Considering the number of ingredients in this product, it’s a good thing fragrance isn’t one of them. This hydrating serum falls somewhere in the middle, making it an excellent choice for combination skin.
It contains an unusual combination of ingredients not commonly found in cosmetics. Among the many ingredients are Orthosophon, which regulates sebum production, and Jania, which lifts dead skin cells.
Shop the Clarins Double Serum here.
Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster
This serum restores your skin’s moisture content, leaving it plump, supple, and noticeably smoother. It rehydrates and brightens dull skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It has a gel-like texture that visibly plumps the skin. Apart from the tremendous hydrating ingredients this serum has, it also contains ceramides which can further improve the health of your skin.
Shop Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster here.
Best hydrating serums for super-sensitive skin
Sensitive skin is a complex type of skin to treat because many ingredients can cause it to become sensitized. All of the products on this list are free of sensitizing ingredients, which means they are fragrance-free, alcohol-free, and essential oil-free.
Hada Labo Tokyo Lotion No.1 Super Hydrator
Hada Labo has been making quite the impression in the skincare world, and this lotion is still within this incredible reputation. This wonderfully gentle and effective product will do almost no harm to your skin while providing it with the necessary hydration. Consider it like putting water on your skin all day.
Shop Hada Labo Tokyo Lotion No.1 Super Hydrator here.
Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5%
Naturium is one product line that makes me happy; they are a new brand that has done it right. In every product they create, they consider both the ingredients and the environment. This is a great brand to look into if you have sensitive skin. This serum contains no irritating ingredients, has a lovely texture, and does exactly what it claims. It contains glycerin, propanediol (humectant), and two hyaluronic acid derivatives, among other notable ingredients.
Shop Naturium Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Serum 5% here.
Dalton Hyaluronic Urea Serum
This is a lovely formulation that blends hyaluronic acid and urea. It is free of all harsh ingredients, making it ideal for sensitive skin. This product has the added benefit of containing lactic acid, a gentle yet effective chemical exfoliant that moisturizes your skin.
Unfortunately, they only ship to certain countries, so do check if they ship to your country here.
PCA Skin Hydrating Serum
The PCA Skin Hydrating Serum nourishes and restores dull, lifeless skin, leaving it looking healthy and revitalized. Hyaluronic acid and sodium PCA moisturize, condition, and increase circulation. The serum boosts collagen production, which as a result, firms the skin. It also brightens, soothes, and reduces redness in the skin.
Shop PCA Skin Hydrating Serum here.
PURITO Centella Green Level Buffet Serum
A water-based serum that regularly hydrates the skin, leaving it soft, smooth, and shining. This serum moisturizes your skin and improves its overall appearance. It contains hyaluronic acid and collagen. It has a lightweight gel-like texture and can layer nicely with most products making it an ideal base. I use it as a primer for my makeup quite often.
Shop PURITO Centella Green Level Buffet Serum here.
How to use the hydrating serum
Usually, hydrating serums are used after cleansing and before actives and/or moisturizers. If you use an essence, it can be used after an essence. You want it to be as close to the skin as possible to experience the maximum benefits.
The takeaway
Hydrating serums are a great way to boost your skin’s overall health; every skin type can benefit from using one. Incorporating it with a moisturizer, especially in winter, can maximize its potential benefits.
What is your skin type, and what hydrating serums have been working for you? Let’s chat in the comment section.
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