2024's 5 Best Hydrating Serums On The Market
How To Pick A Face Serum That Works And Get It At A Great Price
We sorted through hundreds of face serums to narrow down the top ones to test. These are the best hydrating face serums to try now.
After over 16 years of extensive research in beauty and dermatology, my biggest passion is finding the most effective products that can make a positive difference in people’s lives. I’ve incorporated all my knowledge and expertise in our Top 5 Review Series, where we investigate the leading skincare and beauty brands.
Does your skin almost always feel excessively dry? Does it not feel hydrated even after religiously applying hydrating products and adding them to your daily routine? This could be because several products that claim to hydrating are not actually what they say. Yes, not all the products in the market are good for your skin even if they claim to be, some “hydrating” products can even dry your skin out further.
Your parched skin needs to quench its thirst throughout the year to maintain its moisture balance. That’s why it is essential to hydrate and revitalize your skin with the right products.
One of the best ways to hydrate your skin through serums that contain a higher concentration of potent actives along with intensely nourishing ingredients.
But, we found that many serums in the industry, regardless of how big the brand is, had questionable ingredients along with other red flags that could be increasing your skin concerns rather than eliminating them.
A good number of products, even from well-known brands, do not show any drastic results for their premium price points. Even with patented formulations, they fail to deliver results.
Our team of researchers and testers researched and tried hundreds of face serums on the market to find the best of the best. Testers looked at various factors, including company ethics, quality, efficacy, results, and value. They also looked for the most effective moisturizers and other skin-benefitting ingredients. These “Top 5” face serums stood out.
How Can A Hydrating Serum Help Your Skin?
Serums are one of the best products that are packed with several skin-benefitting ingredients in the right proportions to deliver faster and more prominent results.
This is because serums are high concentrations of active ingredients. They are packed with skin-benefiting ingredients like antioxidants, peptides, vitamins, etc., with most of the fluid eliminated from the formulation, thus, increasing the potency of the product on your skin. They can be easily absorbed by the skin and use its high concentration of nutrients to target various concerns and provide a burst of nourishment and hydration to the skin.
What Kind Of Serum To Pick?
Serums consists of nourishing and smoothening ingredients packed into a small concentrated formulation that requires a single drop to work its benefits on your skin. It is important that this single drop consists of as many nutrients and skin-benefiting ingredients as possible for the maximum benefit of your skin.
A hyaluronic acid formula that is powered with exceptional water-retaining properties would result in unfathomable plump and nourished skin while ensuring the skin is even and smooth to keep it radiant and youthful.
While it is unsaid, opt for a natural, clean and sustainable serum that is formulated with vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free and gluten-free ingredients sourced from nature.
Alpha lipoic acid is rich in antioxidants that can renew your skin to visibly improve its texture and tone. Vitamin-rich serums can target multiple skin concerns while reducing the dark spots and patches, and keeping the skin healthy.
It is better to avoid serums with synthetic ingredients and fragrances to help your skin retain its natural moisture and keep it balanced without causing irritations.
How To Find The Best Hydrating Face Serums?
Searching for the best hydrating face serums among thousands of serums can be a mammoth task if you do not know what, where, and how to look. So, we are going to tell you exactly how you can discover these hydrating gems.
- Review other reviews. Customer reviews on the brand’s website can give a lot of insight into the product and its efficiency. Although some reviews could be solely for advertisement purposes, a product with several reviews is highly likely to be accurate and honest.
- Money-back guarantees by the company ensure security and increase the trust consumers are willing to put in the product.
- Third-party testing by the company can be expensive for them, but it ensures quality control and supports the promises of the results the serums claim to deliver.
Choosing the right serum seems like a taxing task, especially with thousands of ineffective products in the market. While there could be false advertising, customer reviews never lie. So, we have tested these products and sorted through multiple trustworthy reviews to give you our top picks along with their pros and cons.
#1 Model Off Duty Beauty
Model Off Duty Beauty
Youth Glow Day Serum
- High-Quality Ingredients
- Risk-Free Trial
- Affordable Price
- Powerful Testimonials
- Reputable History
The Youth Glow Day Serum is rich in hyaluronic acid and antioxidants that work together with skin-benefitting ingredients like niacinamide to soothe and nourish the skin while ensuring it is well-hydrated and balanced.
The serum is packed with the best ingredients to target multiple skin concerns while providing burst hydration like Vitamin C, Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Carrot seed oil, ProVitamin A, ProVitamin B5, Retinyl Palmitate and many more. No other product has been seen to have that many ingredients to combat several skin concerns.
This could be one of the, if not the only, best serum with the highest consumer 5-star feedback rate.
Out of all the products researched and tested, Model Off Duty Beauty Youth Glow Day Serum impressed our experts with their innovative and high-quality formula. The results were exceptional in balancing, hydrating and brightening the skin.
Hand-selected all-natural ingredients like intensely hydrating hyaluronic acid and niacinamide keep your skin firm, elastic, and supple. While the serum hydrates the skin, aloe vera strengthens the lipid barrier to keep the moisture locked in along with healing and soothing dry skin.
The potent vitamin C in the serum battles stubborn spots, patches and hyperpigmentation as well as delivers an undefeated glow. Alpha lipoic acid restores the skin to give a renewed appearance that has a visibly improved tone and texture. CoQ10 is known to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps to stimulate collagen and elastin production.
Model Off Duty beauty wears its status as a clean, cruelty-free, vegan, and all-natural brand with pride, along with its recyclable packing. The serum is gentle, natural, and non-comedogenic, making it suitable for all ages and skin types.
The product has multiple positive reviews on both platforms, easily making it a consumer-favorite vegan serum!
All purchases are backed by a 30-day Risk-Free 100% Money Back Guarantee. That is the best guarantee that we have seen from any manufacturer. This shows how confident they are in their product.
Get 20% off by using code: MODBOFFER
Pros
- Hyaluronic acid intensely hydrates and conditions the skin.
- Niacinamide prevents moisture loss and increases keratin content in the skin.
- Vitamin C brightens and visibly evens the skin tone.
- Aloe vera soothes and heals the skin.
- Vitamin A reduces multiple signs of aging.
- Clinically tested and developed by skincare experts for the highest quality
- The ingredients used are natural and synthetic-free
- The serum is Non-GMO, Paraben Free, Phthalate Free, and Non-Toxic.
- The product is vegan and cruelty-free.
- MODB is 100% sustainable.
- The brand uses recyclable packing.
- Several positive reviews make it evident that the serum is a cult favorite.
- The clean formulation is suitable for any age or skin type.
- Made in USA
- The potent serum is fast-acting and delivers results almost instantly.
- It gives you long-lasting dewy and firm skin.
- The company offers free shipping and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- The product is worth the price.
Cons
- Currently available to purchase on the brand's official website only
- High product demand may create out of stock issues
Drunk Elephant
B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
In addition to the hydrating hyaluronic acid content, this Drunk Elephant serum is powered with pro-vitamin B5 as a humectant for the skin.
Several natural extracts like watermelon, apple and lentil nourish the skin, making this product a potent superfood serum. Drunk Elephant is known to be a vegan and cruelty-free brand and that formulate its products without silicones and synthetic fragrances.
Although several natural skin-nourishing ingredients are more in content within the serum, the hyaluronic acid proportion is lesser than what could be benefiting for a hydrating serum.
No evidence points at the fact that the serum is gluten-free, which could mean that it could react negatively towards someone who is sensitive to it.
Get 10% off on this serum with the code: BHYDRASERUM
Pros
- Hyaluronic acid and pro-vitamin B5 hydrate the skin.
- Drunk elephant is a trusted vegan brand.
- Contains antioxidant-rich watermelon, apple, and lentil extracts.
- Formulated without parabens, miner oils, and phthalates.
- The brand ensures transparency about the ingredients and production process.
- The serum is cruelty-free.
Cons
- Less hydrating than what is marketed.
- Risk of containing a small quantity of gluten.
Skinfix
Barrier+ Triple Lipid + Collagen + Niacinamide Activating Serum
The multi-benefit formula combines several beneficial ingredients, including niacinamide, triple lipids, collagen, and other skin-nourishing components to balance oily skin.
Niacinamide helps regulate oil production, improve the appearance of pores, reduce redness and inflammation, and enhance the skin's barrier function. Niacinamide also has antioxidant properties and can promote a more even skin tone.
Triple lipids and collagen in the serum contributes to the skin's hydration, elasticity, and overall firmness.
The serum has a lightweight and non-greasy texture, allowing for easy absorption into the skin.
This makes it suitable for all skin types, including oily and combination skin, without leaving a heavy or sticky residue.
The product is free from fragrance, parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and other potentially irritating ingredients.
While Skinfix aims to create products suitable for sensitive skin, the product can irritate extremely sensitive skin types.
The serum may be relatively higher priced compared to similar serums in the market.
Get 25% discount on this product with the code: SKINFIX25
Pros
- Triple lipids and collagen in the serum contributes to the skin's hydration, elasticity, and firmness.
- Suitable for all skin types, including oily and combination skin.
- Niacinamide helps regulate oil production and improve the appearance of pores.
- The serum reduces redness and inflammation, and enhance the skin's barrier function.
- The multi-benefit formula combines several beneficial ingredients.
- Niacinamide also has antioxidant properties and can promote a more even skin tone.
- The serum has a lightweight and non-greasy texture
- It allows for easy absorption into the skin.
- The product is free from fragrance, parabens, sulfates, phthalates.
Cons
- The product can irritate extremely sensitive skin types.
- The serum is higher priced compared to similar serums in the market.
SkinCeuticals
H.A. Intensifier
The hyaluronic acid serum improves the skin's elasticity, defeating multiple signs of aging. The gel-serum hybrid has a pleasant texture that keeps the skin comfortable.
The unique formulation of natural skin-illuminating ingredients like purple rice and licorice root extract support the hyaluronic acid levels while improving the hydration and plumpness of the skin.
While the product is paraben-free, the PEGs, alcohol and citrus essential oils in the product can cause sensitivity to the skin.
The pricing of the product is roof-high, costing $100 for a single ounce of the serum. The product also is not as transparent about its animal testing policies.
Get a free SkinCeuticals hydrating gel on orders over $150 with the code: SKINCEUTICALGEL150
Pros
- Clinically proven and dermatologically tested formula.
- The serum increases the skin’s hyaluronic acid levels.
- Improves firmness, elasticity and look of aging skin.
- Contains a unique complex of hyaluronic acid-supporting purple rice and licorice root extracts
- Free of parabens
- Easy to purchase online from authorized retailers
Cons
- Unclear animal testing policies.
- The brand does not offer free shipping with every purchase
- Heavily overpriced at $100 per ounce could seem unreasonable for some.
- Contains skin-drying alcohol, and PEGs.
PCA
Skin Hyaluronic Acid Boosting Serum
The vitamin C and polyglutamic acid blend support and boost each other's potency to deliver visibly plump and youthfully radiant skin that is perfect for makeup application.
The lightweight serum is suitable for normal to oily skin types. Polyglutamic acid is four times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid which the product also contains in a smaller quantity in the form of sodium hyaluronate.
The product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free and also states to contain less than one percent of added fragrance. However, some consumers have stated the scent to be overpowering and even unpleasant.
The product is vegan, cruelty-free, and gluten-free. The burdensome price tag is not justified by the average results it delivers.
A good number of consumers experienced a breakout and negative reactions from the serum.
Get 20% off on this serum with the code: SKINBOOST20
Pros
- Polyglutamic acid is four times more hydrating than hyaluronic acid.
- The serum is lightweight.
- The product is sulfate-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free.
- Stable form of vitamin C brightens and evens skin tone.
- Niacinamide minimizes the appearance of pores.
Cons
- Although the product is hydrating, it misses out on other benefits.
- Contains fragrance which could be overpowering and sometimes even unpleasant.
- The product is overpriced.
- Results do not justify the heavy price tag.
What You Will Learn?
- High-Quality Ingredients
- Risk-Free Trial
- Affordable Price
- Powerful Testimonials
- Reputable History
6 Features To Evaluate When Buying A Serum
- The Ingredients
- The Company's Reputation
- Product Testing Results
- Customer Reviews
- Effectiveness
- Return Policy & Guarantee
