If you have a skin care routine (or are just starting one), you probably know how important a serum is. This step should come after your toner and before any creams to add moisture and make your skin look fuller. There are a lot of products that claim to make skin softer and more hydrated, but as someone with dry skin, I’ve found that serums work the best.James Y. Wang, MD, a double board-certified dermatologist and founder of Metropolis Dermatology says, “Hydrating serums penetrate deeper than heavier creams because they have smaller molecular weights and higher concentrations of active ingredients.” “They can instantly plump and smooth the skin’s surface while enhancing moisture retention over time.”
What happened A stronger skin barrier that doesn’t get as irritated as easily and smoother skin. There are still a lot of serums for sale. So, to find the best of the best, we asked a number of top dermatologists what their top picks were. Read on for all the information.
A Quick Look at the Best Hydrating Serums
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum is the best overall The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum With Ceramides is the best budget option. Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum is the best product for fighting aging. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum is the best drugstore product. Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum With Vitamin C is the best makeup.
The Top Hydrating Serums of 2026
1. Best Overall: La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
1.0 oz of Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum
$43 for La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum. Works well and is safe for sensitive skin That’s the best way to describe our favorite La Roche-Posay product. “This lightweight serum uses two forms of hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 to draw and hold moisture across multiple skin layers,” says board-certified dermatologist Dara Spearman MD. “It feels gentle and non-irritating making it suitable for sensitive or reactive skin.”
Pros Helps the skin barrier and smooths out fine lines
Some people find it a little sticky.
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water, hyaluronic acid, madecassoside, and vitamin B5 are some of the most important ingredients.
Size 1 ounce
No it doesn’t smell.
“I love this serum and will keep coming back for more,” a customer said. At first, the smell is strong, but I like it now. With regular use, my skin feels smoother and more hydrated. “Definitely a must-have in my skin care routine.”
2. Best on a budget: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum With Ceramides
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum With Ceramides costs $10. It’s always a good thing to find a beauty product that doesn’t break the bank, especially one that hydrates like this serum. Spearman says, “It combines hyaluronic acid with vitamin B5 to hydrate different layers of the skin.” “It supports barrier function while making skin look smoother and fuller.”
Pros Makes skin look fuller and keeps it moist
Some people may find it sticky.
Ceramides hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B5 are the main ingredients.
Size 1 ounce
Yes it is scent-free.
Customer review One of the best serums that helps to get rid of dark spots from acne and makes skin look brighter.
3. Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum is the best anti-aging serum for dry skin.
$91 for Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Anti-Aging Serum. This Image Skincare serum is the best choice if you’re looking for an anti-aging serum. Board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine Jeannette Graf MD, says, “This serum is a great choice for people who want a hydrating formula that also protects against free radicals.” “It has hyaluronic acid which draws water into the skin and makes it more elastic and clear. It also has a multi-vitamin C complex and antioxidants like green tea, which help brighten the skin and protect it from pollution and UV damage.”
Pros It brightens and smooths out fine lines.
Disadvantages Expensive
Aloe vera green tea, herbal extracts, hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, peptides, squalane oil, vitamin C, and vitamin E are some of the most important ingredients.
Weight 1.7 ounces
No scent No
“I have very sensitive skin but this vitamin C doesn’t make me break out, and I can really tell a difference People tell me nice things all the time Also love the smell—10 out of 10
4. Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum is the best drugstore product.
Hydro Boost Serum for Hydration
$31 for Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Serum. Buy it now. This Neutrogena serum is one of our favorite drugstore buys because it keeps your skin hydrated. “This serum is made with hyaluronic acid as its main ingredient, which is one of the most popular moisturizing ingredients in skin care,” Graf says. “Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water in the skin, which makes it more hydrated and temporarily smooths out fine lines.” She also says that this formula is very light, so it’s a good choice for people with oily skin.
Pros Doesn’t have oil, makes skin smooth
Cons It might be too strong for skin that is sensitive.
Hyaluronic acid is one of the main ingredients.
Size 1 ounce
No scent No
“I love the texture the packaging, the price, and most importantly, how it makes my skin feel. This is something I have to do every day.
5. Best Makeup: Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum With Vitamin C
Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Serum with Vitamin C costs $85. I’ve used this serum for six months and swear by it for when I want a little extra glow or when I’m getting my skin ready for makeup. Graf says, “I like this serum because it has a lot of benefits.” “It has vitamin C and other hydrating ingredients that brighten the skin and protect it from the environment.”
A Dermatologist Told Me the 6 Anti-Aging Products She Always Recommends—All Under $50 at Amazon
Pros It’s light and can be worn under makeup.
Disadvantages Expensive
Niacinamide vitamin C, and polyglutamic acid are the most important parts.
1 oz in size
No scent No
6. SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is the best thing to spend money on.
Gel with Hydrating B5
SkinCeuticals $95 for Hydrating B5 Gel SHOP NOW Want to spend some money If so, you might want to try this very effective serum from SkinCeuticals. Wang says, “This is a classic dermatologist favorite because it gives moisture without making the skin feel heavy.” “The formula combines hyaluronic acid, which draws water into the skin, with vitamin B5, which helps the skin barrier and keeps moisture in.” He says that it is light enough to put on top of moisturizer or sunscreen.
Pros Keeps skin young and moist
Cons Costs a lot
Hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 are the main ingredients.
1 oz in size
No scent Yes
7. Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum With Hyaluronic Acid is the best for dullness.
B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum with Hyaluronic Acid
Elephant in the Room $54 for B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum with Hyaluronic Acid. Buy Now This serum from Drunk Elephant can help bring dull skin back to life. Wang says that people often say this serum gives skin a glass of water. “It uses provitamin B5 and humectants to draw moisture into the skin and keep it there, which helps improve texture and make dehydration lines less noticeable.” This formula also has ceramides and antioxidant extracts that help keep skin from getting too dry and tight.
Pros Gets rid of dullness, fine lines, and wrinkles
Disadvantages Expensive
Important parts sodium hyaluronate, pineapple ceramide, and provitamin B5
Weight 1.69 ounces
Yes it doesn’t have any scent.
“This is the product I always use said a customer. I’m glad it’s bigger because I use it every day. “I always feel better after putting it on my skin.”
8. Cerave Hyaluronic Acid Serum is the best for sensitive skin. It is a 1-ounce, fragrance-free face serum with vitamin B5 and ceramides that hydrates dry skin.
$23 for CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum $17 for CeraVe Hyaluronic Acid Serum SHOP NOW If you have sensitive skin it can be hard to find the right formula, but this one from CeraVe is a good choice. Wang says, “This is a reliable choice that works and is easy to find.” “It has hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and three essential ceramides that help strengthen the skin barrier and keep moisture in.” He says that this combination is especially good for people whose skin is dry or whose skin barrier isn’t working well.
Pros Doesn’t block pores, cheap
Cons Some people may get pills.
Vitamin B5 ceramides, and hyaluronic acid are the main ingredients.
1 oz in size
No scent Yes
“I have rosacea, and this really cleared up my face,” said a customer. My skin doesn’t look red and swollen anymore. It works just fine.
What are the differences between ingredients that hydrate and those that moisturize?
You might not know this, but there is a difference between ingredients that hydrate and those that moisturize. So, how do you know which one is which Spearman says, Humectants or hydrating ingredients, pull water into the skin to make it more plump and add more water. Moisturizing ingredients help keep that moisture in by strengthening the skin barrier and stopping water loss.
What are some things you should look for in a serum that hydrates?
You should look for hydrating ingredients and there are a few that are especially good for dry skin. Graf says, Great hydrating serums often have humectants in them, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, panthenol, and sodium PCA. I also like formulas that have ingredients like aloe, ceramides, or niacinamide in them because they help keep the skin barrier strong while also adding moisture. You want to draw in moisture and keep it there.
What are some signs that you need a serum to keep your skin hydrated?
A hydrating serum can help anyone, but there are still some things to watch out for. Wang says, If your skin feels tight after washing, looks dull, has fine lines that look more pronounced, or if makeup flakes and sticks unevenly, those are all signs that your skin is dry. Skin can become dehydrated at any age, but it happens more often as natural hyaluronic acid levels drop over time.
How We Picked
Like all of our buying guides at Who What Wear, we put together our edits based on testing we did ourselves and advice from experts. We used a lot of expert advice and our own beauty knowledge to find the best hydrating serums for this roundup. We also looked at a number of things, such as the size, key ingredients and scent. We know how important these things are for a lot of different needs and tastes, so we made sure to include all the useful information. We also thought about what customers said when making this list.
