Let’s get real: serums are the unsung heroes of skincare, particularly when it comes to moisturizing dehydrated skin. Serving as a kind of ultimate salesperson for night creams, moisturizers, and the like, they help amplify the advantages of everything that comes after.
According to Dr. Lauren Penzi of MDCS Dermatology, “hydrating serums help elevate the efficacy of your moisturizer.” “They’re usually layered under moisturizer, drawing moisture from the moisturizer itself and the environment, and overall enhancing the skin’s hydration.” Strong chemicals, including moisture-binding hyaluronic acid, are much more effectively delivered to the skin’s deeper layers by these formulae since they have a larger concentration of active ingredients than standard moisturizing creams.
Darphin Hydraskin Intensive Skin Hydrating Serum
The moisturizing serum from Darphin is excellent for tight, dry skin. It quickly absorbs into the skin, leaving it smooth and dewy.
Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum
The Hydrating Milky Serum from Pixi is calming and nourishing. Glycerin is used to reduce shine and retain moisture in the face without clogging pores. “Glycerin is an important ingredient to look for in a hydrating serum,” Dr. Penzi states. “It’s a humectant that helps draw water into the skin and reinforces the skin barrier to keep the moisture locked in.” Aloe vera and rose extract in the mix also smell light.
Clinique Moisture Surge Hydrating Supercharged Concentrate
My response to your “po-tay-to” is “po-ta-ta.” Although it is labeled as a “concentrate,” that is really just another word for a serum. Clinique’s lightweight gel-like consistency helps your skin perform at its best by increasing skin hydration and holding it in place for up to 72 hours. It will then be able to defend itself during the day and heal itself at night. It is crucial to stay hydrated.
Jurlique Rare Rose Serum
Rose extracts are a common hydrating component and the star of this Jurlique serum. It also has vital fatty acids and antioxidants that shield the complexion, which aid in repairing the skin’s natural barrier. Imagine having happy, hydrated, and smooth skin.
Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum
In the Indeed Labs Hydraluron Moisture Boosting Facial Serum, pure hyaluronic acid and red marine algae collaborate to provide all the moisturizing and face-plumping benefits straight to the most parched regions of the skin.
Senself Calming Botanical Serum
Senself provides immediate comfort for sensitive, erythematous skin with a hyaluronic acid-based herbal serum. It focuses on wound healing, hydration, and cell renewal.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum
The gel serum from First Aid Beauty is kind to delicate skin. Hyaluronic acid, aloe leaf juice, and colloidal oatmeal are combined in this water-based product to trap moisture deep into the skin. Collagen and peptides support the formula’s ability to smooth fine wrinkles.
Malin + Goetz Replenishing Face Serum
All skin types benefit greatly from the Replenishing Face Serum by Malin + Goetz. To nourish and soothe dry skin that is prone to irritation, the oil-free solution contains sodium PCA, an amino-acid complex, vitamin E, sodium hyaluronate, and chamomile extract.
Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid Booster
This serum delivers a significant moisture boost by combining sodium hyaluronate, a salt derivative, with the hydrator in its pure form. Ceramides and phospholipids, two types of fats important to the function of cell membranes, are also included to restore and heal damaged or parched skin.
Pai Instant Kalmer Ceramide Serum
For sensitive skin in need of a calming moisture boost, this arrangement is perfect. Sea aster, a coastal herb with skin-soothing qualities, wild oat extract to reduce redness and irritation, and hyaluronic acid to subtly replenish lost moisture and promote repair are all included in its organic recipe.
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum
The B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum by Drunk Elephant has a loyal fan base because of the benefits that many report from regular use. Vitamin B5 draws moisture to the skin while ceramides increase luminosity, giving the skin a noticeable improvement in appearance and feel. Moreover, sodium hyaluronate expedites the restoration of dry, flaky, or overworked skin.
Kate Somerville HydraKate Recharging Serum
The HydraKate Recharging Serum by Kate Somerville is a long-lasting composition in a lightweight form. Certain components are crucial serum must-haves, regardless of whether your skin is perpetually dry or you’re simply fighting a little dryness patch. Because of the presence of hyaluronic acid, sometimes referred to as hyaluronan or HA, it attracts moisture and is particularly appealing to people who have trouble keeping their skin hydrated.
FAQ
- Does hyaluronic acid hydrate dry skin?”Hyaluronic acid is highly effective in hydrating dry skin due to its ability to hold up to a thousand times its weight in water,” says Vee Mistry. It comes in different molecular weights. High molecular weight hyaluronic acid hydrates the skin’s surface, while low molecular weight penetrates deeper, providing moisture at multiple levels.”
However, Mistry notes that if the skin is extremely dehydrated, hyaluronic acid might not be sufficient alone and should be paired with other hydrating ingredients. - Is hydrating serum better than moisturizer?Mistry and Dr. Penzi mention that hydrating serums and moisturizers serve different purposes but are complementary.
“Face serums are lightweight, liquid-like formulations that contain active ingredients that target specific concerns like dryness [and] focus on adding water and hydration to the skin,” according to Dr. Penzi.
However, Mistry notes that “moisturizers are thicker and help lock in hydration by forming a protective barrier on the skin’s surface.” She says moisturizers stop water loss from the skin’s surface while serums work deeper to hydrate cells.
- What should I look for in a hydrating serum?Mistry, Pkhakadze, and Salakaia agree that a serum for dry skin should contain ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and PGA (polyglutamic acid). According to Mistry, “these elements work synergistically to deeply hydrate the skin, effectively addressing various aspects such as texture and dehydration lines.”
- What should my skincare routine with a hydrating serum look like?”It’s important to address skin hydration holistically,” says Mistry. “Ensure adequate water intake, as hydration starts from within.” A proper cleansing routine is also crucial; begin with an oil-based cleanser to remove impurities and follow with a treatment cleanser tailored to your skin’s needs. “This comprehensive approach helps maintain plump, dewy, and hydrated skin beyond just the application of serums,” she adds.
