THE BEST HYALURONIC ACID SERUMS (AT EVERY PRICE-POINT)

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Hyaluronic acid is one of my favourite skincare ingredients. You simply apply it to damp skin and it will pull that water into the skin to hydrate and plump it. Look out for formulas that include a variety of molecular sizes, so the ingredient can reach the different layers of your skin. Today I'm talking through some of the best formulas on the market...

Under £5 | Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum* | $6

Of all the affordable hyaluronic acid serums out there; this is an absolute favourite! What I really love about this is that it's not at all sticky or tacky on my skin. It has a very watery consistency, which is quite unusual for a formula at this price-point. It absorbs without leaving a messy finish and gives me plumper, more hydrated skin. The only downside of this product for me is that you can't just pop into Boots and pick this up easily. Here in the UK you need to order from Beautylish, though it's pretty easy if you do with free shipping over $35 and all taxes / duties included (my previous orders have taken around 7-10 days to arrive).

Under £10 | The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum* | £5.99 

This is a tad more expensive than the Good Molecules serum, but it's a lot more accessible on the UK high street and most of the main online retailers carry the Inkey List. This has a thicker, more gel-like formula, however I still find it melts nicely into my skin without feeling filmy or unpleasant. It does the job of providing a strong hit of hydration without any frills. This formula contains 2% hyaluronic acid with three molecular weights (I didn't include this detail in the Good Molecules breakdown, as I couldn't find it anywhere for that product). My only negative is really the packaging; it's a plastic flip-top squeezy tube, which feels a bit cheap and also makes it hard to get out that last bit of product.

Under £25 | Pestle and Mortar Pure Hyaluronic Serum | £21

This is a little bit of a cheat because I only have a 15ml bottle of this at the moment, but the full sized version is £39 and I've used an entire bottle of that up before. This is one of my favourite hyaluronic acid serums and I honestly just don't mention it as much because I have so many of them that I used this up and that was it, really. For that reason; I just got a mini this time! Again, you  have three molecular weights in this formula to distribute the hydration throughout your skin. I absolutely love the texture of this serum! It's so hydrating and gives me that fresh, dewy, healthy, glowing skin look. 

Under £35 | PSA the Most Hyaluronic Super Nutrient Serum | £34

I almost didn't include this serum in this post because it isn't a pure hyaluronic formula, but I love it, I've used an entire bottle of it and it deserves its place in this post! This is what I reach for on an everyday basis and it's a product I can trust to really nurture my skin when it's feeling a bit dry or sensitive. It has a thicker, creamier texture and is a great option for dry skin types who find that very light, watery hyaluronic acid serums don't pack enough of a punch. This also contains panthenol, to help retain water in the skin, and nourishing safflower oil, which again can also help seal in the water that the hyaluronic acid attracts into the skin.

Under £45 | Niod Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex* | £38 (30ml) 

This formula is pretty much my measuring stick of all hyaluronic acid serums and nothing yet has quite measured up to it. You can also pick it up in a 15ml bottle for £25 if you want to test-drive it before making a bigger commitment. It contains a whopping 12 molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, which dwarfs what's offered by any of the other serums I've discussed in this post. As you dispense it from the dropper; it has a water-light consistency so absorbs beautifully without feeling at all sticky. It plumps, hydrates and smooths my skin, giving it a fresh glow. I'd go so far as to say that it pretty much resurrects my very dehydrated skin and it's a product I'll always repurchase for that reason! And honestly; I've never seen much need to spend more than £40 on such a simple skincare ingredient that's available from almost every brand, which is why we're not going into Dr Barbara Sturm territory here...

What's your favourite hyaluronic acid serum?

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