16 Best Hydrating Face Serums for Every Skin Type, Tested & Reviewed in 2023

Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, squalane—this bottle is loaded with humectants, and my dehydrated skin absolutely loves it. The aloe along with the colloidal oatmeal in the formula also helps to soothe my sensitive skin and calm it down for sweet, sweet relief.

• Key ingredient(s): Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, squalane, colloidal oatmeal
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve been using it for about two weeks now and am noticing a huge difference in my skin!" one tester notes. "My skin is soft and it toned down the redness and evened out my skin."

Say hello to the serum responsible for my golden hour IG selfies: The Tatcha Dewy Serum, which is certainly true to its name. It contains chemical exfoliant lactic acid, which smoothes your skin, plumps with hyaluronic acid, and seals it all in with squalane. I apply this bb both morning and night right after my face wash and before my face moisturizer.

• Key ingredient(s): Hyaluronic acid, lactic acid, squalane
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "Read the reviews and tried it out—it was amazing!" one tester writes. "My skin was getting very dry and once I started using this my face immediately felt more hydrated. I have been using this for a month now and it’s helped so much."

Not for nothing, hyaluronic acid is def the popular kid when it comes to hydrators and the first to come to mind because of its ability to hold 1,000 times its own weight in water. This hydrating serum not only contains hyaluronic acid, but also other humectants, like glycerin, trehalose, and sodium hyaluronate (a salt form of hyaluronic acid), and it's also perfect for anyone who prefers fragrance-free skincare.

• Key ingredient(s): Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, trehalose, sodium hyaluronate
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I live in the South with long, hot humid summers, and cold winters, and always have issues with flaking, dry skin," one reviewer notes. "I have used the richest, heaviest of creams, and nothing has worked as well as this serum. No flaking, it doesn't feel dry and my skin doesn't feel like it's going to crack. My skin feels smooth like the moisture in my face has been rejuvenated!"

Reasons why I love this hydrating, brightening serum: (1) It's loaded with a ton of hydrators (hi, aloe vera, and glycerin), brightening vitamin C, and anti-inflammatory green tea and kojic acid, and (2) the brand's founder formulates her products to cater towards those with melanin-rich skin and specifically address dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

• Key ingredient(s): Aloe vera, glycerin, vitamin C, green tea, kojic acid
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "Obsessed, I use this in my morning routine all over, and at night I use it as a spot treatment for stubborn areas," one review reads. "This product truly does what it promises—lightened all of my spots within three weeks of consistent use."

This superstar hyaluronic acid serum is packed with loads of hydrators as well as emollient dimethicone, which traps water for super soft, super moisturized skin. In fact, Cosmo associate editor Chaise Sanders considers this her holy grail face serum. "I use it before going to bed, and I wake up with visibly hydrated skin," she says, adding that a small pump goes a long way and doesn't leave your skin feeling sticky.

• Key ingredient(s): Hyaluronic acid, dimethicone, glycerin
• Size: 0.5 oz., 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I have oily, dehydrated acne-prone skin, and love this HA serum!" one reviewer writes. "It's super lightweight and spreads nicely upon the skin, and my skin absorbs it beautifully."

This hydrating serum won a Cosmo 2021 Beauty Award for just how well it hydrates a thirsty face. It might be one of the most affordable options on this list, but that doesn't mean it's lacking. It's full of hydrators and skin-restoring ingredients, like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin B5, and vitamin E.

• Key ingredient(s): Hyaluronic acid, glycerin, vitamin B5, vitamin E
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "This product is very gentle on your skin," reads one tester's review. "My face feels moisturized and not greasy at all. Even with all my scars from my acne, people have noticed the change to the texture of my skin."

This hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin has “plump” written all over it (no, seriously, look at the label). If you prefer clean beauty, this one has received Sephora's seal of approval, and customers love it for the dewy glow it gives the skin without the greasy shine.

• Key ingredient(s): Hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "This serum leaves the skin looking so healthy and radiant," one tester writes. "It’s lightweight and delivers just enough hydration to the skin."

A healthy, happy skin barrier is the ultimate goal here, and if yours is feeling a little compromised, look for a hydrating serum that not only targets hydration but also supports barrier function, like this one. It contains sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, beta-glucan, vitamin B5, and aloe vera for hydration but also vitamins C, B3, and E for ultimate skin-barrier benefits.

• Key ingredient(s): Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, beta-glucan, vitamin B5, aloe vera, vitamins C, B3, and E
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "My skin is textured and now it looks refined, brighter, smoother, and my pores look smaller," one reviewer writes. "It’s definitely reduced my redness and breakouts."

Polyglutamic acid doesn't roll off the tongue quite like hyaluronic acid, but don't let that deter you from trying it out. This ingredient is another great humectant that binds water so your skin can soak up all the hydration. If your foundation tends to look cakey, you'll be happy to know this formula layers well under makeup and gets rid of dry patches that create unwanted texture that's exacerbated by your layers of makeup.

• Key ingredient(s): Polyglutamic acid, glycerin
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I use it as a last skincare step before makeup," one tester notes. "I usually have dry patches but for the first time at a facial I was told my skin was very hydrated."

This combo of pineapple ceramides, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, pro-vitamin B5, and antioxidants works to pull water in, moisturize the skin, and improve fine lines and texture. What more could you want? It's racked up quite a few positive reviews on Sephora, and the happy customers rave about the lightweight consistency, quick absorption, and ample hydration.

• Key ingredient(s): Pineapple ceramides, glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, pro-vitamin B5, antioxidants
• Size: 1.69 oz.

THE REVIEW: "This product is a game changer in the summer for my skin," one tester notes. "It hydrated my skin perfectly and gave it a smooth glow to my skin."

If you're someone who prefers an oil in their skincare routine, opt for this moisturizing serum packed with rosehip seed, watermelon seed, sunflower seed, and jojoba oils. And as if that's not enough, it also contains my favorite emollient, squalane, which locks in moisture on your skin.

• Key ingredient(s): Squalane, vitamin C, rosehip seed, watermelon seed, sunflower seed, and jojoba oils
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "This serum has a lightweight, oil-like texture that spreads easily over the skin," one tester writes. "After using the serum, I noticed an improvement in the overall appearance of my skin. My skin looked more even and felt smoother and hydrated."

Along with skin dryness comes stinging and itchiness, and if that's what you're experiencing, apply a few drops of this soothing serum STAT. It's got glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to add water back into the skin, and it's also got sea whip extract, green and white tea extracts, and allantoin to help calm everything down.

• Key ingredient(s): Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, allantoin
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I’ve been managing acne and rosacea for years and using this serum calms my red patches and fades the redness from my acne scars," one review reads.

One of Dr. Alexiades' favorite hydrating serums, this product is packed with peptides and neuropeptides (21 to be exact), humectants, and emollients to really target and plump up fine lines and wrinkles. It's earned an impressive 4.4 stars on Sephora and reviewers love that with consistency, they can see noticeable results.

• Key ingredient(s): Glycerin, squalane, sodium hyaluronate
• Size: 1 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I usually don't do reviews—and I really thought this stuff was too expensive—but I took a gamble and...WOW!" writes one tester, adding, "I swear my face looks 10 years younger!!"

Another solid choice for smoothing wrinkles, Dr. Alexiades also recommends checking out this hydrating serum. Not only does it hydrate and plump fine lines and creases with sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and peptides, but it also uses a retinoid to help to encourage cellular turnover and further help even out and smooth the skin.

• Key ingredient(s): Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, squalane, retinoid, caffeine, vitamin E,
• Size: 1 oz., 1.7 oz.

THE REVIEW: "It enhanced my facial skin softness, created a very smooth skin texture, and reduced to some degree the lines that I had between my eyebrows," one tester writes.

Looks so hydrating and refreshing you could drink it (please don't), and that's exactly what you're skin's gonna do when you slather this hydrating gel serum all over your thirsty face. This fragrance-free drugstore skincare product contains mineral-rich volcanic water and sodium hyaluronate for optimal hydration and is even safe to use on eczema-prone skin.

• Key ingredient(s): Hyaluronic acid
• Size: 1.01 oz., 1.7 oz., 2.5 oz.

THE REVIEW: "Such a nice and soft feeling serum," one reviewer writes. "Two pumps cover the whole face and neck. It glides onto my skin perfectly. Isn’t oily at all and it’s perfect on my sensitive skin"

This hydrating serum uses thermal water plus hydrators like hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin B5, and glycerin to pull water into the skin. And! Not only does it have humectants, but it also contains the silicone dimethicone, which is an emollient with some occlusive properties, to trap all that water into the skin.

• Key ingredient(s): Thermal water, hyaluronic acid, sodium hyaluronate, vitamin B5, dimethicone
• Size: 1.01 oz., 1.7 oz.

THE REVIEW: "I've tried so many different hyaluronic serums in every price range and this is by far the best one I've used," one tester notes. "My face feels like silk after I apply it."