Best Face Serums for Hydration of 2026
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Face serums for hydration are a must-have in any skincare routine. These lightweight, fast-absorbing serums are packed with potent ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and vitamin E to deeply hydrate and plump the skin. They are designed to penetrate deeply into the skin to deliver intense moisture, leaving the skin looking and feeling smooth, supple, and radiant. Whether you have dry, dehydrated skin or just need an extra boost of hydration, a face serum for hydration is the perfect addition to your skincare regimen.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Face Serums for Hydration
e.l.f. SKIN Holy Hydration! Triple Bounce Serum
Experience the e.l.f. Triple Bounce Serum, a supercharged gel face serum with 1.7% hyaluronic acid, squalane, and niacinamide. This serum is designed to provide unparalleled hydration, creating a plump, fresh, and supple complexion, ideal for quenching dry skin. Simply add 3-5 drops to freshly cleansed skin morning and evening for maximum hydration. For added benefits, follow with the Holy Hydration! Hydro Gel Moisturizer to achieve bouncy, plump skin. All e.l.f. products are 100% cruelty-free and Vegan, made from skin-loving ingredients at good-for-you prices.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 with Ceramides
The Ordinary Hydration Serum offers quick and lasting moisture, helping your skin look smoother and plumper throughout the day. It includes ceramides, which work to lock in moisture and strengthen your skin’s natural barrier, protecting it from damage. This serum also targets fine lines, making them less visible while improving your skin’s elasticity and softness. Additionally, the pro-vitamin B5 in the formula boosts your skin’s ability to hold onto moisture and supports the creation of important barrier elements like ceramides. Using this serum can help you maintain healthier, more hydrated skin with a youthful feel.
RoC Hydration+ Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Retinol Eye Cream
The RoC Hydration+ Serum is designed to deeply hydrate your skin and reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It features a unique technology that boosts your skin’s natural ability to stay plump and youthful. With seven types of hyaluronic acid, it quickly fills in lines, while collagen proteins work over time to smooth and revitalize your skin. This serum also targets common aging concerns like dark circles and uneven skin tone, making it a versatile choice. Plus, it’s gentle on your skin—fragrance-free, fast-absorbing, and tested by dermatologists to ensure it’s safe and effective for daily use.
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum is a unique face serum formula that delivers higher hydration levels for skin that glows day after day. It contains hyaluronic acid, which attracts moisture and locks it in. The gentle hydrating formula is both oil-free and non-comedogenic, so it won't clog pores. The serum absorbs quickly to quench skin and addresses the root cause of dryness to deliver hydration. Complete your at-home skincare routine with this facial serum and pair it with other products from the Neutrogena Hydro Boost collection.
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face is a lightweight, hydrating serum with a smooth, gel texture. It is formulated with the highest concentration of hyaluronic acid, an ingredient that helps retain skin's natural moisture. It also contains Vitamin B5 to help soothe skin and CeraVe's patented MVE ingredient-delivery technology to continually release moisturizing ingredients and provide 24-hour lasting hydration. It is suitable for dry skin, sensitive skin, oily skin, acne-prone, and more.
Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Experience deep and long-lasting hydration with Good Molecules Serum. Notice the plumping, firming, and moisturizing effects on your skin. The potent formula with two forms of hyaluronic acid penetrates multiple skin layers, combating dehydration and loss of firmness. This serum is the perfect addition to your beauty regimen, suitable for all skin types. Apply it in the morning and at night before oils, creams, and moisturizers for best results. Its gentle and powerful formula will help your skin maintain its radiant glow, appearing supple, smooth, and firm.
Eucerin Immersive Hydration Smoothing Face Serum
The Eucerin Hydration Face Serum is designed to keep your skin feeling soft and refreshed all day. Its ultra-light formula provides hydration that lasts up to 24 hours, giving your skin a plump and smooth look while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The serum uses two types of highly concentrated hyaluronic acid, which work together to deeply moisturize your skin. This product is gentle enough for all skin types, including sensitive skin, and won’t clog your pores. Plus, it has a mild fragrance that avoids common allergens, making it a great choice for anyone seeking effective and comfortable skincare.
grace & stella Hyaluronic Acid Serum
The grace & stella Serum is designed to enhance your natural glow and boost your confidence. This powerful hyaluronic acid formula helps combat dryness and flakiness, leaving your skin looking youthful and radiant. By promoting cell turnover, it effectively reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots, making your skin smoother and brighter. With its clean, vegan ingredients, this serum is gentle on all skin types and provides lasting hydration, ensuring your skin feels fresh throughout the day.
Cetaphil Deep Hydration Serum
Cetaphil Hydration Serum is a dermatologist-recommended facial serum that provides deep hydration for up to 48 hours. It features the exclusive HYDROSENSITIVE complex, which not only deeply hydrates the skin but also soothes skin sensitivity. This lightweight serum can be used alone or layered under face lotion or cream, making it a versatile addition to your skincare routine. Formulated with hyaluronic acid, sunflower seed oil, vitamin B5, and vitamin E, it effectively rehydrates and soothes dry and dehydrated skin. The serum is designed for sensitive skin, as it is gentle, won't clog pores, and has been clinically tested on sensitive skin. With its travel-friendly size, you can easily take it with you on your next vacation or trip.
L'Oreal Paris Collagen Moisture Bounce Serum
The L'Oreal Collagen Glow Serum is designed to deeply hydrate your skin for up to 72 hours, thanks to its blend of 8% pure collagen, glycerin, and squalane. This combination helps keep your skin bouncy and radiant, giving you an instant glow with its smooth, milky texture. The collagen in the serum is carefully purified to maintain its moisture-boosting effects, while squalane nourishes your skin, and glycerin locks in hydration. You’ll notice immediate hydration and brightness, with dry fine lines reducing in just one week and plumper, healthier-looking skin after four weeks. This lightweight, non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and works well on its own or under makeup.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is a hydration serum?
When you want to hydrate your body, you drink water, right? Well, your skin also needs water to maintain a healthy skin barrier (cells and lipids that protect your skin), and applying a hydrating serum is like giving your skin a big ol' drink of water.
2. Do serums hydrate skin?
A moisturizer's job is to hydrate the skin and prevent water loss. So actually, the biggest difference between a serum and a moisturizer is what the serum does NOT include. Serums leave out the occlusive moisturizing ingredients such as petrolatum or mineral oil that keep water from evaporating.
During our face serum for hydration research, we found 48 face serum for hydration products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 447,996 customer reviews through our big data system to write the face serums for hydration list. We found that most customers choose face serums for hydration with an average price of $17.99.
The face serums for hydration are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of face serums for hydration, including e.l.f., The Ordinary, RoC, Neutrogena, CeraVe. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 384 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.
Lisa Bechard is a skin therapist with 12 years of working experience in the beauty industry and also an experienced beauty writer who has expertise in skincare, medical aesthetics and cosmetic surgery, and wellness. Her writing skills are excellent and all her content is very persuasive and insightful.