If you have dry skin, you've probably heard of hyaluronic acid. This miracle ingredient is the perfect antidote to tight feeling skin, scaly patches, and flaky noses, thanks to its ability to intensely moisturize. Hyaluronic acid is able to hold 1,000 times its weight in water, making it one of the better hydrators on the market today. And the best way to lap up the benefits of HA? By slathering on one of the best hyaluronic acid creams.
Your skin naturally produces hyaluronic acid, and these creams strive to mimic its same benefits. That means plumper, firmer looking skin and an overall glow. But even folks who don't suffer from dryness and flaking can benefit from some additional hyaluronic acid. Since the ingredient is so lightweight, most of the creams that contain it are also lightweight. Think melt-into-your-skin gels over thick, heavy lotions — so even oily skin types can get the moisture they need without worrying about their pores getting clogged. In fact, hyaluronic acid is beneficial for just about every skin type, whether it be dry, oily, combination, or sensitive.
So if you're ready to add one of these moisturizers into your product rotation, scroll on. Ahead, you'll find some of the best hyaluronic acid creams on the market today. Regardless of your skin type, you'll find intense hydration with one of these jars or bottles.
1The Overall Best Hyaluronic Acid Cream: Vichy Aqualia Thermal Rich Cream Moisturizer
If you're looking for a hyaluronic acid cream that checks all of the boxes, you can't go wrong with Vichy's Aqualia Thermal Hyaluronic Acid Cream. Made without parabens, mineral oils, or silicones, this hyaluronic acid cream is great for most skin types, even the driest of the bunch. The hyaluronic acid in the formula helps to pull moisture from the air and hold it against the skin, offering hydration for up to 48 hours. The cream feels heavy to the touch, but when applied it goes on lightweight. The thermal water infused into Vichy's products is sourced from volcanoes in France, and is charged with 15 essential minerals that protect and strengthen the surface of your skin. It is formulated with alcohol and fragrance, so if you have super sensitive skin take caution. But, many reviewers with skin sensitivity report back that they haven't seen any negative side effects from using this cream.
What fans say: "I have tried many creams over the course of the last 7 years. I have very dry skin and if I don't use the right moisturizer I get dry patches and flaky skin. This cream is AMAZING and whenever I use it I feel like my face is plumped and hydrated. I stopped using this for a while when I ran out of it and was moving into a different country so I didn't really have time to invest in a skincare routine, but after a few months my face looked dull and dry. I went back to this cream and oh my God by the 2nd or 3rd time of application i looked so much fresher. Now my skin is dewy and always fresh!'
2Best Drugstore Buy: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream
Hyaluronic acid creams aren't just available in the luxury beauty aisle. Case-in-point: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream. This lightweight gel cream smoothes onto skin and provides instant hydration. It's fast-absorbing and fragrance-free, so you don't have to worry about some sticky formula siting on your face for an hour. What's more? The formula is oil-free, non-comedogenic, and dye-free — and, since it's water-based (instead of oil-based), it's a great choice for oily skin types.
What fans say: "I love this cream/gel. I have sensitive combination skin, and have found that this works perfectly as a night moisturizer. The Hyaluronic acid is PERFECT for combo skin or sensitive skin! It really leaves the skin feeling silky soft, I just wish the container actually contained more product as I run through it very quickly."
3Best Night Cream: Pure Biology Enhanced Night Cream
If you're looking to add hyaluronic acid to your nighttime routine, Pure Biology Enhanced Night Cream is a solid choice. This formula combines two powerhouse ingredients to create an amazing, heavy-duty formula. First, it offers up retinol, which helps accelerate cell turnover and improve skin's tone while you sleep. But some folks may find retinol drying, which is why the addition of hyaluronic acid is so genius. The hyaluronic acid helps to counterbalance the drying effect of the retinol while helping boost the ingredient's ability to make your skin appear more radiant. The formula is non-greasy and lightweight, and it's free of fragrance and parabens (bonus points for being cruelty-free, too!) Some users have said it removes the need for a day cream — that's how hydrating this stuff actually is.
What fans say: "I have very dry and sensitive skin so I have to be careful with with I use on my face, but this cream didn’t irritate me at all and it makes my face feel so hydrated. It is very lightweight and a little bit goes a long way. My favorite thing about it though is that it leaves your face feeling soft and smooth, not greasy or weird."
4Best J-Beauty Buy: Hada Labo Tokyo Skin Plumping Gel Cream
Buzzy ingredients like hyaluronic acid tend to get their start in the K- and J-Beauty spaces, and Hada Labo Tokyo — one of Japan's most popular skin care brands — makes one of the most amazing formulas on the market. It works as both a silky moisturizer and a sumptuous serum, giving your skin a hearty dose of healthy ingredients. Its high concentration of hyaluronic acid helps to plump fine lines while also moisturizing, giving you a youthful glow for up to 24 hours. And the benefits of this moisturizer compound. After four weeks, people who used this cream saw an overall improvement in their skin's moisture levels — even after they've washed it off. The formula is fragrance-free, paraben-free, dye-free, and mineral oil-free, making it safe for sensitive skin types, too.
What fans say: "I cannot do without this product. I ran out back in July and didn't repurchase as I didn't think it wasn't doing anything for my skin. I was wrong. By the 3rd day of not using, I noticed a distinct dryness and tightness to my skin. I have combo, sensitive and acne-prone skin and this product did not irritate or provoke my sensitive skin. It truly does plump my skin and makes my skin super soft. It dries down in a few minutes and I go in with my remaining skincare."
5Best For Face And Body: CeraVe Moisturizing Cream
While hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient to slather onto your face, it's an amazing moisturizer for the rest of your body, too. CeraVe Moisturizing Cream allows you to spread this good-for-your-skin ingredient from your hair down to your toes. This moisturizer contains ceramides to help rebuild your skin's protective barrier, as well as hyaluronic acid for serious moisture. But what makes this stuff so innovative is its time-release formula. Instead of giving you an instant dose of ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it releases these ingredients over time, providing moisture onto your skin for hours on end. The hypoallergenic formula is free of fragrance and oil, which is great for folks who are prone to irritation, and since it's non-comedogenic, acneic skin types can use this cream without worrying about it clogging their pores and therefore causing breakouts.
What fans say: "My skin is soothed. The sensitivity reduced. Condition controlled. But it is a joy to control because the application feels so darn good. It dries quickly. Never feels like there is something pulling or shrinking on top of my skin. It goes into the skin. Does not sit on top.My friend who also has issues with her dry skin recommended this. It is the single best over the counter skin moisturizing and restorative product I have ever used. I cannot say enough good things about this."
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