The 12 Best Hyaluronic Acid Serums for Men

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You don’t have to be a skincare aficionado to have heard of hyaluronic acid. The ingredient has gained so much traction in recent years that you can barely walk down a skincare aisle without seeing its name splashed across package after package. The ingredient, as buzzy as it is, has actually been used in skincare for decades, but it’s okay if you’re just hearing about it now.

Everyone’s skin naturally contains hyaluronic acid, a hydrating molecule that’s known for its ability to hold 1,000 times its molecular weight in water. It’s a humectant, which means it’s job is to help your skin retain moisture. Humectants also have the ability to draw in moisture, like from the air, and use it for that same purpose. Hyaluronic acid does both of these things really well.

But if our skin already contains hyaluronic acid, why would you need more? Dry skin can happen for a variety of reasons, whether it’s the environment around you, imbalances inside of your skin, the fact that as you age your skin has a harder time holding on to moisture, and many more. The truth of the matter is that your skin needs moisture in order to function properly and well-hydrated skin is healthy skin—not to mention looks better. All skin types can benefit from adding hydration. That, friends, is why hyaluronic acid deserves a prominent place in your routine.

Whether you’re looking to plump and smooths some fine lines and wrinkles (a welcome side effect to well-hydrated skin), quench and soothe dry skin, or just want your complexion to look the best it can, adding in a hyaluronic acid serum could be your answer. There, of course, are a ton out there. So we took the liberty of testing as many as we could possibly find to bring you this list of the absolute best.

Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum

Can hyaluronic acid serums have a cult following? Ask anyone who uses this one and they’ll say yes. It’s one of the most beloved serums, not just because it’s inexpensive, but because it really does work. And it’s recently been upgraded to work even better. It now contains five different forms of hyaluronic acid, of varying molecular sizes, which sink into different layers of your skin for deeper hydration. The new formula, along with the Vitamin B5, also contains ceramides which work to fortify your skin’s lipid barrier and keep moisture locked inside. It’s all packed in a smooth, crystal clear formula that sinks into your skin immediately without a hint of residue.

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum

This smooth, watery serum is another cult favorite, albeit on the opposite side of the price spectrum. It’s one of the original products in Dr. Barbara’s Sturms coveted line and remains one of the best sellers to this day despite the hefty price tag. Packed with multiple molecular sizes of hyaluronic acid that penetrate different layers of skin for deep hydration, the formula also features purslane, a powerful antioxidant mixture that can help curb irritation and soothe redness. Not to mention that the elegant texture feels just feels incredible when you’re applying it to your face.

Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier

In general, hyaluronic acid can have a plumping effect to skin because it’s loading it up with hydration, which temporarily can improve the look of fine lines and wrinkles. It won’t last forever though, and won’t do much to reverse signs of aging in the long run, which is why this formula contains proxylane, which helps to improve firmness of the skin. There’s also licorice root extract and purple rice extract, both of which act as antioxidants and help to keep the hyaluronic acid levels in your skin high.

HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator

Named HA5 for a reason, this heavy duty serum (think of it more as a lotion-serum hybrid) contains five forms of hyaluronic acid for extra deep hydration. There’s also a peptide complex to help strengthen skin and reduce signs of aging and Vitamin E, an antioxidant that helps reduce damage from free radicals. What we love most about this formula, though, is that it’s lightweight and serum-like, but still thick enough that it can easily double as a moisturizer if you’re so inclined.

Hyalu B5 Pure Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum

This straightforward, oil-free serum contains two forms of hyaluronic acid and Vitamin B5, which over time helps to lighten dark spots and even skin tone. It also contains the brand’s proprietary thermal spring water, which has proven antioxidant properties and helps to soothe, making this one great for people with sensitive skin. It’s a no-fuss formula that actually works.

BOOST Hyaluronic Acid Booster with Ceramides

Cleverly called a booster, think of this concentrated serum the same way you’d add a booster to your favorite smoothie - a little something extra that makes the overall recipe more powerful. You can use this as a standalone serum or add a few drops to your moisturizer to increase its hydrating effects. It’s packed with a blend of hyaluronic acid, of course, but also ceramides which help strengthen skin and panthenol which helps lock the moisture inside your skin. It delivers an instant plumping effect that smooths the look of fine lines almost before your eyes.

Hyaluronic Marine Hydration Booster

The hyaluronic acid and antioxidant combination in this serum is potent and provides deep hydration as well as increased skin strength and protection. It’s so potent, in fact, that the hydration effects plump up skin almost immediately and smooth the look of fine lines and sagging skin quickly, making this an ideal serum for those worried about signs of aging. We tend to just smooth it all over our faces, but it technically can also be used as a spot treatment by just applying it to dry patches.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Face with Vitamin B5 and Ceramides

Not only does this serum have a super high concentration of hyaluronic acid, but in the mix you’ll also find soothing Vitamin B5 and three ceramides that help to repair and strengthen the skin barrier and keep the hydration locked in where it belongs. Like everything from CeraVe it’s dermatologist tested to ensure it’s safe for all skin types, especially sensitive skin, making it ideal for those who tend to get irritated easily (plus, it’s fragrance-free - even better for sensitive skin). Best of all, it’s easily accessible at your local drug store.

Water Drench Hyaluronic Glow Serum

We dare you to find a serum with a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid than this one. Packed into this rich, milky serum is a whopping 75 percent hyaluronic acid plus something called Hydrafence which helps to seal in moisture and provide up to 120 hours of enhanced hydration (according to the brand) as well as a ceramide complex. We can’t absolutely confirm that claim (we didn’t count the hours), but we can say that one application of this serum made our skin look and feel hydrated all day long.

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Close your eyes and you’d think this serum costs easily ten times the price. This lightweight non-greasy serum instantly sinks into skin to deliver 2% multi-molecular hyaluronic acid, meaning it’s able to penetrate deeper into skin layers. It also contains peptides, but not much more. This bare-bones simple hyaluronic acid serum is all about doing one thing - hydrating your skin - and it does it very, very well.

Mineral 89 Fortifying & Hydrating Daily Skin Booster

This ultra-hydrating oil-free serum is packed with hyaluronic acid, of course, but it also uses a base of the brand’s proprietary volcanic water that’s rich in minerals to help soothe skin and strengthen the skin’s protective barrier. What we like most about it, though, is the gel-like texture which sinks in quickly without residue, but also makes it easy to replace your moisturizer if you want (like in the warmer summer months).

Natural Wake Up Face Serum

This handy all-in-one serum has the requisite hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated, but it also contains 15% Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that not only helps protect skin from environmental and free radical damage, but can lighten the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone and more. Along with Vitamin E, these ingredients are basically all you need in a daily serum to keep your skin looking it’s best.

What To Look For In A Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Pretty much everyone can benefit from a hyaluronic acid serum, but when you’re looking through the many (many) options, there are a few things you should keep in mind.

Skin Type: Everyone’s skin is different, but considering your skin type is going to help narrow down which serums could be good for you. For instance, if you have very dry skin, you might want something that’s a bit thicker and creamier. On the flip side, if you have oily or combination skin, you’ll probably want to go for something lighter weight (often these are water-based). Sensitive skin or skin that’s prone to irritation may do better with simpler formulas with fewer ingredients and no fragrance.

Additional Ingredients: You’ll notice in the list above that nearly all the serums feature other ingredients beyond just hyaluronic acid. Most commonly, you’ll see Vitamin B5, which is a soothing ingredient that helps reduce inflammation, but also can power up the moisturization powers of hyaluronic acid when paired with it. You’ll also often find ceramides, which help to strengthen and maintain your skin’s protective barrier, which is not only generally good for your skin, but helps your skin retain moisture and prevents it from evaporating out (it’s a real thing called transepidermal water loss). All skin types can benefit from these ingredients, but depending on your skin type you may want to look for some or avoid others. If you have dark spots or uneven skin tone, for instance, you may want to consider a serum with Vitamin C, but if you have very sensitive skin, Vitamin C may irritate it. If you’re not sure what your skin needs, stick with a basic serum with hyaluronic acid and Vitamin B5 and see how it works for you.

Formula: The actual active ingredient, in this case hyaluronic acid, is usually only a small part of the overall formula. Skincare products use bases of alcohol, water, or oil that the ingredients are then added to to create the serum (or cream or whatever). What a serum uses as its base should factor into your choice. If you have dry skin, look for alcohol-free formulas, as alcohol can dry out skin. Oily skin? Avoid oil and pick a water-based formula.

Why Trust Us

We’re not going to say something is great unless it's actually great. Every product in Esquire’s round-ups is carefully curated by our grooming and e-commerce teams.

When it comes to skincare you can rest assured that we’re hand-selecting products that we’ve personally tested, tried, and loved. Our grooming editor Garrett Munce, along with the rest of the style team, has spent years slathering, smoothing, applying, wearing, and test driving hundreds (thousands!) of skincare products and we are confident that these are the best.

Every pick on this list (and our other lists) comes from these years of testing. We know that everyone’s skin is different, no two men are the same, and what works for you may not work for everyone else. But if you’re looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.

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