Hyaluronic Acid seems to be in just about every skincare product these days, and for good reason. Our bodies naturally produce it, but as we age it naturally depletes. By some estimates production is reduced up to 50% by middle-age, which can lead to unwanted and sometimes unsightly:
Hyaluronic acid has a unique ability to attract and retain 1,000x its weight in water and help draw in moisture from the atmosphere. Plus, it has been shown to help fight unwanted signs of aging, reduce moisture loss, and fortify the skin barrier.
But with so many options it’s hard to choose, not to mention the cost! And the only thing more exhausting than trying each product are the ridiculous claims brands make about them.
Like many things in life there are a few easy, key points of differentiation that help separate the disappointments from the true skincare heroes.
Having tested hundreds of products between us we feel comfortable saying we are skincare enthusiasts on the border of obsession. So we put 5 clinically tested serums to the test. While we love the proud visibility of their results on their products pages we had to take a deeper dive.
Hands down the favorite serum. Not only are the results clinical, but they’re tangible too. Renew is a professional multitasker using three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid that are combined with gentle exfoliators and other skin loving botanicals like Ferulic Acid and Kakadu Plum.
Naked & Thriving went from a somewhat lesser known skincare enthusiast favorite to routine must-have primarily because of their Renew Serum and the dermatologists that love it.
Not only does it provide skin with a burst of hydration, but it leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. It is a serum that will make you want to touch your face repeatedly even though you shouldn’t (dirt!) and make you want to do a double take in the mirror as you walk by, which you definitely should.
We loved the silky-smooth texture of the serum that quickly absorbs into skin and does not leave a tacky feeling, but we loved the results the next day and long term even more! This is an exceptional serum with organic ingredients and exquisite results.
Hands down the favorite serum. Not only are the results clinical, but they’re tangible too. Renew is a professional multitasker using three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid that are combined with gentle exfoliators and other skin loving botanicals like Ferulic Acid and Kakadu Plum.
Naked & Thriving went from a somewhat lesser known skincare enthusiast favorite to routine must-have primarily because of their Renew Serum and the dermatologists that love it.
Not only does it provide skin with a burst of hydration, but it leaves skin feeling soft and smooth. It is a serum that will make you want to touch your face repeatedly even though you shouldn’t (dirt!) and make you want to do a double take in the mirror as you walk by, which you definitely should.
We loved the silky-smooth texture of the serum that quickly absorbs into skin and does not leave a tacky feeling, but we loved the results the next day and long term even more! This is an exceptional serum with organic ingredients and exquisite results.
Clinique’s opaque serum is slightly more gel-like than some of the others on this list, possibly putting it somewhere between a serum and a cream.
The serum is slightly heavier and more expensive than our first pick. It might be slightly harder to rub in, but it does absorb nicely enough into skin.
Clinique combines hyaluronic acid with peptides and advanced retinoid, which they say is “the next generation of retinol.” Retinol can be irritating so some people choose to avoid it.
For results, we can’t say we saw better results than the first on our list and the experience, in our opinion, was not as lovely.
Clinique’s opaque serum is slightly more gel-like than some of the others on this list, possibly putting it somewhere between a serum and a cream.
The serum is slightly heavier and more expensive than our first pick. It might be slightly harder to rub in, but it does absorb nicely enough into skin.
Clinique combines hyaluronic acid with peptides and advanced retinoid, which they say is “the next generation of retinol.” Retinol can be irritating so some people choose to avoid it.
For results, we can’t say we saw better results than the first on our list and the experience, in our opinion, was not as lovely.
Why put “Consumer Results” instead of clinical results? It was not as clearly stated on the website as some of the other brands, however, they do state clinical testing in some of their disclosure copy. Similar to Clinique (also owned by Estée Lauder) Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex combines hyaluronic acid with peptides.
In all honesty we had a bit of a hard time placing the scent. It seems almost fermented in a way that most of the others we tried did not, even though it says it’s free of synthetic fragrance.
This serum took a bit longer to absorb and left a bit of a feeling on the skin as though you knew it was there.
At $88 for 1.0 oz. it was a bit on the pricier side of the serums and while some of the clinical results were impressive it was a mixed bag for us.
Why put “Consumer Results” instead of clinical results? It was not as clearly stated on the website as some of the other brands, however, they do state clinical testing in some of their disclosure copy. Similar to Clinique (also owned by Estée Lauder) Advanced Night Repair Serum Synchronized Multi-Recovery Complex combines hyaluronic acid with peptides.
In all honesty we had a bit of a hard time placing the scent. It seems almost fermented in a way that most of the others we tried did not, even though it says it’s free of synthetic fragrance.
This serum took a bit longer to absorb and left a bit of a feeling on the skin as though you knew it was there.
At $88 for 1.0 oz. it was a bit on the pricier side of the serums and while some of the clinical results were impressive it was a mixed bag for us.
Transparently it took a little while to determine if the results were clinical or not as we could not find the verbiage easily on their website. Granted, since they are owned by manufacturing giant, L’Oréal, we ventured a bet they were clinical, and eventually found them.
That said, Lancôme has a nice silky-milky texture with a quite floral scent. It absorbs into the skin relatively quickly leaving almost nothing at all.
This serum comes in as one of the highest at $88 for 1.0 oz and combines hyaluronic acid with bifidus prebiotic, which they state “helps provide a favorable environment for good bacteria that is present on the skin’s surface.”
While we are not sure what a favorable environment means, we can say it left skin smelling floral and feeling smooth.
Transparently it took a little while to determine if the results were clinical or not as we could not find the verbiage easily on their website. Granted, since they are owned by manufacturing giant, L’Oréal, we ventured a bet they were clinical, and eventually found them.
That said, Lancôme has a nice silky-milky texture with a quite floral scent. It absorbs into the skin relatively quickly leaving almost nothing at all.
This serum comes in as one of the highest at $88 for 1.0 oz and combines hyaluronic acid with bifidus prebiotic, which they state “helps provide a favorable environment for good bacteria that is present on the skin’s surface.”
While we are not sure what a favorable environment means, we can say it left skin smelling floral and feeling smooth.
Looking for a bargain? Well, then you’re probably familiar with the brand, The Ordinary. This brand known for its value combines multiple weight hyaluronic acid with pro-vitamin B5.
Unlike the other brands we tested they did not state percentages from their clinical study.
We can best describe the scent as reminiscent of buttered popcorn. It left the skin feeling relatively smooth and medium-tacky as compared to the others.
All-in-all this is a cheaper option that has been clinically tested according to their website.
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Looking for a bargain? Well, then you’re probably familiar with the brand, The Ordinary. This brand known for its value combines multiple weight hyaluronic acid with pro-vitamin B5.
Unlike the other brands we tested they did not state percentages from their clinical study.
We can best describe the scent as reminiscent of buttered popcorn. It left the skin feeling relatively smooth and medium-tacky as compared to the others.
All-in-all this is a cheaper option that has been clinically tested according to their website.
