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Does Hyaluronic Acid Help to Fight Signs of Aging? Here are 5 Scientifically Proven Serums That Actually Work (And You've Never Heard Of!)

By: Dr. Kelly, MD Dermatology

May 28, 2024 (updated)

Is Hyaluronic Acid the secret to smooth skin as you age?

There’s no denying that hyaluronic acid is one of the most researched and scientifically proven ingredients to visibly reduce lines, sagging skin, and age spots...

In fact, multiple clinical studies have proven its ability to decrease the depth of your wrinkles by up to 40% in as soon as 8 weeks.

However, not all Hyaluronic Acid serums are created equal.

For example, should you use 3% or 5% Hyaluronic Acid? And what ingredient should it, or shouldn’t it be paired with? 

That's why, as a clinical dermatologist, I tested hundreds of products to help my patients effectively target:

  • Deep, noticeable wrinkles and fine lines
  • Loose, sagging skin
  • Dark spots
  • Dry, sensitive, or oily skin

And after 2 years, I finally identified the top 5 absolute best Hyaluronic Acid serums for aging skin.

Here's what surprised me. While some of these serums are from well-known brands, these aren't their heavily advertised, flagship products. In fact, you've probably never heard of some of these serums.

So if you’re ready to wake up with skin that’s smooth, plump, and looks up to 10 years younger — keep reading to discover these 5 “hidden gems” that can actually make a difference on your skin at age 50, 60, and 70.

“Doc, have you done something different?” 

My patient asked after not seeing each other for months. 

“Because your skin is looking great, no dark spots!”  But honestly, the spots were still there. They had just visibly faded after a few weeks of using Rejuvenate Face Serum.

When she pointed out how my dark spots seemingly disappeared, I remembered the first time I tried this serum. I was skeptical and didn’t believe it could make any difference. 

But fast forward 6 months later, and I absolutely love the texture of my skin. It’s soft like a baby. The lines on my forehead are less noticeable. And my marionette lines are smoother and plumped out too.

I liked it so much, that I started recommending Rejuvenate Face Serum to all my patients with mature skin. 

And their results were also remarkable.  

For example, I had a patient who was around her 60s. She had crow’s feet, and a bit of sagging on her jaw that was making her self-conscious. But after she tried Rejuvenate Face Serum, she was stunned.

Not only did it soften the wrinkles around her eyes, but her jaw also became firmer. She said she felt more confident and less reliant on makeup, which never happened before with other serums.

Because of this, Rejuvenate is the #1 hyaluronic acid serum I’d recommend to anyone with mature skin.

Wondering what makes it so effective against wrinkles and sagging? 

First, it contains very clean, high-quality ingredients. It has no cheap fillers or harsh synthetic ingredients that could irritate your skin. 

But what really makes it special is its unique ‘multi-weight formula’.

Serums with ordinary formulas often contain 1-size molecules that are too big to penetrate the skin. So they just get stuck on the surface. 

But, Rejuvenate’s ‘multi-weight formula’ uses hyaluronic acid molecules of different weights/sizes. It can reach every layer of your skin, down to the deepest one. 

The larger molecules work on the surface, instantly smoothing those fine lines and giving you that youthful glow.

Meanwhile, the smaller molecules penetrate deeper, like water soaking into dry soil, to plump up wrinkles from the inside out. 

This combination, along with other botanical ingredients like tremella mushroom, purslane, and aloe vera makes this hyaluronic acid serum one of the most effective for fighting aging, reducing wrinkles, and eliminating fine lines.

You'll be amazed by what these natural ingredients can do together. 

Tremella holds 500 times its weight in water, keeping your skin soft and elastic. 

Purslane acts like a shield against sun damage and pollution, the #1 cause of accelerated aging. 

And, aloe vera contains vitamins that soothe and nourish your skin — making Rejuvenate perfect even for the most sensitive skin, as it’s all-natural. I have sensitive skin that’s prone to cystic zits, but Rejuvenate was gentle and didn’t break me out at all.

As a bonus, Rejuvenate is super easy to use. It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly, and doesn’t feel greasy or sticky – making it perfect under moisturizer or makeup. 

Therefore, among the serums that I’ve listed, I found Rejuvenate the best for mature skin.

It’s a favorite among my patients in their 50s, 60s, and 70s for its ability to smooth out wrinkles, by targeting the deepest layer of your skin.

So if your main concern is looking visibly younger – then you should give Rejuvenate a try.

Check Out Rejuvenate by inBlair

Clinique Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Serum is a well-loved product due to its 3-part approach in targeting signs of aging, namely: repair, resurface, and replump. This potent serum is formulated to tackle dry fine lines and wrinkles.

Similar to Inblair’s Rejuvenate, when I first used Clinique Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Serum, it gave my skin quick results. It left my skin feeling soft, supple, and thoroughly hydrated. Plus, it glides on my skin like butter, and absorbs within a minute – creating a smooth texture beneath other products and makeup.

This serum boasts an impressive blend of active ingredients including sodium hyaluronate, which is a more stable version of hyaluronic acid. It’s formulated to absorb better into the skin and plump out fine, dry lines.

This formula also contains advanced retinoid that accelerates the skin’s natural cell renewal. This way, the skin can experience a “resurfacing” effect and minimize the depth of wrinkles. 

A different retinoid I used in the past was too aggressive, causing irritation and peeling. But, not this one. Even though it has more retinoid in it, I experienced no redness or itching. However, if you have sensitive skin, do a patch test first to see how your skin reacts.  

Whilst smoothing, the retinoid in the Clinique Smart Clinical Repair serum can make your skin more prone to sun damage. So make sure to use at least an SPF 30 broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, even in dull weather, or else you’ll get dark spots and sun damage. 

This serum also contains a CL1870 Peptide Complex to naturally boost collagen, and hyaluronic acid to balance the effects of the retinoid and hydrate the skin.

I love how it’s free of fragrance, drying alcohol, and other harmful chemicals – making it gentle for most skin types. Overall, I have noticed a subtle change in my facial lines, so I can say it’s better than most serums.

While its hyaluronic acid isn’t multi-weighted like Inblair’s Rejuvenate Face Serum, which offers deep skin penetration and hydration; I love how Clinique’s serum contains advanced retinoid and peptides to renew the appearance of the skin. For this reason, Clinique Smart Clinical Repair™ Wrinkle Correcting Serum is my second favorite on this list.

Check Out Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Serum

SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan is a “corrective serum” that aims to increase your skin’s hyaluronic acid levels by up to 30%. This serum promises to hydrate skin, fill in fine lines, and give you a more sculpted appearance.

When I first tried this serum, my skin felt moist and dewy. This could be because SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan contains 1.3% pure hyaluronic acid.  On top of this, it also aims to boost your skin’s glycans, such as hyaluronic acid, which are naturally occurring compounds that hydrate your skin.

It does this using ingredients such as proxylane, post-biotic ferment extract, licorice root extract, and purple rice extract – all working together to slow the breakdown of hyaluronic acid in your skin and boost glycan levels.

I felt that SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan has a thick texture, keeping my skin well-hydrated even in an air-conditioned room. But this does mean it takes a bit longer to absorb. So make sure to wait a few minutes before applying other products or make-up, or it might lead to pilling.                                                             

I’m definitely careful about what I put on my face because of my sensitive skin, so I really appreciated this serum’s paraben-free and dye-free formulation. However, it does contain some alcohol which can be drying and irritating for some people.  So again, do a patch test first to see how your skin tolerates it. 

While it doesn’t quite reach the top spots compared to Inblair’s Rejuvenate Face Serum or Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Serum, the SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan delivers that hydration and glow we expect from a  Hyaluronic Acid serum.

Check Out SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier Multi-Glycan

For those seeking a budget-friendly option, Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum is an excellent choice. It’s a favorite among my younger patients as it’s formulated with three deeply hydrating ingredients. If your main concern is extremely dry skin, then this might be the one for you. 

This serum makes use of hyaluronic acid to hold water within the skin’s surface, giving your thirsty skin a big “drink.” It also uses an ingredient called “trehalose” which acts like a water magnet, and glycerin for more long-lasting hydration. 

Additionally, it has pro-vitamin B9 to support your skin barrier and protect it from pollution and UV rays. Which in turn, keeps your skin looking supple, firmer, and refreshed.

With this serum, a little goes a long way. I love how I only needed a few drops of Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum to hydrate my whole face. I also felt that it produced a bit of “glow” to my skin.  However, it can be a little sticky, so make sure to wait a few minutes before applying other products or makeup.

Furthermore, it’s fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comedogenic – which means it can be suitable for most skin types. However, I do prefer more natural products, and it’s worth noting that this serum contains Chlorphenesin, which is a synthetic preservative.  

Although it isn’t as effective as other serums listed, Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Serum is a solid option for those looking to incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into their routine without breaking the bank.

Check Out Neutrogena® Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum focuses on intense hydration that lasts up to 48 hours. 

This serum is formulated with hyaluronic acid that gives skin a natural plumpness, supported by glycerin that provides long-lasting hydration. 

It also contains vitamins like tocopherol (Vitamin E) and niacinamide (vitamin B3) to protect the skin from free radical damage, and panthenol (pro-vitamin B5) to soothe the skin and help retain moisture.

I personally found it very hydrating. I tested if my face would stay moisturized for 48 hours, and it didn’t disappoint. 

But, it’s not as lightweight as other serums. It feels and looks more like a light moisturizer than a serum because of its creamy texture. Because of this, it left a slight tacky residue, especially on my oily forehead. 

This didn’t affect the look of my makeup, though. My skin never looked dry, cakey, or flakey when layering this serum under my foundation.

It’s formulated to be fragrance-free, paraben-free, and hypoallergenic, which helps make it suitable for most skin types, especially sensitive skin. However, despite being fragrance-free, some users report a strong or noticeable scent, which could just be the scent of natural ingredients such as sunflower or shea oil.  

Cetaphil is a well-known skincare brand that prides itself on its gentle formulations designed for sensitive skin, and the Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum is no exception. With its focus on long-lasting skin hydration, it’s a great addition to any anti-aging skincare routine. 

While I like using this product, I do feel there are better options out there. That’s why Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum ranks after the others.

Check Out Cetaphil Deep Hydration 48-Hour Activation Serum
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