If you haven’t heard of hyaluronic acid in terms of skincare, I’d think you’ve been living under a bush. For us skincare junkies, it’s the key ingredient to plump and hydrate the skin from within. I’ve had it incorporated into my skincare routine in some fashion for many, many years and it’s an ingredient I know my skin would miss instantly if it disappeared from my line up! Regardless of your skin type, hyaluronic acid will be a welcome addition to your skincare routine.

Over the past few months, I’ve tried three hyaluronic acid serums which cover three different budgets but firstly what’s the lowdown on HA?

Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule which occurs naturally in the skin and which retains water, keeping our skin hydrated and plumped. It binds Collagen to water and can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water which means the more of it the better for our skin. Like Collagen, the amount of and ability to produce natural hyaluronic acid in our skin depletes as we age so it’s even more important that we incorporate good synthetic HA products into our skincare routine to prevent dryness and the dreaded wrinkles.

Such products bring moisture to the skin’s surface because of HA’s ability to draw out water meaning the skin appears noticeably more plumped and firmer. Applying a good HA product topically to the skin boosts the skin’s moisture content generally, leaving a dewy healthy glow after use. It also has the ability to act like a sponge, attracting moisture from within both the skin and externally in the air around you. Very clever.

It works well with most other key ingredients in skincare and can be paired alongside peels, other vitamins and acids as well as retinols.

This is one of the few skincare ingredients that I use both morning and night. I typically have normal skin which can suffer from dryness from time to time (poor lifestyle choices are usually to blame..). Using HA helps keep my skin feeling plumped and hydrated which is my key goal in terms of skincare. If I stop using it for any length of time, I can feel my skin crave it. It’s obviously doing something right.

There are numerous HA products on the market, and whilst I hate to say it, generally you tend to get what you pay for. A general rule of thumb is, the smaller the HA molecule, the deeper it can penetrate the skin which means better results and unfortunately the more expensive it tends to be.

If you’re on a budget, one of the absolute best HA serums that I’ve come across is the Hyaluronic Acid Serum from The Inkey List which costs a cracking £5.99 for 30ml! It’s a lightweight, non sticky formulation which contains 2% hyaluronic acid and moisturises the skin without making it feel greasy. This sinks into my skin so quickly, so it’s great for morning use when you’re in a rush. My skin is always left feeling comfortable after use too.

Sticking in the affordable, but more mid range price point, the Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Vitamin C from Dermaworks* is another really lovely option. It usually costs £14.95 for 30ml of product but is currently on sale on their website at £11.95. It too, is non sticky or greasy on application. I love that it comes with a pipette dispenser to drop 3-4 drops onto my clean skin morning and evening. It sinks in quickly (but not as quickly as The Inkey List version) and feels really hydrating on the skin. I particularly like that this serum is 100% natural as well as packed with vitamins C and E to give you a little more oomph for your money.

The most expensive option and probably my favourite of the bunch (of course it is) is the Hyaluronic 8 Serum from Alpha H*. At £38 for just 25ml of product it’s certainly more pricey, but the benefits for me are more noticeable. Dubbed an alternative to dermal fillers, this super lightweight serum, intensely hydrates the skin whilst noticeably plumping and firming the skin’s surface. It includes 8 multi-weighted forms of hyaluronic acid that truly help transform the skin’s radiance and elasticity by penetrating the deep layers of the skin. Thankfully I’m doing quite well on the lines front but I can notice a few fine lines round my eyes and this product noticeably plumps them out for me.

Do you use HA in your skincare routine? What are your favourite products? Tell me in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Lynsey xox

*products marked, have been gifted to me for review. I am not obligated to post about these products and as always, opinions remain 100% my own.