I'm a Skin Expert, These Are My Top Recommended Hydrating Serums
I'm Jess and I work for Adore Beauty's Customer Experience team and have also studied Beauty Therapy. I spend my days talking about all things beauty and recommending products to our amazing customers. Some of the products you’ll see me frequently reaching for are my Alpha-H Midnight Reboot Serum, Virtue Healing Oil, and Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask (of course!)
Skin feeling dry or dehydrated? Add one of these to cart stat...
If your skin always seems to go downhill the minute winter arrives, you're not imagining it. One of the biggest changes I notice in my clients' skin during the cooler months is dehydration. Skin can suddenly feel tight, look dull, makeup doesn't sit quite as well, and your usual skincare routine just doesn't seem to be cutting it anymore. You can thank colder temperatures, lower humidity and heaters running around the clock for that.
The good news? You don't need to completely overhaul your winter skincare routine.
One of the simplest (and most effective) ways to give dehydrated skin the extra support it needs is by adding a hydrating serum into your routine.
These lightweight formulas are designed to boost skin hydration and help restore that plump, healthy-looking glow your complexion may be missing during the colder months.
While a good moisturiser is essential, it's often a hydrating serum that makes the biggest difference. Think of it as giving your skin a big drink of water before sealing everything in with something thicker.
And no, hydrating serums aren't just for dry skin.
Dehydration is a skin condition, not a skin type, which means anyone can experience dehydrated skin, whether your complexion is oily, combination, acne-prone or dry.
What I look for in a hydrating serum
What are the best ingredients for dry skin?
Not all hydrating serums are created equal. While hyaluronic acid is often the star ingredient (and for good reason), I also look for formulas that combine other humectants and skin-supporting ingredients like glycerin, panthenol and ceramides.
Together, they help attract and retain moisture while supporting a healthy skin barrier - which is exactly what your skin needs during winter.
So, with all of that in mind, let's get to the good part. If you've ever asked me for a hydrating serum recommendation at any given time, chances are one of these has come up in conversation.
My top hydrating serum picks:
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense, $115
Starting off strong, this serum has earned its place as one of my all-time favourites. If your skin is feeling dehydrated, dull or a little lacklustre, this is one of the first products I would recommend reaching for.
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense combines multi-weight hyaluronic acid with vitamin B5 to deliver hydration where your skin needs it most, helping to leave it feeling softer, looking plumper and noticeably more radiant. It's lightweight, layers beautifully under the rest of your skincare and is suitable for just about every skin type, making it a true all-rounder.
Why it stands out:
- It uses multi-weight hyaluronic acid, meaning different-sized molecules are able to hydrate multiple layers of the skin rather than only providing surface-level moisture.
- It supports hydration by working with your skin’s natural moisture system. The NMF Complex (Natural Moisturising Factors) helps bind and hold water within the skin, while vitamin B5 helps maintain moisture levels and supports a healthy skin barrier.
- It’s more than just a hydration serum. Alongside its moisturising ingredients, it contains Saskatoon Berry and Soy Extract to provide antioxidant protection and support the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid and collagen levels, helping skin look smoother and more plump over time.
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Intense reviews from Adore Beauty customers:
"This has honestly been a life saver. My face is so much smoother and comfortable. I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from dry skin."
"This is a lifesaver for irritated or dry skin. It soothed my redness almost instantly and is a must have in my winter routine."
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $15.90
Next up is a true skincare staple and one I often recommend for anyone wanting simple, effective hydration without the hefty price tag.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a lightweight serum designed to replenish moisture and support a healthier-looking complexion. Combining multiple forms of hyaluronic acid with vitamin B5, it helps hydrate the skin’s surface while improving the look of plumpness and smoothness. It’s a great entry point for anyone new to hydrating serums, but also a reliable option for skincare lovers who want to add a straightforward hydration boost into their routine.
Why it stands out:
- Five forms of hyaluronic acid deliver multi-layer hydration for plumper-looking skin.
- Ceramides strengthen the skin barrier and help prevent moisture loss.
- Vitamin B5 supports hydration retention and promotes a smoother complexion.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 reviews from Adore Beauty customers:
This is one of The Ordinary's most popular products for good reason! Multiple forms of hyaluronic acid provide multi-depth hydration whilst B5 enhances moisture retention. Plumps fine lines and gives skin that healthy, hydrated glow. Absorbs quickly and layers well with other products. A skincare staple.
My skin instantly felt more hydrated and bouncy, and with continued use it looks noticeably smoother and more radiant.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum, $75.96
This is one of those serums that has become a consistent recommendation of mine for a reason.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum is the kind of product I love suggesting when someone wants hydration but also needs something gentle and barrier-supportive.
It helps bring back that plump, healthy-looking glow while helping skin feel calmer and more balanced. If your complexion has been feeling tight, rough or like your usual products aren’t quite hitting the mark, this is a beautiful formula to bring it back on track.
Why it stands out:
- Four types of hyaluronic acid hydrate at different levels of the skin for a plumper, smoother-looking complexion.
- Vitamin B5 (panthenol) supports the skin barrier to help maintain moisture and improve skin resilience.
- Glycerin attracts and locks in hydration to keep skin looking fresh and radiant.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Suractivated Serum reviews from Adore Beauty customers:
This is a fabulous hydrating serum. Feels great in my sensitive skin and had a good percentage of ingredient to be really hydrating. One of my all time favourites.
Using this serum, I noticed my skin looked more even and felt smoother within days.
Esmi Skin Minerals Probiotic Skin Mylck - Original, $65
This is not your average hydrating serum; it’s hydration with a little something extra.
Esmi Skin Minerals Probiotic Skin Mylck is all about supporting the skin’s microbiome while giving your complexion the moisture boost it’s craving.
Packed with probiotics and nourishing ingredients, it helps create the ideal environment for healthy-looking skin, leaving your complexion feeling softer, smoother and more balanced. I especially love this one for those times when your skin seems to be throwing a little tantrum, whether that’s dryness, sensitivity or just looking a bit dull.
Why it stands out:
- Probiotic lysates help support the skin microbiome by balancing healthy bacteria and strengthening the skin barrier.
- Jojoba seed oil mimics the skin’s natural oils to hydrate, soften and help reduce the look of redness.
- Grape seed oil is rich in linoleic acid to reinforce the skin barrier and help lock in moisture.
Esmi Skin Minerals Probiotic Skin Mylck - Original review from Adore Beauty customer:
As someone with a damage skin barrier and topical dermatitis, I absolutely love this product! So gentle and soft on troublesome skin.
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Serum HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan, $175
This highly impressive serum takes a more advanced approach to hydration, helping your skin look plumper, smoother and more refreshed.
Unlike a basic moisture boost, this formula is designed to support the skin’s own hyaluronic acid levels while helping improve the look of firmness and fine lines. It’s the kind of serum I love for anyone who wants their skincare to work a little harder, delivering that instant dewy finish while supporting healthier-looking skin long term. A great hydrating serum for mature skin.
Why it stands out:
- SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Serum HA Intensifier Multi-GlycanHyaluronic acid helps boost the skin’s moisture levels for a plumper, smoother-looking complexion.
- Proxylane supports firmness and elasticity to help improve the appearance of skin texture.
- Licorice root and purple rice extracts help enhance radiance while supporting healthier-looking skin.
SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Serum HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan reviews from Adore Beauty customers:
My complexion has become noticeably more balanced since adding this to my routine. It helps refine uneven texture while leaving my skin feeling comfortable and calm after every application.
My skin gets dehydrated very easily, and this serum made such a noticeable difference. It feels lightweight but deeply hydrating at the same time. After using it regularly, my face looked plumper and smoother, especially around dry areas. Foundation also stopped clinging to flaky patches as much.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, $38
This is the one that always gets people curious... and once they try it, they usually understand the hype.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence is a unique hydration hero that uses snail mucin to help replenish moisture, support skin repair and bring back that healthy, glass-skin glow. While the ingredient may sound unusual, it’s actually packed with skin-loving compounds that help improve the look of texture, dullness and dehydration.
I love this one especially for skin that is sensitive or feels a little stressed out. It’s a beautiful example of how some of the most intriguing skincare ingredients can also be some of the most effective.
Why it stands out:
- Snail mucin is a cult Korean skincare ingredient known for its hydrating, soothing and skin-repairing properties.
- Formulated with 96% snail secretion filtrate, it helps replenish moisture and support a stronger, healthier-looking skin barrier.
- Despite its unique hero ingredient, the formula is lightweight and gentle, making it suitable for all skin types - including sensitive skin.
COSRX Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence reviews from Adore Beauty customers:
This leaves my skin feeling smoother and more hydrated with a soft glow. It absorbs in a way that feels almost weightless. Over time, my skin texture appears more refined and even.
Great product for sensitive rosacea prone skin.On my 3rd bottle.
And there you have it - my top hydrating serum recommendations to help your skin survive (and thrive!) through winter.
A well-formulated hydrating serum can be the missing step that helps your complexion feel more comfortable, look more radiant and better handle whatever the season throws at it. Now you just have to decide which one is making its way into your routine first!
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