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6 Best Hydrating Serums That’ll Quench Your Skin’s Thirst

Morgan Donahue DefaultMorgan Donahue Default
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Published on Jul 16, 2025 • 3 min read
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Glowy, juicy, plump skin—we all want it, but how do we actually get it? (Besides chugging water like it’s your full-time job.) Enter: hydrating serums. Sure, face masks, mists, and moisturizers should have their place in your routine, but when it comes to seriously boosting your skin’s moisture levels, serums are your MVPs.

And we get it—figuring out what’s actually worth your money can feel overwhelming. So we did the work for you and rounded up our favorite hydrating serums that deliver major moisture. Whether you’re dealing with dry patches, dullness, or just chasing that fresh-from-a-facial glow, these picks are packed with skin-loving ingredients your face will drink right up.

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Best Hydrating Serums

1. Best Drugstore Hydrating Serum

E.L.F. SKIN Thirst Burst Drops

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We are lifelong E.L.F. stans, and this serum proves (yet again) why the brand is the goat of affordable skincare. Lightweight and silky with a gel-serum texture, it layers effortlessly under foundation or tinted moisturizer for a fresh, dewy finish. One Ipster raves, “My skin doesn’t look oily or greasy after applying—just glowy, dewy, and healthy!”

2. Best Glow-Boosting, Hydrating Serum

KIRAMOON Flowermelon Serum

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Don’t let the cute pink packaging fool you—this serum is serious about hydration. Packed with aloe vera, bio-compatible hyaluronic acid, and juicy fruit extracts, it sinks in after a slightly tacky moment and leaves your skin looking bouncy and plump. One Ipster writes, “The first day I used it, I got so many compliments on my skin! I was told I’m glowing and my skin looks beautiful.” A compliment magnet and a hydration hero? Add to cart.

3. Best Day-to-Night Hydrating Serum

TULA SKINCARE 24-7 Ultra Hydration Triple-Hydra™ Complex Day & Night Serum

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Need a one-and-done serum for your morning and nighttime routines? This is our pick. With three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, and moisture-boosting squalane pearls that burst on contact, it delivers next-level hydration and a smoothing, plumping effect you’ll instantly see and feel. One reviewer shares, “My skin is smoother, more moisturized, and looks way less dull. 10/10, can’t live without.” 

4. Best Hydrating Serum for Sensitive Skin

LANEIGE Water Bank Serum

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LANEIGE doesn’t just save your lips—they deliver glass skin in a bottle, too. This Korean cult fave is powered by blue hyaluronic acid fermented with deep-sea algae and filtered through 10 micro-steps to create a serum that feels cool, calming, and ultra-hydrating. Trust us, you’ll notice a difference from the first application. Prepare for your softest skin ever.

5. Best Clean-Beauty Hydrating Serum

BYROE Hydrangea Tea Intensive Hydration Serum

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Clean beauty, but make it luxurious. This skin-plumping serum is infused with hydrangea tea, lavender, and blue agave leaf to soothe, smooth, and lock in hydration. The best part? BYROE’s signature Hydra Capsules (a blend of water and four nourishing oils) burst on contact to drench your skin in moisture. The pretty blue color and gorgeous packaging are just a bonus. 

6. Best Splurge-Worthy Hydrating Serum

MZ SKIN Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Serum

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If your skin’s been feeling parched, this next-level anti-aging serum might be the miracle it’s been waiting for. With five (yes, five!) types of hyaluronic acid, it hydrates deeply, smooths texture, and strengthens your barrier—all while leaving you with a dewy, lit-from-within glow. Reviewers claim this luxe formula is well worth the splurge with one Ipster claiming, “It made my dehydrated, dull skin come to life already with one use. I am honestly amazed.”

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UP NEXT: Hydration vs. Moisture: The Ultimate Skincare Battle Explained

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