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CeraVe

Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Serums

About this product

A lightweight serum combining hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and panthenol to hydrate and support the skin barrier.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

66%

Mixed

11 experts · Strong agreement
11Gurus
8Yay
0Mixed
3Nay

What they liked

  • Fragrance-free and non-comedogenic
  • Affordable for sensitive skin
  • Works well on lips under occlusive

What they flagged

  • Texture comes out gel-like, not serum-like
  • Needs a moisturizer on top to work
  • Less hydrating than competing serums

What the gurus are saying

The texture divides experts sharply: some find it applies like a thin, easily-absorbed serum perfect for layering, while others say it comes out thick and gel-like, almost more like a lightweight lotion than a traditional serum. Those with sensitive skin praise the fragrance-free formula and ceramide content for calming irritation, and several use it layered under moisturizers or on lips for lasting hydration; the ingredients are solid for the price. However, some dermatologists feel the hydrating punch doesn't match what competing serums deliver, and a few dislike the textural experience enough that they'd skip it entirely.
Synthesized from 11 expert reviews · most recent take May 2026

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Nay
"No. I mean, the Korean skincare market has some phenomenal water creams, which I absolutely love, that are cruelty-free and offer more calming and soothing benefits than this."
~Yay
"I personally didn't experience a lick of peeling with this, which I appreciate because a lot of times when you see the word gel, that's one that can ball up on you. Not this one at all. And the other thing about this is that it worked really well for me around the eyelid skin. I tolerated it. You know, eyelid skin is more delicate, but you get ingredients in there that plump, that hydrate, and will diminish the appearance of little dry dehydration wrinkles around the eyes. It gives hydration, a little bit of plumping, and it's great overall in that regard without being greasy or running into your eyes. The ingredients have ceramides, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, the salt of hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, phytosphingosine, those barrier lipids that we all are seeking in a product that addresses the barrier like a moisturizer. Glycerin is super hydrating and works really well to moisturize the skin and offer long-standing moisture retention."
All 6 takes from Dr Dray
Skincare Dupes At CVS Drugstore
"This is not like one of my favorite CeraVe products, it's okay. I remember thinking it was a little filmy but it's not horrible. It has ceramides and panthenol."
How To Get Hydrated Lips FAST | Dermatologist Tips
"I have been using the CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum and it works really well on the lips. You can follow it up with just plain petroleum jelly or your ointment of choice or your lip sleep mask and it really locks in that hydration. You really see a very nice plumping, smoothing effect and it affords long-lasting hydration. [...] The lips stay moisturized because they've got that protective layer from the ointment to reduce water loss plus you have helped with water retention with that hyaluronic acid layer."
Clinique Saved Me | Skincare Vlog
"This is a hyaluronic acid serum from CeraVe. I've been putting a little drop of it on my lips, then rub the rest of it into my hands and come over it with the lip sweet mask."
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"The hydrating serum has ceramides and squalane, which are good for the moisture barrier. [...] The serum also has a compound from licorice root which is good for redness and dark spots."
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"I recently finished that CeraVe hyaluronic acid serum and I really enjoyed it. I was putting it on my lips, just a drop of it before Vaseline."
Dermatologist Reviews the NEW CeraVe Water Gel
"I personally didn't experience a lick of peeling with this, which I appreciate because a lot of times when you see the word gel, that's one that can ball up on you. Not this one at all. And the other thing about this is that it worked really well for me around the eyelid skin. I tolerated it. You know, eyelid skin is more delicate, but you get ingredients in there that plump, that hydrate, and will diminish the appearance of little dry dehydration wrinkles around the eyes. It gives hydration, a little bit of plumping, and it's great overall in that regard without being greasy or running into your eyes. The ingredients have ceramides, niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, the salt of hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, phytosphingosine, those barrier lipids that we all are seeking in a product that addresses the barrier like a moisturizer. Glycerin is super hydrating and works really well to moisturize the skin and offer long-standing moisture retention."
~Yay
"CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum is another great option. You are getting those same plumping, hydrating effects without paying for packaging and marketing."
~Nay
"I never hear anyone talk about it and I think there's probably a good reason why, it's just not that good. It is a simple hydrating serum, but it actually comes out more like a lotion. So to me, you have their range of moisturizers and some of their moisturizers like CeraVe PM or even their new lightweight gel moisturizer are actually very close in texture to this. I don't find this [...] to be very hydrating. I don't find that the experience is great. As a hyaluronic acid serum, there are a lot of other competitors in this space that I would prefer. [...] I find this one to be okay but not great. [...] Because of its modest benefits, aesthetics plays a huge role for me. I love a very cooling, refreshing hyaluronic acid serum. [...] This one is more of a gel lotion and it just doesn't have that."
~Yay
"For sensitive skin I recommend their serum. It's not really a moisturizer, it's more of a serum formulation, the Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum. This one has that MVE delivery technology again, it's fragrance free so it's not going to irritate your skin, and it's also non-comedogenic. It has ceramides and hyaluronic acid to help moisturize the skin barrier."
~Yay
"This is a more lightweight night cream than my usual night cream it's got peptides niacinamide glycerin hyaluronic acid"
~Nay
"I'd say their hyaluronic acid serum by CeraVe, not a winner. I've never been impressed by the texture on this. I mean, it just comes out looking a little sad there and look how it kind of peels up. Look, I can almost roll it into a ball. I mean, what's going on here? This is, I've never seen hyaluronic acid serum do that. It's usually like in a dropper bottle, but it's almost like dried up glue, Elmer's glue. Not feeling that texture at all."
All 3 takes from Dr. Daniel Sugai
The Ultimate CeraVe Anti-Aging Skincare Routine- Dermatologist Reviews
"I'd say their hyaluronic acid serum by CeraVe, not a winner. I've never been impressed by the texture on this. I mean, it just comes out looking a little sad there and look how it kind of peels up. Look, I can almost roll it into a ball. I mean, what's going on here? This is, I've never seen hyaluronic acid serum do that. It's usually like in a dropper bottle, but it's almost like dried up glue, Elmer's glue. Not feeling that texture at all."
Dermatologist Reviews: Affordable Drugstore Skincare Essentials
"I don't like their hyaluronic acid serum."
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"Hyaluronic acid serums, whether it's Vichy Minéral 89 or if you have The Ordinary or the Inkey List hyaluronic acid or even CeraVe, you want to apply that to damp skin. The reason behind that is that hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate, it's a sugar that's naturally found in our skin, and after age 25 we start losing the production, we start having less production of hyaluronic acid and less stores of hyaluronic acid, and so our skin becomes more dull, a little bit more crepey, dehydrated look to it, more wrinkles. So we want to add more hyaluronic acid to the skin. This one [...] only has 11 ingredients, so it's very good for those with sensitive skin or those with rosacea or crepey skin. This is a great option. You're getting that temporary plumping, and then you need to follow up with a moisturizer over it to seal it all in. If you just have your hyaluronic acid on your skin, yes, the sugar is soaking up all the moisture in your skin, but it's not going to retain it without an emollient."
~Yay
"Cave hydrating Serum with hyaluronic acid and ceramide"
All 2 takes from Dr. Aanchal MD
Everything you need to know about Hyaluronic acid | How to use | how to layer | Dermatologist
"The cerix hyaluronic acid"
How to get glowing skin | products to use | Dermatologist suggests
"Cave hydrating Serum with hyaluronic acid and ceramide"
~Yay
"It has great hydrating ingredients, ceramides which are great for reducing sensitivity, niacinamide, peptides. It just has so many different types of good ingredients all loaded into one formula, which, yes, is thirty nine dollars, definitely one of the more expensive products that I recommend on my channel, but definitely well worth the price. Honestly, if you're someone out there who just wants a good hydrating serum that will give you that splash of hydration that you need, the CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum for fifteen dollars is a good dupe to get you those results that you want without having to spend that price point."
~Yay
"I think it's a fantastic price point. For the price you're getting quite a bit. You're getting the hyaluronic acid, you're getting the three essential ceramides, you're also getting vitamin B5 in this as well. You've got sodium hyaluronate which is fantastic, panthenol which is quite high up, and then you got your three ceramides as well which is great. You got a kind of mild citric acid lower down as well so it just helps remove any dead skin at the same time. It's a nice formulation. It'll spread nicely, it's a nice texture, doesn't need any thickening agents, easily absorbed."
All 2 takes from Dr. Somji Skin
How to Slug your Face effectively | Reviewing Korean Skincare beauty Trend | Slugging Skincare
"The CeraVe hydrating hyaluronic yes I really like that that's quite nice and you know a lot of people like to use cereal range in slugging because obviously it's ceramide base and that's what you're basically doing yeah it's really allowing your skin to build more ceramides"
CeraVe Skincare | Complete Skincare Product Guide and Review By Dr. Somji
"I think it's a fantastic price point. For the price you're getting quite a bit. You're getting the hyaluronic acid, you're getting the three essential ceramides, you're also getting vitamin B5 in this as well. You've got sodium hyaluronate which is fantastic, panthenol which is quite high up, and then you got your three ceramides as well which is great. You got a kind of mild citric acid lower down as well so it just helps remove any dead skin at the same time. It's a nice formulation. It'll spread nicely, it's a nice texture, doesn't need any thickening agents, easily absorbed."
~Yay
"I use the CeraVe hydrating serum to lock in the mist after I apply my rose water and glycerin hydrating mist."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Ceramides

Ceramides are part of the skin's own barrier, and moisturisers built around them have evidence for holding water in and settling the tightness and flaking that come with a damaged barrier.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum?

A lightweight serum combining hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and panthenol to hydrate and support the skin barrier.

Is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum worth it?

The gurus are split. 8 of the 11 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 3 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 66%.

What is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum's Guru Score?

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum holds a Guru Score of 66%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 11 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum best for?

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum is generally suited to dry skin and sensitive skin.

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