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CeraVe

Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Serums

About this product

A lightweight hydrating serum containing hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane designed to boost skin hydration and support the moisture barrier.

Best for

Dry skinSensitive skin
Serums

The Guru Index verdict

64%

Mixed

~Mixed · 64%
5Reviewers
3Approved
0Mixed
2Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus split sharply on texture and performance. Critics fault its gel-lotion consistency, comparing it unfavorably to dedicated serums and noting it doesn't deliver the cooling, refreshing feel they want. Supporters praise the formula's ingredient profile (ceramides, hyaluronic acid, panthenol) and value at the price point, with particular enthusiasm for lip application layered under occlusive products. The recurring theme among fans is that it works best when sealed with a moisturizer or occlusive rather than worn alone.
Synthesized from 5 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

Hyaluronic acidCeramidesFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua/​Water/​Eau, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ceramide NP, Ceramide AP, Ceramide EOP, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium EDTA, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin

Every take, in full

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 Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Skip
"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."
Approved
"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."
All 4 takes from Dr Dray
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."
Skip
"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."
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"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."
Approved
"It has mass aside which is great for reducing sensitivity, niacinamide, peptides, like it just has so many different types of good ingredients all loaded into one formula. Yes, it's $39, definitely one of the more expensive products that I recommend on my channel, but definitely well worth the price. If you're someone who just wants a good hydrating serum that will give you that splash of hydration that you need, this is a great option."
Approved
"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."
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