Derms Say This $34 Drugstore Serum Will Make Your Moisturizer Twice as Hydrating
The best skin-care routine is one that helps you prevent the issues you know you're prone to, keeping your skin in perfect homeostasis. Although that's not always possible, when you have a product lineup that truly works for you, you can get pretty close. If dry skin is a concern for you, you want to make sure your routine is as hydrating and moisturizing as possible. To get the most out of whatever moisturizer you're using, Ivy Lee, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Pasadena, California, recommends pairing it with the moisture-loving La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum ($34).
"The Hyalu serum is at a great price point and incredibly moisturizing," says Dr. Lee. "I just preface it that it feels a little bit like snot, so you just have to be expecting that. Otherwise, it's very tolerable, super lightweight." This sticky texture provides the perfect base for your face cream "Just like you think about layering your clothes, you're going to want to think about layering your moisturizer," says Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Connecticut.
The main ingredient in this serum is hyaluronic acid, which is a water magnet, explains Christine Choi Kim, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles. "Hyaluronic acid is a natural sugar molecule that is found in our skin, joints, and connective tissues to provide hydration, lubrication, and stability." HA pulls in hydration from your environment and locks it into your skin. So if you apply Hyalu before your moisturizer, it will help you hold on to that moisture.
- Christine Choi Kim, MD, board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles
- Ivy Lee, MD, board-certified dermatologist
- Mona Gohara, MD, board-certified dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale University
- Shirley Chi, MD, board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical and cosmetic dermatology
The Hyalu serum also contains vitamin B5, which helps to repair your skin's moisture barrier to help it retain hydration. Like all of La Roche Posay's products, this serum is also made with the brand's signature thermal spring water. "The thermal water has a special mix of naturally occurring trace elements in it, like selenium, in a specific composition that when you apply them to your skin, they promote a healthy microbiome, which is the flora of your skin that's naturally there," says Shirley Chi, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Los Angeles.
Altogether, these ingredients work to soothe, strengthen, and hydrate your skin while making your moisturizer work better. To get next-level hydration, wash your face and apply Hyalu before you shower. Then while you're in there, your skin will be able to soak up the steam from your shower, and when you step out all you have to do is lock it in with your moisturizer.
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