If your skin is dry or dehydrated on top of being sensitive, then it can feel even more frustrating to find a balance of ingredients that will add ample moisture without suffocating the skin. But the right serum can help, especially if you choose wisely. Plenty of formulas out there contain just enough of an active ingredient to make a difference to the skin’s moisture levels without sending sensitive complexions into an irritated frenzy. We’ve done some digging and pulled out the best hydrating serums for sensitive skin.
La Roche-Posay HyaluB5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
With mighty moisturizer hyaluronic acid and repairing vitamin B5, this product leaves users with plump and smooth skin, sans irritation.
Eau Thermale Avène Hydrance Intense Serum
This serum is as thirst-quenching for your skin as reuniting with your water bottle after a HIIT workout. The calming formula restores the skin’s barrier and softens, without weighing your face down with product.
MV Organic Skincare Daily Skin Soother Booster
This is an all-in-one, first-aid kit–worthy remedy for sensitive and dry skin. The skin-saving formula is brimming with organic ingredients like calendula and chamomile oils meant to nourish, reduce inflammation, and calm redness, all at the same time.
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum
This option proves that lightweight formulas can still deliver intense moisture. Once you feel how refreshed your skin is after using Caudalie’s serum, you’ll count down the minutes until you can reapply it.
REN Clean Skincare Evercalm Anti-Redness Serum
Whether you’re having milk and cookies or a hot chocolate, milk is an instant comforter and works similarly in this serum. Milk proteins reduce flaky skin, while the rest of the moisturizing formula tackles redness and inflammation.
Odacité Ca+C Sensitive Skin Serum Concentrate
Camelina and chamomile oils team up in this serum to reduce inflammation and redness while healing the skin. They also work together to create a relaxing scent that will calm you down when your skin is overreacting.
Hylamide Sensitive Fix Booster
Consider this your version of taking a chill pill; it’s just what your sensitive skin has been looking for to help with irritation. It contains plant extracts meant to reset the skin’s pH level to help ward off sensitivity.
Simple Water Boost Hydrating Booster
There’s a reason Simple is a brand known for its expertise in dealing with sensitive skin, and this booster offers irrefutable proof as to why. When applied before your moisturizer, the Pentavitin in this formula promises to stop moisture from escaping from the skin.
Pixi Hydrating Milky Serum
Pixi’s rose-infused serum contains softening aloe vera and moisture-boosting glycerin in its delicate formula, a must for dehydrated skin that’s anxiously awaiting a glow.
Murad Sensitive Skin Smoothing Serum
Tight skin is nearly as uncomfortable as the classic fingernails-on-the-chalkboard scenario. Fortunately, Murad has a solution in this calming serum that locks in moisture and dials back the redness that often goes hand-in-hand with sensitive skin.
Before you even think about giving up on your skin, try one of these multi-tasking serums to make your routine more effective.
Rose MD Calming Hydration Booster Serum
Developed by NYC dermatologist Rose Ingleton, this formula was made with sensitive skin types in mind. It’s packed with nourishing (non-irritating) ingredients like hyaluronic acid, sea whip extract, and green tea extract, perfect for fussy skin. Better yet, it’s fragrance-free, ideal if your skin is reactive.
Embryolisse Hydra-Serum
Editors and experts rave about Embryolisse’s moisturizer, and this serum is equally good. It’s made with white water lily and hyaluronic acid, providing long-lasting hydration to the thirstiest skin.
Paula’s Choice Repairing Serum
Paula’s Choice formulated this serum with hyaluronic acid to calm and hydrate, but ceramides and licorice root extract help make sure moisture gets deep into your skin for long-term results.
EltaMD Skin Recovery Serum
This serum is not only great for daily hydration, but dermatologists recommend having it in your arsenal if your skin experiences irritation from sunburns or even chemical peels.
Tata Harper Superkind Bio-Barrier Serum
Consider this a holy grail for hydration (and irritation). It’s packed with naturally-derived actives like plant ceramides, pomegranate sterols. calendula buds, and shea butter to protect, soothe, and plump simultaneously. It’s also hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, and vegan, a huge plus if your skin is reactive.