Should I use hyaluronic acid in the morning or evening?

Both are good. Use it after cleansing and before your cream, and finish with sunscreen in the morning.

How often can I use hyaluronic acid?

Every day, preferably morning and evening. Hyaluronic acid is gentle enough for daily use, and consistent use is what keeps skin hydrated.

Can I use hyaluronic acid when pregnant or breastfeeding?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance the body produces naturally, and in creams and serums it is a gentle ingredient that many people use during pregnancy. If in doubt, ask your doctor or midwife, and see our guide to pregnancy and skincare .

Does skin need hyaluronic acid all year round?

Skin needs moisture all year round. Many people notice this need particularly when the weather changes and when cold, wind and indoor heating make their skin dry. Hyaluronic acid is an easy way to give skin extra moisture.

Can I use hyaluronic acid under makeup?

Yes. Let the serum and cream absorb for a couple of minutes before applying makeup. This leaves skin feeling soft and helps makeup glide on more easily.

Hyaluronic acid: what does it do for the skin?

Hyaluronic acid moisturises the skin and is suitable for all skin types. Here you’ll find answers to what it does, how to use it morning and evening, and which hyaluronic acid to choose.

By ECOOKINGRead by ECOOKING Quality & Development

Updated 2/11/20268 min readHudpleje

Hyaluronic acid is a moisture-binding substance that the skin produces naturally. In a cream or serum, it hydrates the skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple. If your skin feels dry and tight, especially when the weather changes, hyaluronic acid is a simple way to give it more moisture.

In brief

Hyaluronic acid binds water in the skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple. It is suitable for all skin types.
Use it morning and evening on slightly damp skin, and apply your cream on top.
You can use it alongside retinol, niacinamide and vitamin C.
There is no single best hyaluronic acid: Choose a cream if you want to keep things simple, or a serum under your cream for an extra layer of moisture.

What is hyaluronic acid?

Hyaluronic acid (also called hyaluronan) is a sugar substance that the body produces naturally and that binds water. It is found throughout the body, but a large proportion is in the skin¹. Take a guess before you see the answer.

How much of the body's hyaluronic acid is found in the skin?

About a tenth
About half
Almost all of it

About half of the body's hyaluronic acid is found in the skin. Here, it holds on to water, helping the skin feel supple.

What is hyaluronic acid most often called on the ingredient list?

Hyaluronic acid
Sodium hyaluronate
Glycerin

It is most often listed as sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid. If it says hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate, the molecules have been made smaller. Glycerin is another moisture-binding ingredient that often appears alongside it on the list.

As we age, there is less hyaluronic acid in the skin's upper layer. This happens to all of us: years of exposure to sun and weather leave their mark, and hormones change, for example during menopause. Many notice that their skin feels dry more easily and less supple.

Skincare with hyaluronic acid does not replace what the skin produces itself, but it gives the skin moisture when you use it.

What does hyaluronic acid do for the skin?

Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds on to water, so hydration is what it does best. When skin has the moisture it needs, it feels soft, supple and comfortable.

It also helps skin that has become dry with age: A lotion with small hyaluronic acid molecules gave dry skin in older people more moisture than the same lotion without it².

Did you know?

Hyaluronic acid can also make skin more elastic, and with small molecules it can make fine lines around the eyes look smaller³. Think of it as a bonus. Choose it for the hydration.

Myth or fact?

Hyaluronic acid is an acid that peels the skin.

Myth. Despite its name, it is not an acid like a fruit acid. It does not peel the skin, but binds water, and it is mild enough for everyday use.

If you have oily skin, you can skip hyaluronic acid.

Myth. Oily skin can lack moisture too. Hyaluronic acid hydrates without feeling greasy, so it is also suitable for oily skin.

Hyaluronic acid in a cream works like fillers.

Myth. Fillers are injected under the skin. In a cream or serum, hyaluronic acid provides moisture in the skin's outermost layer.

How do you use hyaluronic acid?

Use hyaluronic acid morning and evening: after cleansing, on slightly damp skin and before your cream. It fits into the routine you already have.

A tip from us

Pat your skin lightly after cleansing so it is still slightly damp. Hyaluronic acid binds water, so slightly damp skin gives it moisture to hold on to, and the serum spreads more easily. Apply a couple of drops and gently press them in with your fingertips. This keeps the serum on your skin rather than rubbing it off.

Cleanse your skin with a mild cleanser.
Essence (optional): use your essence or toner.
Apply a couple of drops of serum over your face and neck.
Apply your day cream on top once the serum has absorbed.
Protect your skin with sunscreen.

Cleanse the day away with a mild cleanser.
Essence (optional): use your essence or toner.
Apply a couple of drops of serum over your face and neck.
Finish with your night cream.

The rule of thumb is thin before thick, but always follow the product instructions. Consistent use is what keeps your skin hydrated. And a couple of drops morning and evening also give you a little moment to yourself.

Hyaluronic Serum

Fragrance-free moisturising serum that provides intense moisture and plumpnes...

20 ml10 ml

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Can you use hyaluronic acid with retinol, niacinamide and vitamin C?

Yes. Hyaluronic acid is mild and goes well with most ingredients, so you do not have to choose between it and your other favourites.

Retinol: Use retinol in the evening and hyaluronic acid morning and evening. Retinol can dry the skin out a little at first, and the extra moisture is welcome here. Read more in our guide to retinol.
Niacinamide: The two work well together and can easily be used in the same routine. Read how to use niacinamide.
Vitamin C: You can use vitamin C in the morning and hyaluronic acid afterwards, before your cream. See also what not to use with vitamin C.

If you are unsure about the order, remember thin before thick: the most watery product first and cream last.

Which hyaluronic acid should you choose?

There is no single best hyaluronic acid. Choose the form you want to use every day and that suits your routine. An essence is a watery lotion you use straight after cleansing, a little like a toner.

	Essence	Serum	Cream
Texture	Watery and very light	Light and quickly absorbed	Thicker and richer
When in your routine	Straight after cleansing	After cleansing and essence, before cream	Last, before sunscreen in the morning
Choose it if	you like a fresh start that prepares your skin for the next step.	you want an extra layer of moisture under your cream.	you prefer to keep your routine simple.

You may hear about small and large molecules. Large molecules stay on the skin's surface, while small ones can reach further into the skin's outermost layer⁴. Both provide moisture, and many products combine them. If you want to know more about the research, read our page on hyaluronic acid.

You can use several forms in the same routine, and hyaluronic acid is also found in face masks, body lotion and makeup. If you are unsure whether you need a serum at all, read Is serum necessary? If you have dry skin, see also our guide to dry facial skin.

24 Hour Cream

Fragrance-free moisturiser for dry and sensitive skin that moisturises for up...

50 ml

Does hyaluronic acid cause side effects?

Hyaluronic acid is mild and suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin. As with all skincare, some people may react: If you notice stinging, itching or redness, stop using the product for a while.

Good to know

If you have sensitive skin or rosacea, choose a fragrance-free product and consider trying it on a small area first. Read more about protecting your sensitive skin with the right products and in our guide to rosacea.

When will you see a difference?

A hyaluronic acid serum gave the skin more moisture immediately after application, and the skin was still more hydrated after 6 weeks of using the serum morning and evening⁵.

Give your routine 6–8 weeks of morning and evening use before assessing the results. Think of hyaluronic acid as part of your daily moisturising routine, not as a course of treatment.

Where to find hyaluronic acid in our range

We have hyaluronic acid (sodium hyaluronate) in an essence, a serum and a cream, and all three are fragrance-free. Choose Essence Lotion, our light essence, if you like a fresh start. Choose Hyaluronic Serum if you want to apply a serum under your cream. Or choose 24 Hour Cream if you want to keep your routine simple. And if you are not happy with your purchase, you have our 100% satisfaction guarantee.

Essence Lotion

Fragrance-free essence and toner in one that deeply hydrates, refreshes, adds...

200 ml