Ingredient X-ray
Sodium Hyaluronate
A humectant that holds water in the upper skin — pure hydration, tolerated by essentially everyone, at any concentration.
HumectantHydrationAll skin types
Stated strengths run 1–2% across the catalogue.
Ease into it
In very dry air, apply on damp skin and seal with a moisturiser — otherwise it can pull water FROM the skin.
62 products carry Sodium Hyaluronate
Pilgrim2% Hyaluronic Acid Hydration Super Serum2%—
PlumBulgarian Rose & 2% Hyaluronic Acid Serum For Dry Skin2%—
The Derma Co2% Niacinamide Hydrating BB Cream with 1% Hyaluronic Acid Complex & Aquaxyl™- 30 g | 01 - Ivory1%₹13.3/g
The Derma Co2% Niacinamide Hydrating BB Cream with 1% Hyaluronic Acid Complex & Aquaxyl- 30 g | 02 - Nude1%₹13.3/g
PlumBulgarian Rose and 1% Hyaluronic Acid Cream For Dry Skin1%—
PilgrimFrench Red Vine & Hyaluronic Acid Ultra-Smooth Body LotionNot stated—₹1.2/ml
PilgrimFrench Red Vine & Hyaluronic Acid Ultra-Smooth Body Lotion - 600mlNot stated—₹1.3/ml
Dot & KeyBarrier Repair Hyaluronic Acid Body LotionNot stated—₹1.6/ml+54 more carry Sodium HyaluronateHow long until it works
From: Same day — it's hydration, not a treatment. Ongoing: Ongoing while you use it; no weeks-long build-up to wait for.
Apply on damp skin and seal with a moisturiser, or in dry air it can pull water from the skin.
Layering — what it pairs with, what it fights
✓ Niacinamide — the standard gentle daily pairing.
✓ Retinol — offsets retinol dryness.
What the evidence says — 3 papers
Summaries are ours, written from the abstract. Caveats kept.
Physiochemical properties and application of hyaluronic acid: a systematic review ›
A systematic review of hyaluronic acid across medicine, not just skincare. Tissue hydration, elasticity and durability improved. Worth knowing: much of the strongest evidence here is for injected fillers and joint injections rather than a serum you smooth on.
Hyaluronic acid, a promising skin rejuvenating biomedicine: A review of recent updates and pre-clinical and clinical investigations on cosmetic and nutricosmetic effects ›
Reviews hyaluronic acid in cosmetic use, reporting real anti-wrinkle, hydration and skin-tightening effects. Read the detail though: the strongest results come from injected fillers and dermal injections, not from a lotion.
Benefits of topical hyaluronic acid for skin quality and signs of skin aging: From literature review to clinical evidence ›
Your skin starts losing hyaluronic acid from around the age of 25. This reviews topical HA for skin quality and ageing, and reports a randomised trial pairing an HA serum with botulinum toxin injections.
How we compute the grade and the value
Grade C: 5 of 62 print a strength. One question — did the brand print it? Honesty, not quality.
Concentration bands: 0.5% light · 1% standard · 2% rich.