Sephora Hydrating Serum for dry skin
Glycerin
Hyaluronic Acid
Polyglutamic Acid
Average
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers excellent moisturizing for your dry skin due to the presence of hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid, which provide superb humectant action and significant hydration.
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid offer relevant hydration benefits for your dry or flaky skin, providing moderate moisturization.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis lightweight, unscented serum is widely praised for its ability to instantly plump and hydrate the skin, making it a favorite for those with dry or dehydrated complexions. While most users appreciate its fast absorption and clean formula, a notable minority experiences issues with the texture, specifically stickiness and pilling under other products.
Highlights
Deep instant hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin looks more hydrated as if plumped up with water”
- “Very effective and hydrating”
- “Intensely hydrated for 24 hours”
- “Gave me glass skin”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly without stickiness”
- “Non-greasy texture”
- “Sinks into the skin nicely”
- “Lightweight but moisturizing”
Plumps and smooths Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels plumped”
- “Reduces appearance of wrinkles”
- “Soft, dewy, and plump skin”
- “Fine lines are reduced”
Gentle on sensitivity Sometimes Noted
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “No irritation on my sensitive skin”
- “Unscented and clean”
- “Did not cause breakouts”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “Better for the price”
- “Affordable and quality”
- “Value for money”
- “Good budget-friendly serum”
Pills under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “Pills extremely easily”
- “Peels off every time I applied it”
- “Started pilling like dead skin cells”
- “Rolls off if you rub your face”
Difficult application Rarely Noted
- “Time consuming application”
- “Have to apply it very slowly”
- “Runs down your face”
- “Liquid consistency is hard to control”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “No results”
- “Didn't notice any improvement”
- “Just surface-level moisture”
- “Not enough hydration for dry skin”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “Formula is very sticky”
- “A bit tacky at first”
- “Feels slightly sticky”
- “Left a sticky residue”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, influenster.com, skinsafeproducts.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Sephora Hydrating Serum work for dry skin?
Sephora Hydrating Serum works reasonably well for dry skin, offering safe and moderate moisture through ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid. However, this skin type often benefits more from products that combine multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and barrier-supporting extracts to maximize moisture retention and improve texture.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and polyglutamic acid make this serum a good fit by providing solid moisture and hydration for dry skin without any irritation. To fit dry skin even better, a product of this type needs additional ingredients that enhance moisture retention, support the skin barrier, and improve texture like ceramides and nourishing extracts.
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening keeps the routine simple and safe around sun exposure, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid help keep dry skin feeling comfortable and hydrated.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your dry skin a moisture boost before your retinol product. This treatment is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation, though dry skin generally does better with rich creams containing ceramides and oils to lock in hydration.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Daily application helps keep dry skin properly hydrated and supports the skin barrier.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin because it is free of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients and harsh irritants. It safely delivers hydration, but dry skin often needs richer oils or butters to truly stay soft and comfortable all day.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around your eyes, as it is safe for dry skin and carries no risk of irritation. However, because dry skin needs richer oils and sealing ingredients to lock in moisture effectively, this serum works best when followed by a heavier cream.
What the research says
Poly-gamma-glutamic acid derived from a novel Bacillus subtilis strain dose-dependently increased skin barrier markers, hyaluronic acid synthesis, and aquaporin 3 expression in keratinocytes, and elevated filaggrin, involucrin, CD44, and aquaporin 3 expression in a reconstructed skin model compared to the control.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Curcumin-loaded polyglutamic acid and gum arabic electrospun nanofibers accelerated wound healing, increased TGF-beta1 and VEGF expression, reduced inflammatory factors, and enhanced re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration in a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Polyglutamic acid and polylysine composite hydrogels promote wound repair and hemostasis through high water absorption, bioadhesion, calcium ion-mediated coagulation factor activation, and inherent antibacterial properties in a deep skin defect model.
Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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