COSRX The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum for dry skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Amino Acids
Glycerin
Betaine
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
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 moderate hydration benefits for your dry skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant properties to plump and moisturize the skin. Ceramide NP further supports barrier function, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The formula is generally safe for your dry skin, with no harsh ingredients that would typically cause irritation.
- This serum provides good moisturizing effects suitable for dry or flaky skin.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for its ability to deeply hydrate and plump the skin, providing an immediate dewy effect. Many users value its hydrating properties and fast absorption, with moderate mentions of it strengthening the skin barrier and improving texture. A significant number of reviewers find the bottle size to be too small, leading to it running out quickly, and some note a sticky finish. There are also moderate comments regarding the price and low mentions of packaging issues.
Highlights
Small bottle size Mostly Mentioned
- “only 20mls... significantly less product”
- “ran out fast compared to other serums”
- “bottle only lasts about a month”
- “wish the size was bigger”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin felt firm and plump”
- “leaves my skin feeling super hydrated”
- “hydration hits your skin instantly”
- “makes my skin feel plump and smooth”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs fast into the skin”
- “extremely lightweight serum that isn't greasy”
- “dries down really silky smooth”
- “penetrates the skin quickly”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “smooths out and plumps”
- “dry patches... stayed smooth”
- “makeup applies more smoothly”
- “leaves a smooth and hydrated finish”
Strengthens skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “effective at supporting my skin barrier”
- “soothing effect on my skin barrier”
- “ceramides help strengthen compromised skin”
- “protects against dryness and dehydration”
Price per value Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for me”
- “price point is pretty steep”
- “costs so much money relative to the original”
- “would probably only grab this during a sale”
Sticky finish Sometimes Noted
- “feels slightly sticky”
- “slightly tacky feel”
- “formula does lean a bit sticky”
- “sticky residue that bothers me”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “packaging is terrible”
- “cannot get the last drops”
- “wish the cap were a bit more sturdy”
- “too heavy bottle”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, cosrx.com, lookfantastic.ie, walmart.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does COSRX Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum work for dry skin?
This serum works moderately well for dry skin, providing basic moisture and comfort without causing irritation. A product of this type needs richer moisturizing agents and barrier-supporting ingredients to give dry skin deep hydration, nourishment, and optimal moisture retention.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and betaine help plump and moisturize dry skin, while ceramide NP supports the skin barrier for added comfort. A product of this type needs a rich blend of deep hydration ingredients and nourishing extracts to effectively address dryness and keep the skin soft and radiant.
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
What do Ceramides do for dry skin?
Ceramides help strengthen your skin barrier and lock in moisture to keep dry skin feeling soft and smooth. By restoring essential lipids, they may also reduce water loss and soothe irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2022Dermatologic Therapy, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums can also be used in the morning or twice a day. Dry skin needs a moisturizing treatment with hydrating and skin-softening ingredients like glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and ceramides to plump the skin and support the protective barrier.
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 it before your retinol at night to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. This type of product works well for dry skin when it includes soothing ingredients and moisture-locking helpers like glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, and ceramides.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps keep dry skin moisturized and comfortable.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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, as its formula is generally safe and free of harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation. To give dry skin the best care, this skin type needs richer creams with nourishing oils and heavier butters to lock in moisture.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this serum around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula provides good moisturizing effects without harsh ingredients. Dry skin in these areas generally needs products with rich hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, along with barrier-supporting ceramides, to maintain comfort.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
A 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, 2017Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Topical 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, 2019The 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 dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007Mixed surfactant systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine significantly reduce acute skin irritation potential in human volunteers compared with the individual surfactants, demonstrating that irritation potential cannot be predicted by simple summation.
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998Polyhexanide/betaine may be nontoxic and effective in enhancing wound healing, whereas the majority of other topical cleaning agents are locally toxic and of limited or no proven efficacy.
Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Pca, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Sodium Phytate, Sorbitan Isostearate, Pvm Ma Copolymer, Glutamic Acid, Citric Acid, Lysine Hcl, Threonine, Arginine, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Proline, Ceramide Np, Cholesterol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Phytosphingosine, Stearic Acid, Oleic Acid, Alcohol, Tocopherol, Lactic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Caprylhydroxamic Acid
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

