Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum for acne-prone skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Propanediol
Hydroxyacetophenone
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this serum offers excellent moisturizing with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to hydrate and plump your skin without exacerbating oiliness.
- While it provides general hydration beneficial for acne-prone skin, it does not directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your acne-prone skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 4.3k+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised as a lightweight, budget-friendly hydration booster that effectively plumps the skin and smooths fine lines without the sticky residue common in competitors. While highly effective for most skin types, including sensitive skin, optimal results depend on applying it to damp skin and sealing it with a moisturizer to prevent dryness. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Great price Mostly Mentioned
- “best value for money”
- “affordable staple”
Hydrates and plumps Mostly Mentioned
- “skin appears smooth and supple”
- “plumps up fine lines”
- “leaves skin baby smooth”
Non-sticky texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs almost instantly”
- “not sticky like other brands”
- “water-light consistency”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation on sensitive skin”
- “fragrance-free is a plus”
- “very gentle formula”
Layers well Sometimes Noted
- “works well under makeup”
- “layers seamlessly”
- “great base for moisturizer”
Ineffective if dry Sometimes Noted
- “dried my skin out”
- “didn't do much on dry skin”
- “needs a moisturizer on top”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused small bumps”
- “skin reacted poorly”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper feels cheap”
- “hard to get last drops”
- “bottle cap issues”
Soapy texture Rarely Noted
- “feels soapy when rubbed”
- “turns white/foamy if over-applied”
- “slightly soapy feel”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, beautylish.com, skinsort.com, thingtesting.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it uses sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to hydrate and plump your skin without making it oily. It is very gentle and safe, and is unlikely to cause any irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this serum a great fit for your acne-prone skin because they hydrate and plump it without adding extra oiliness. It is unlikely to cause any irritation since it lacks harsh ingredients.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though it can also be used in the morning or twice a day. It provides hydration without adding extra oiliness and has an excellent safety profile that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, applying the serum first to hydrate your skin and follow with retinol. This routine helps keep your skin comfortable while using stronger treatments, as the serum provides gentle moisture without extra oiliness.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum daily in your evening routine to keep your skin hydrated without feeling oily. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it hydrates and plumps without making you oily. It is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts since it does not contain harsh ingredients, though a few reviewers have rarely mentioned them.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this serum safely around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula provides excellent hydration without harsh ingredients. Clinical studies show that regular application of hyaluronic acid and glycerin effectively and safely improves hydration in delicate areas.
Polymers, 2023Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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, 2017Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical 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, 2012A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.
Molecules, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol
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
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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