HI-REVIEW: The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum

by Hinako Percival

​​Hi Beauties!

I have been testing the COSRX Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum over the past few weeks while diving into some of the research behind this product that was launched early this year. Having dry skin I have tried a fair share of hyaluronic acid serums and I can say that this was one I enjoyed.

Price: $38 

Quantity: 20mL

How to use: After cleansing apply a few drops and gently massage until absorbed.

My problems with previous hyaluronic acid serums were that they felt tacky or slightly dry after application. The COSRX serum had neither of these issues. My skin felt plump and looked glowy! I looked into some of the science behind the formula of this product, and it made sense why this product felt different to the rest. So, let me share what I found!

Key Features

As you may have heard hyaluronic acid can bring in up to 1000 times its water weight. It's found naturally in our body and keeps our skin plump and hydrated. But with age, UV exposure and stress, the amount of hyaluronic acid in our skin decreases. 

I was surprised to find that hyaluronic acid molecules are actually too large to penetrate the skin. That's why most products use extracted forms of it to maximise skin benefits. This serum uses the form of sodium hyaluronate. It’s more stable and has the smallest molecular size so, it can bring hydration into the deeper layers of our skin.

The downside of using hyaluronic acid alone is that it can evaporate easily. Even drawing out moisture from within our skin and evaporating alongside the product. This issue is easily resolved by using your favourite moisturiser after applying hyaluronic acid. 

The exciting part is that the COSRX Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum is actually a little bit different as it's paired with NMF and ceramides resolving some of those problems!

NMF is an amino acid complex that helps to maintain skin hydration while ceramides prevent evaporation and loss of hydration. Of course, never skip the moisturiser afterwards but because of the ceramides and NMF you won’t experience evaporation, drying or any tackiness after using this product. 

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

Out of the bottle, this serum is a bit thicker than your typical hyaluronic acid serum, and with my dry skin I quite enjoyed the thicker texture. Regardless of the thick texture it still absorbs fast into the skin and after being absorbed, it felt velvety and luxurious. Then, sealing it in with a moisturiser, my skin felt firm and plump. I found that make-up applies more smoothly after including this in my skincare routine. Even the driest patches on my skin that usually cake up a little when I apply foundation, stayed smooth!

One downside of the COSRX Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum would be that it's only 20mls. Significantly less product compared with other hyaluronic acid serums on the market. I have to say, I don't think this would stop me from choosing this product but it's a shame that this product will not be lasting very long as I used it both morning and night.

I do think the strength of this hyaluronic acid serum is the formulation and how it’s combined with other great ingredients. If this sounds exciting to you, I definitely recommend it! For anyone who hasn’t tried a hyaluronic acid serum yet, it's a great product to include in your routine as it can be paired with any other skincare product safely, and this COSRX one is a great place to start!

Thank you for reading, and see you in my next review 💛


Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.