Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum in Australia: What to Look For, and What 97% Actually Means

By Englantina Hasankolli, founder and CEO of TRIPLE A Skin Science. Published 18 October 2026.

What hyaluronic acid does, and what it doesn't

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a sugar molecule your skin already makes. It holds up to a thousand times its weight in water, which is why a good HA serum makes skin look plumper and smoother within minutes: it is literally filling the top layers with water. What it does not do is treat the cause of anything. It will not fade pigmentation, speed up cell turnover or regulate oil. Think of it as the foundation that makes every other active easier to tolerate, not a treatment in itself.

That is also why it is the serum we recommend first to anyone starting retinol or high-strength vitamin C. Most of the dryness and stinging people blame on those actives is really a hydration deficit underneath.

Five things that separate a good HA serum from a watery one

1. Molecular weight (the one that matters most)

HA comes in different molecule sizes. Large molecules sit on the surface and hold water there, giving the immediate plump, dewy look. Smaller molecules travel further into the upper layers and hydrate from within, which is what keeps skin comfortable at 4 pm rather than just at 8 am. The best serums use two or more weights. If a label just says "hyaluronic acid" with no detail, assume it is a single high-weight grade: pleasant, but short-lived.

2. How much of the bottle is actually hyaluronic

Pure HA powder is used at 1–2% in most serums; higher than that and it turns to gel. So a "2% hyaluronic acid serum" is already at the top of the range. The more useful question is what makes up the rest: water and thickener, or supporting hydrators such as glycerin, panthenol and amino acids that help the skin hold the water HA brings in. Our 97% refers to the proportion of the formula that is active hydrating ingredients rather than filler.

3. No fragrance, no essential oils

HA serums are often used twice a day under other actives, on skin that is already a little compromised. Fragrance adds nothing and is the most common cause of reactions in this category. Fragrance-free is non-negotiable for sensitive skin and strongly preferable for everyone else.

4. Packaging

HA is stable, so this matters less than it does for vitamin C. It still matters for hygiene: an open jar or a dropper that touches skin introduces bacteria into a water-based product. A pump or airless syringe is cleaner and wastes nothing.

5. Texture

A good HA serum is fluid, sinks in within a minute and leaves no tackiness under SPF or makeup. If it pills or feels sticky, it is usually over-thickened to feel "rich".

How to apply it so it actually hydrates

1. Damp skin, always. Cleanse, tone or mist, then apply HA while skin is still slightly wet. HA grabs the nearest water; give it water to grab.
2. Seal it. Follow with your treatment serum and then a moisturiser (or SPF in the morning). Unsealed HA in a dry, air-conditioned room can draw water out of the skin and leave it tighter. This is the single most common reason people say "HA didn't work for me".
3. Morning and night. It is the one serum with no reason to skip. Morning under vitamin C and SPF, night under retinol.
4. A few drops is enough. Two to three pumps for the whole face and neck. More just sits on top.

Who it suits

• Everyone starting actives. It buffers retinol and vitamin C without diluting them.
• Oily skin. Oil is not hydration. Oily skin is often dehydrated, and over-produces oil because of it. HA hydrates without adding oil; pair it with niacinamide for pores.
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Safe, and one of only two serums we recommend during that time (the other is vitamin C).
• Over 40. Natural HA production drops with age; topping it up is one of the fastest visible wins.

How Australian conditions change the advice

Australian skin is dehydrated by two things most of the year: UV, which damages the barrier that holds water, and air-conditioning, which pulls water out of it. That is why a serum that feels fine in a humid climate can feel insufficient here, and why the "seal it" step matters more in Australia than almost anywhere else. In summer, apply to damp skin and seal with a light moisturiser; in winter, with heating on, use a richer one.

Our Hydrating Hyaluronic 97%

We make it, so weigh this accordingly. Hydrating Hyaluronic 97% is A$109 for 20 mL, formulated and made in Australia, 100% vegan, fragrance-free and built from ECOCERT-approved ingredients. It uses multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid with supporting humectants, in an airless syringe. It is our longest-selling product: more than 360 orders since 2017, and the serum customers most often reorder. It was also a finalist in the Cosmoprof Asia Awards.

Look for	Why	Hydrating Hyaluronic 97%
Multiple molecular weights	Surface plumping plus deeper, longer-lasting hydration	Yes
Supporting hydrators	Help skin keep the water HA brings in	Yes (97% active hydrating ingredients)
Fragrance-free	Fewer reactions under daily actives	Yes
Clean packaging	Hygiene, no wastage	Airless syringe
Pregnancy-safe	Usable throughout	Yes
Made in	Local manufacture, fresher stock	Australia
Price		A$109 / 20 mL, free AU shipping

Frequently asked questions

Can hyaluronic acid make skin drier?

Yes, if it is applied to dry skin in dry air and not sealed with a moisturiser. It pulls water from wherever is nearest, which can be the deeper skin. Apply to damp skin and seal it, and the problem disappears.

Is hyaluronic acid safe during pregnancy?

Yes. It is a molecule the body makes naturally and is not absorbed systemically from a serum. It is one of the two serums we recommend during pregnancy and breastfeeding, alongside vitamin C.

Can I use hyaluronic acid with retinol and vitamin C?

Yes, and you should. Apply HA first on damp skin, let it settle, then the active over the top. It reduces the dryness of retinol and the sting of vitamin C without weakening either.

How long does a 20 mL serum last?

Used twice a day at two to three pumps, about two to three months.

Is 97% hyaluronic acid stronger than 2%?

They measure different things. Pure hyaluronic acid is used at about 1–2% of a formula; "97%" describes the share of the formula made up of active hydrating ingredients rather than water and thickeners. Neither number tells you about molecular weight, which matters more.

Where to go next

Shop Hydrating Hyaluronic 97% or the hydration range. Building a routine? Read the exact AM/PM serum order, or see the FAQ for layering by skin type.

General information only, not personalised skincare or medical advice. If you have a diagnosed skin condition, speak to your dermatologist or GP.