Hyaluronic acid is the It ingredient in a lot of high-end, expensive moisturizers, but Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Water Gel has it packed into a very blue gel for under $20.
Neutrogena made a moisturizer that’s both calming and protective by pairing Hyaluronic acid (which moisturizes up to 1,000 times its weight in water) and SPF 15. It also comes in a non-SPF version, if you’d rather separate Church and State when it comes to sun protection. It goes on clear and doesn’t leave any weird residue, which is great both under makeup and sans makeup. It smells the way you wish the beach would actually smell, and has been the only thing to keep my face calm through New York’s Twilight Zone-like weather.
You can find Hyaluronic acid in a lot of bestsellers from fresh, Sunday Riley, and more, for double or triple the price (and without the SPF). Hydro Boost works for those of us that want the effects of a pricey product without the guilt of watching that much money disappear into our skin.
This $15 bottle might seem small, but since you only need one pump for full face and neck coverage, I’ve managed to make it last for about 3 months. It’s also available through Amazon’s Subscribe & Save, which is good, because I don’t want to go a single day without it.