Last updated: October 2026
Short answer: Both are humectants: ingredients that draw water into the outer layer of skin. Glycerin is a small, inexpensive molecule found in most moisturizers, with decades of research showing it improves skin hydration and barrier function. Hyaluronic acid (often listed as sodium hyaluronate) is a much larger sugar-based molecule; in a placebo-controlled trial, creams with it significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity. Neither works best alone: pair either one with an oil or occlusive so the water stays in.
At a glance
| Glycerin | Hyaluronic acid | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Humectant | Humectant |
| What it is | A small polyol (a type of alcohol, not the drying kind) | A large sugar chain; in products usually sodium hyaluronate |
| Research | Improves hydration, barrier function and skin's mechanical properties | 0.1% creams at five molecular weights all improved hydration and elasticity vs. placebo |
| Feel | Can feel slightly tacky in high amounts | Light and slippery |
| Usually found in | Lotions, creams, cleansers; very common | Serums and creams |
| On a label | Glycerin, Glycerol | Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid |
What glycerin does
Glycerin (glycerol) has been used in skin products for generations. A review in the British Journal of Dermatology describes its effects on the outer layer of skin as improving stratum corneum hydration, skin barrier function and skin mechanical properties. Your skin also makes its own glycerol, which plays a part in hydration, elasticity and barrier repair. The review notes that glycerol-containing products improve skin in conditions marked by dryness.
Glycerin works better with a partner. According to a dermatology review, when glycerol is combined with occlusives, the two relieve skin dryness together better than either alone.
What hyaluronic acid does
Hyaluronic acid is a long sugar chain that holds a lot of water. It's sold at different molecular weights, meaning different chain lengths. In a 60-day trial, researchers tested creams with 0.1% hyaluronic acid at five molecular weights (50, 130, 300, 800 and 2,000 kDa). All of them significantly improved skin hydration and elasticity compared with placebo, and the two smallest sizes reduced wrinkle depth the most.
The American Academy of Dermatology lists both glycerin and hyaluronic acid among the ingredients to look for in a cream or ointment for dry skin.
Which is better for dry skin?
For plain dryness, glycerin has the longer research record, costs less, and is already in most moisturizers. Hyaluronic acid feels lighter and is a good fit for a serum under a cream. In practice it isn't either-or. Many formulas use both, and either one works best under or inside a product that also contains oils or an occlusive to slow water loss.
One practical tip: apply humectants to damp skin, then follow with your moisturizer. On very dry air days, a humectant left on its own can leave skin feeling tight.
How to find them on a label
Glycerin is often the second or third ingredient after water, which means a meaningful amount. Hyaluronic acid is usually used at well under 1%, so it often appears near the end, after the preservatives. That's normal and doesn't mean it isn't working. Paste any list into the Ingredient Label Decoder to see where each one falls.
Check your own moisturizer. Paste its ingredient list into our free Ingredient Label Decoder to find the likely 1% line, see a rough percentage for each ingredient, and learn what each one does.
Frequently asked questions
Is glycerin or hyaluronic acid better for dry skin?
Both are humectants that draw water into skin. Glycerin has more research for dry skin and is in most moisturizers; hyaluronic acid feels lighter. Both work best when paired with an oil or occlusive that slows water loss.
Can you use glycerin and hyaluronic acid together?
Yes. Many moisturizers contain both. You can also apply a hyaluronic acid serum and then a cream that contains glycerin.
Why is hyaluronic acid near the end of the ingredient list?
It is usually used at low concentrations, often well under 1%. Ingredients at 1% or less can be listed in any order after the higher-concentration ones, so it often appears near the end.
More ingredient comparisons
- Ceramides vs. Hyaluronic Acid: What's the Difference?
- Lotion vs. Cream vs. Ointment: Which Is Best for Dry Skin?
- Aloe Vera vs. Shea Butter for Dry Skin: Which Do You Need?
- See all ingredient comparisons
Sources
- Fluhr JW, Darlenski R, Surber C. Glycerol and the skin: holistic approach to its origin and functions. British Journal of Dermatology. 2008;159(1):23-34. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18510666/
- Purnamawati S, Indrastuti N, Danarti R, Saefudin T. The Role of Moisturizers in Addressing Various Kinds of Dermatitis: A Review. Clinical Medicine & Research. 2017;15(3-4):75-87. https://www.clinmedres.org/content/15/3-4/75
- Pavicic T, Gauglitz GG, Lersch P, et al. Efficacy of Cream-Based Novel Formulations of Hyaluronic Acid of Different Molecular Weights in Anti-Wrinkle Treatment. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2011;10(9):990-1000. https://jddonline.com/articles/dermatology/S1545961611P0990X
- American Academy of Dermatology. Dermatologists' top tips for relieving dry skin. https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/dry/dermatologists-tips-relieve-dry-skin
- Corium 21. Ingredients. https://corium21.com/pages/ingredients
About this page
We wrote this comparison from the sources listed above and confirmed each figure on the linked page in October 2026. It is general information, not medical advice. If you have painful, cracked, bleeding or persistent skin problems, see a doctor or dermatologist.
Corium 21's cream uses glycerin and hydrolyzed glycosaminoglycans, moisture-binding humectants related to hyaluronic acid, alongside aloe vera (see the full ingredient list). Corium 21 is a family-owned company that makes a moisturizing cream with certified organic aloe vera. Trusted since 1994. Family-owned in Oregon. It is a cosmetic moisturizer: it moisturizes and helps relieve dryness. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.