SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan Review

SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan is a 30ml serum built around 1.3% pure hyaluronic acid in three bioavailable forms, 12% ProXylane™ and a liquorice-root derivative (dipotassium glycyrrhizate). It's designed to help improve the appearance of hydration, plumpness and fine lines, and is formulated for all skin types – including acne-prone skin – thanks to its oil-free, fragrance-free, non-comedogenic base.

What is SkinCeuticals HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan?

HA Intensifier Multi-Glycan is SkinCeuticals' flagship hyaluronic-acid serum, reformulated to combine three bioavailable forms of pure hyaluronic acid with a higher concentration of ProXylane™ than the previous version, plus a post-biotic ferment extract. SkinCeuticals positions it as working to support skin's own hyaluronic acid production rather than sitting on the surface alone, aimed at loss of facial volume, plumpness and contour definition – not just day-to-day dehydration, which is the job Hydrating B5 is built for instead (comparison below). The texture is a lightweight serum-gel rather than a thick or tacky gel, intended to absorb quickly and layer under moisturiser, SPF or makeup without pilling.

SkinCeuticals also positions HA Intensifier as a home-care option to use alongside dermal filler results, for skin aged roughly 35–65 dealing with mild-to-moderate signs of ageing – though as with any post-procedure skincare, always follow your practitioner's specific advice rather than this page's general positioning.

Key ingredients explained

• Pure Hyaluronic Acid, 1.3% (three bioavailable forms) – the core hydrator, present at multiple molecular weights to work at different depths of the skin; helps improve the appearance of plumpness and smoothness with regular use
• ProXylane™, 12% – a patented ingredient used across several SkinCeuticals formulas, included here at a higher concentration than the previous version to help support the appearance of firmness and contour
• Post-Biotic Ferment Extract, 2% – included alongside the hyaluronic acid and ProXylane to help support the formula's plumping effect
• Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate – a derivative of liquorice root, included in the ingredients list; SkinCeuticals' product copy doesn't detail its specific role or concentration in this formula, so we're not attributing a benefit to it beyond noting it's present (see data gap below)
• Capryloyl Salicylic Acid – a salicylic acid derivative present in the ingredients list; salicylic acid derivatives are more commonly associated with a clearer-looking finish, which is one reason this formula is positioned for acne-prone and blemish-prone skin as well as dry or sensitive types

DATA GAP: SkinCeuticals' product copy also describes specific clinical-outcome percentages (for example around amplifying skin's own hyaluronic acid levels, radiance, and fine-line reduction over a 12-week study) and panellist-agreement statistics, alongside "clinically proven" framing. We haven't repeated those figures here, as we don't have the underlying study data to cite them independently – this page sticks to the confirmed formulation facts instead.

Quick facts

Who it's for

• Anyone noticing a loss of facial volume, plumpness or definition, rather than dehydration alone
• Skin showing fine lines, crow's feet, nasolabial folds or marionette lines, particularly in the roughly 35–65 age range SkinCeuticals positions this for
• Acne-prone, oily or combination-oily skin wanting a hydrating step that won't feel heavy or occlusive
• Anyone using HA Intensifier as a home-care complement to dermal filler results – always confirm with your practitioner first

Who should check with our team first

• Anyone whose main concern is dehydration and barrier support rather than volume or firming – Hydrating B5 is built for that job instead
• Anyone with a known sensitivity to liquorice-root derivatives or salicylic-acid derivatives, which appear among this formula's listed ingredients
• Anyone recently treated with dermal fillers, peels, laser or injectables and unsure what their practitioner's aftercare protocol allows

How to use it

Apply to clean, dry skin, dispensing 4–6 drops into the palm and dabbing onto the forehead, cheeks, chin and neck, then blending in using upward and outward motions. It's used once or twice daily, before richer creams or SPF, and layers well underneath a moisturiser such as Metacell Renewal B3 or a heavier night cream. It can also sit under an AM vitamin C serum or alongside a PM antioxidant step such as Resveratrol B E, though introducing multiple new actives at once is best done gradually.

DATA GAP: the once-or-twice-daily direction above is taken from the live skintique.co.uk product page pulled this session, not from the Shopify API description field independently re-pulled for this build – confirm it against the current live listing before publishing.

What to expect

The most noticeable immediate effect is a plumper, smoother-looking surface straight after application, with hydration described by the brand as lasting through the day. Over longer, consistent use, SkinCeuticals' own testing reports improvements in the visible depth of fine lines and in overall smoothness, softness and tone evenness – this is the brand's own reported study, not an independently verified trial, so treat it as an indication of what the formula is designed to do rather than a guarantee. As with any hyaluronic acid serum, results vary by individual skin type, climate and the rest of your routine.

HA Intensifier vs Hydrating B5 – which one do you need?

SkinCeuticals sells two headline hyaluronic-acid serums, and it's easy to assume they're interchangeable because both share the "hyaluronic acid serum" label. They're not. HA Intensifier pairs hyaluronic acid with ProXylane and a liquorice-root derivative for a plumping, firming, contour-focused effect. Hydrating B5 pairs hyaluronic acid with pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) and natural-moisturising-factor ingredients for a soothing, barrier-support effect aimed at dehydration rather than volume. If you're not sure which one fits your skin, our full HA Intensifier vs Hydrating B5 comparison walks through the ingredients, texture and who each one suits in more depth. For where HA Intensifier sits within a wider anti-ageing routine – alongside Metacell Renewal B3 and Resveratrol B E – see our SkinCeuticals anti-ageing guide. For the rest of the range, start with our SkinCeuticals brand overview.

Pros and cons

Safety, sensitivity and pregnancy

HA Intensifier is formulated to layer under moisturiser, SPF and makeup rather than to be used alone, and is generally well tolerated across skin types, including acne-prone and sensitive skin, given its oil-free and fragrance-free base. As with any new active, patch testing first is a sensible precaution if you have reactive or newly sensitised skin, and if irritation is more than mild or doesn't settle, pause use and seek advice. If you're pregnant or breastfeeding, please contact our team for advice before use.