A bottle of this drugstore serum sells every minute, so I tried it to see if it’s worth the hype

If I had to pick a “favorite skin-care ingredient” (beauty nerd alert!) it would be hyaluronic acid. The moisture-binding agent may not be as trendy as vitamin C or be able to settle the qualms of quite as many skin woes as the ever-sexy retinol, but as someone with dry skin, it keeps water in my complexion on the driest days. Its most significant claim to fame is that it can hold a thousand times its weight in water, which makes it a major hero for instilling life into dehydrated skin.

“Hyaluronic acid is a humectant, meaning that it draws moisture into the skin,” says Austin dermatologist Ted Lain, MD. “It is an important ingredient, since this time of year the dry air tends to dehydrate the skin. Having a humectant helps to combat the actions of the winter climate.” Long story short: It’s amazing, and I am completely into it.

That’s exactly why I had to get my hands on the best-selling, mass-market serum L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum ($24), a bottle of which sells every. single. minute. in the United States. After testing it out, I can see why. The jelly texture is super slick—almost like a primer—and it goes on seamlessly. It isn’t greasy, but it is a little bit sticky post-application, so I like to apply a layer of moisturizer on top to really seal it in. After using it, my skin felt hydrated, smooth, and slightly plumper than usual.

These whizbang results, apparently, are because the serum is made with two different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, which work double-duty to treat both immediate and longterm skin concerns. “This serum contains both short chain and long chain HA.  The short chain tends to immediately plump the skin, quickly improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and giving the skin an immediate glow,” explains Dr. Lain. “The longer chain HA tends to deliver longer acting results, drawing water into the deeper layers more slowly with results that last well past those of the short chain HA.” And for what it’s worth? This skin-care nerd thinks this product is pretty great, too.

Here’s why you should be applying hyaluronic acid when your skin is wet, and 6 editor-approved moisturizers you should be pairing it with.