Written by Jessie, Product Manager · Updated 11 November 2026
Does drinking hyaluronic acid work for skin?
Yes. In placebo-controlled trials, 120 mg a day of hyaluronic acid taken by mouth raised skin hydration and elasticity and reduced wrinkles over 12 weeks, and a 2025 meta-analysis of 7 trials found significant gains in hydration, elasticity and wrinkle depth. In one trial, hydration rose from starting levels after 2 weeks in younger women with dry skin.
This article is for you if: your skin feels tight or dry after long days in air-conditioning, and you want to know whether a hyaluronic acid drink reaches your skin, what the trials found and how much to take.
You probably know hyaluronic acid from serums, but it's also taken as a drink or supplement, where the label often calls it sodium hyaluronate. Researchers have now tested it in several placebo-controlled trials. Here's what it does in your skin, how your body handles it when you swallow it, what the trials found, and how to fit it into your daily routine.
In this article
What does hyaluronic acid do in your skin?
Hyaluronic acid keeps skin moist. Your skin holds about half of all the hyaluronic acid in your body, and it's essential for keeping skin tissue hydrated.[1] On supplement labels you'll often see it as sodium hyaluronate, the salt form of hyaluronic acid.
If long days in air-conditioning leave your skin feeling tight, hydration is the change to watch for.
Can your body absorb hyaluronic acid you drink?
Yes, in part, and gut bacteria play a key role. In a study in mice, gut bacteria cut hyaluronic acid into small fragments, and some of these passed through the gut wall.[2] The researchers concluded that its effects likely come from body-wide signals from hyaluronic acid or its breakdown products, rather than from hyaluronic acid acting directly in the skin.[2]
A review of the earlier research reported that swallowed hyaluronic acid is absorbed, reaches the skin in part, helps the body make more hyaluronic acid and encourages skin cells called fibroblasts to multiply.[1]
What do the trials show?
At 120 mg a day, trials found fewer wrinkles, more skin moisture and better elasticity than placebo by 12 weeks, and a trial of 100 or 200 mg a day found hydration rose from starting levels within weeks. Here's how they compare.
| Study | Who took part | Daily dose and length | Main result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oe et al., 2017 | 60 Japanese adults aged 22 to 59 with crow's feet | 120 mg, 12 weeks | Fewer wrinkles than placebo from 8 weeks with the higher molecular weight form |
| Hsu et al., 2021 | 40 Asian adults aged 35 to 64 | 120 mg, 12 weeks | Fewer wrinkles, more skin moisture, less water loss and better elasticity than placebo |
| Gao et al., 2023 | 129 women, younger and older | 100 mg or 200 mg, 12 weeks | Compared with starting levels: hydration up (from 2 weeks in younger women with dry skin), better skin tone from 4 to 8 weeks, thicker outer skin layer at 12 weeks on 100 mg |
| Dolečková et al., 2025 | 150 healthy adults | 60 mg or 120 mg, 12 weeks | 120 mg improved hydration, elasticity and wrinkle depth around the eyes compared with placebo; 60 mg had similar, smaller effects |
Sources: the placebo-controlled trials listed in the References.[3] [4] [5] [6]
Pooling the evidence, a 2025 meta-analysis of 7 randomised trials found statistically significant improvements in skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkle depth with oral hyaluronic acid.[7] An earlier meta-analysis of skin-moisturising supplements also found a significant positive effect of hyaluronan (another name for hyaluronic acid) on skin hydration.[8]
Hyaluronic acid or ceramides: which do you need?
They do different jobs, so they sit well side by side. Hyaluronic acid draws water in and holds it, while ceramides are the fats that seal water into the skin barrier. We compare them in more detail in what ceramides do for your skin.
Our Black Cherry Ceramide Elixir is built around the barrier side, with 60 mg of Myoceram® rice ceramides in every sachet. It also has 20 mg of sodium hyaluronate.
Where does hyaluronic acid fit in your routine?
Take it every day, as the trials did, and give it at least 8 to 12 weeks. Hydration can shift sooner: in one trial it rose from starting levels after 2 weeks in younger women with dry skin.[5]
Our Midnight Glow PDRN Elixir gives you 120 mg of sodium hyaluronate in every sachet, the same daily amount used in three of the trials in this article.[3] [4] [6] It's paired with:
- 500 mg of salmon milt extract, the source of PDRN.
- 75 mg of bonito elastin peptide.
- A peach yogurt flavour, with 0 g of sugar per sachet and no need to add water.
Take 1 sachet a day, before bed. To learn what the salmon milt extract does, read what PDRN is and how it pairs with collagen.
Shop Midnight Glow PDRN Elixir
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Related reading: What do ceramides do for your skin? · Collagen and PDRN: should you pair them? · How much collagen should you take a day?
Frequently asked questions
How long does oral hyaluronic acid take to work?
In one trial, hydration rose from starting levels after 2 weeks in younger women with dry skin. Wrinkles took longer: they improved compared with placebo from 8 weeks in one trial and another of 120 mg a day. Most trials ran for 12 weeks, so give it at least that long.
Is it safe to take hyaluronic acid every day?
In a meta-analysis of skin-moisturising supplement trials, including hyaluronan, all the supplements were safe for the length of the studies, which was usually up to 24 weeks. Midnight Glow PDRN Elixir contains fish, so skip it if you have a fish allergy. If you're pregnant, breastfeeding, taking medication or have a health condition, check with your doctor first.
Does the molecular weight of hyaluronic acid matter?
Both lower and higher molecular weights have trial results. One trial tested 2k and 300k forms at 120 mg a day: the 300k form significantly reduced wrinkles compared with placebo from 8 weeks, and the authors concluded that both forms may reduce wrinkles and improve skin condition.
Can I take hyaluronic acid with collagen?
Yes. In a meta-analysis of skin supplements, oral collagen and hyaluronan each improved skin hydration compared with placebo. They work in different ways, so they can sit side by side in the same daily routine. For the amounts used in collagen trials, see how much collagen to take a day.
Key takeaways
- Hyaluronic acid keeps skin moist, and your skin holds about half of the hyaluronic acid in your body.
- In a mouse study, gut bacteria broke swallowed hyaluronic acid into small fragments, and some of these were absorbed.
- In placebo-controlled trials, 120 mg a day improved hydration, elasticity and wrinkles over 12 weeks, and in one trial hydration rose from starting levels after 2 weeks in younger women with dry skin.
- A 2025 meta-analysis of 7 trials found significant gains in skin hydration, elasticity and wrinkle depth.
- Midnight Glow PDRN Elixir has 120 mg of sodium hyaluronate per sachet, the daily amount used in three of these trials.
About the author: Jessie is the Product Manager at The Purest Co. A Biomedical Science graduate from the International Medical University Malaysia, she has over five years in the nutraceutical industry, sourcing high-quality herbs to create supplements that are enjoyable and effective. She keeps up with new research through global conferences.
References
[1] Kawada C et al. Ingested hyaluronan moisturizes dry skin. Nutr J. 2014.
[2] Šimek M et al. Molecular weight and gut microbiota determine the bioavailability of orally administered hyaluronic acid. Carbohydr Polym. 2023.
[3] Oe M et al. Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled study over a 12-week period. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2017.
[4] Hsu TF et al. Oral hyaluronan relieves wrinkles and improves dry skin: a 12-week double-blinded, placebo-controlled study. Nutrients. 2021.
[5] Gao YR et al. Oral administration of hyaluronic acid to improve skin conditions via a randomized double-blind clinical test. Skin Res Technol. 2023.
[6] Dolečková I et al. Oral sodium hyaluronate improves skin hydration, barrier function and signs of aging: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 150 healthy adults. Sci Rep. 2026 (published online 2025).
[7] Amin P, Sarabi A, Choe S, Scott S, Suh S, Mesinkovska NA. Oral hyaluronic acid supplement: efficacy in skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle depth reduction. J Drugs Dermatol. 2025.
[8] Sun Q, Wu J, Qian G, Cheng H. Effectiveness of dietary supplement for skin moisturizing in healthy adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Nutr. 2022.
These statements have not been evaluated by any regulatory authority. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. Consult a healthcare provider before use if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on prescribed medication.