I scooped this out with my finger and it literally jiggled. Not a gel — a wobbly, translucent cube of hydration that broke apart the second it hit my skin.
That texture gimmick? It’s not a gimmick. The jelly format locks the multi-weight HA molecules in a stable matrix so they don’t evaporate before they penetrate. Smart, actually.
It’s Ulta Beauty‘s new SOS serum — $38 for 1.7 oz, which is fair for a texture this weird. They claim it hydrates 10 layers deep using different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid.
Jelly-to-silk transition
Scoop it, rub it, and it liquefies into an oil-like slip in under 5 seconds.
No tacky film
Most HA serums leave that gluey residue. This one doesn’t. It vanishes.
Pump-free design
You dip in. It’s messy but satisfying. Keep it on your bathroom counter, not in a drawer.
Photo: Lina Verovaya / Unsplash
Five molecular weights of HA plus polyglutamic acid — which holds more water than HA itself. The jelly format keeps them stable without alcohol or silicone.
- Sodium Hyaluronate: Small molecule penetrates deep
- Hydrolyzed HA: Mid-layer plumping
- Polyglutamic Acid: Locks moisture on surface
- Panthenol: Calms irritation from acids or retinoids
Photo: Content Pixie / Unsplash
It’s cold. Like refrigerated jelly on a hot face. Spreads with zero friction — you only need half a pea-sized scoop. Absorbs in 10 seconds flat, leaving skin bouncy but completely bare to the touch.
Week 2 surprise: my foundation stopped pilling. I didn’t expect a hydrating serum to fix that, but the lack of film meant my sunscreen and makeup actually sat on top instead of sliding off.
Photo: Laura Chouette / Unsplash
My fine lines around the nose looked softer by day 5 — not gone, just less etched in. But my oily T-zone stayed oily. It hydrates, it doesn’t regulate oil.
Photo: Dominik Vanyi / Unsplash
It’s the most fun I’ve had with hydration since discovering sheet masks. And unlike those, this one actually sinks in.