Mary & May Hyaluronic Acid

Not all hyaluronic acid serums work the same way. Standard-weight HA molecules are too large to pass through the skin barrier; they stay on the surface and form a film that holds moisture in place, reducing transepidermal water loss and giving skin a plump, smooth appearance. They work well as the final moisture-sealing step on the surface.

Low-molecular HA fragments (hydrolysed hyaluronic acid) are significantly smaller and can penetrate into the upper layers of the epidermis, delivering hydration below the surface. Mary & May offers both options: the Hyaluronic Serum (30 ml) uses standard HA, while the Hyaluronic Acid Low Molecular Serum (30 ml) uses smaller fragments for deeper-layer hydration. Using both in sequence - low molecular first, standard on top - covers both depth and surface hydration simultaneously.

The Hyaluronic Serum (30 ml) is the general-purpose option that works for all skin types looking to add a hydration step before moisturiser. It is lightweight, absorbs quickly, and layers without pilling under most creams and SPF formulas.

The Hyaluronic Acid Low Molecular Serum (30 ml) is targeted at skin with deeper dehydration concerns - skin that feels tight and dull even after applying standard moisturisers. The smaller HA fragments reach the epidermis rather than sitting on the surface. Both are 30 ml, which at one to two pumps per application lasts approximately four to six weeks of daily use. If your budget allows only one, pick based on whether your skin needs surface plumping (standard) or deeper rehydration (low molecular).

The Mary & May Hyaluronic Panthenol Hydra Mask comes in single units and a 30-piece box. Both versions carry the same formula: hyaluronic acid paired with panthenol (provitamin B5), which is a skin-conditioning agent that strengthens the barrier and promotes healing. Panthenol makes this mask particularly suitable for sensitised or post-procedure skin that needs gentle but effective hydration.

The 30-piece box is the value format for daily or near-daily masking. At one mask per use, the box covers a full month of daily application or two months at every-other-day use. Single packs are practical for travel or for testing the mask before committing to a box. Use the mask after cleansing and toning, leave on for 15-20 minutes, then press the remaining essence into skin rather than rinsing it off.

The Rose Hyaluronic Hydra Washoff Pack comes in a 125 g tube and a 30 g travel size. It functions as a hydrating wash-off mask applied once or twice per week on top of cleansed skin, left on for five to ten minutes, then rinsed. The combination of rose extract and hyaluronic acid makes this a soothing and deeply moisturising weekly treatment.

The washoff format delivers a higher concentration of actives than a leave-on product because it is removed before the skin becomes over-saturated. Use it in the evening as a weekly boost to your routine: cleanse, apply the pack, rinse, tone, then proceed with your usual serum and moisturiser steps. The 30 g size covers approximately eight to ten uses as a spot treatment or face pack.

The Vegan Mildly Acidic Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser (150 ml) is formulated at a slightly acidic pH, which preserves the skin's acid mantle rather than disrupting it the way alkaline cleansers do. The hyaluronic acid inclusion reduces the stripping effect common to gel cleansers, making this format practical for daily use on combination or sensitive skin that often reacts to cleansers.

Use it as the second cleanse in a double-cleanse routine after an oil-based cleanser, or as a single-step cleanser on days when you have not worn heavy makeup or SPF. The 150 ml tube lasts approximately two to three months at twice-daily use. The vegan formulation uses plant-derived surfactants rather than animal-derived ingredients.

A full Mary & May hyaluronic routine: Vegan Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser - HA toner or essence (apply to damp skin) - Hyaluronic Acid Low Molecular Serum - Hyaluronic Serum on top as the surface layer - moisturiser - SPF in the morning. Layer the two serums from low molecular (first) to standard (second) to address both depth and surface hydration.

Add the Hyaluronic Panthenol Hydra Mask two to three times per week as a dedicated hydration step after cleansing, before serum. The Rose Hyaluronic Washoff Pack works as a weekly treatment in the evening in place of (or after) the regular mask session. All Mary & May products in this range layer without known interaction issues, so the full lineup is compatible.

Several products in the Mary & May hyaluronic lineup carry explicit vegan labelling: the Vegan Rose Hyaluronic Hydra Washoff Pack (both 125 g and 30 g sizes) and the Vegan Mildly Acidic Hyaluronic Gel Cleanser (150 ml). These products use plant-derived or synthetic alternatives for every ingredient that would otherwise require animal sourcing, and the vegan label appears on the product packaging.

Mary & May operates without animal testing on finished products, in line with South Korean cosmetics regulations which ban animal testing. For the non-vegan-labelled products in the lineup such as the Hyaluronic Panthenol Hydra Mask and the serums, the formulas are free from animal-derived ingredients in practice but do not carry a third-party vegan certification on every SKU.

Dehydrated skin of any type is the primary target for the Mary & May hyaluronic range. Oily-dehydrated skin particularly benefits because hyaluronic acid serums and gel cleansers add moisture without heavy oils or waxes that would worsen congestion. Dry skin gets the most from the full lineup including the sheet masks and richer serum layers. Combination skin works well with the gel cleanser and lightweight serums daily, supplemented by the hydra mask on drier zones.

The Low Molecular Serum is particularly useful for mature skin that has lost the ability to retain moisture in the deeper epidermal layers. The Vegan Mildly Acidic Cleanser suits sensitive skin given its pH-balanced formula and gentle surfactants. New-to-brand shoppers can start with either the Hyaluronic Serum or the Hyaluronic Panthenol Hydra Mask single pack as a low-commitment entry point into the lineup.