In-Depth Rodan and Fields Active Hydration Serum Review

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Balanced hydration: it’s the holy grail of any skincare routine— and just as tricky to find.

Heavy moisturizers can leave you with an oil slick rather than a flawless shine, but insufficient hydration accentuates fine lines, or worse, leads to flaky, dry spots. What’s a skincare aficionado to do?

If you’re like most of us, you keep reading reviews and trying moisturizing products until you find the perfect match for your skin type, and we have another review for you.

Rodan and Fields Active Hydration Serum is touted to increase moisture levels by 200% in just one use and improve retention within one week, but does this miracle product live up to the hype?

We took a closer look at R+F Active Hydration serum, analyzing its ingredients, how it works, and its benefits, and came up with a comprehensive product review to help you determine if this moisturizer is worth its salt— it actually contains sea salt, but we’ll get to that in a moment.

What Is Rodan+Fields Active Hydration Serum?

Rodan+Fields Active Hydration Serum

R+F Active Hydration Serum is, as the name implies, a hydrating serum, meaning it’s a thick liquid applied to your face after cleansing but before your moisturizer and other beauty products.

This serum is designed to offer all-day hydration— or 8 hours’ worth at least— and improve moisture retention.

Because it doesn’t contain common heavy moisturizers found in most rich creams, it is suitable for all skin types.

It’s suggested to be a particularly good option if you have sensitive skin and is non-comedogenic as well as non-acnegenic, meaning it won’t cause breakouts or clog your pores.

You can use it on your face, neck, chest, and hands, as desired.

What’s in It? Active Hydration Serum Ingredients

This hydration serum contains all-natural, powerful Rodan and Fields ingredients, many with proven efficiency in the beauty industry. Here are a few of the key ingredients:

  • Humectants: Humectants, such as Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Pentylene Glycol, draw water to your skin, increasing hydration and locking it in.
  • Apple Fruit Extract: Apples have a wide variety of phytochemicals, most of which have strong anticancer and antioxidant activity. Apple fruit extract can condition and moisturize your skin, giving it a fresh look. Plus, it smells great!
  • Ceramides: Ceramides help with hydration and keep your skin moist. When combined with cholesterol, they can help improve your skin’s natural moisture barrier. This serum not only contains ceramides and cholesterol, but it contains more than one ceramide. It has five, to be exact.
  • Lecithin: While there is not as much research on Lecithin in the skincare world, it’s currently believed to boost cell regeneration and growth.
  • Hyaluronic Acid: Part of Rodan+Feilds proprietary 3d3p molecular matrix, hyaluronic acid works with humectants to hold water and protect your skin.
  • Sea Salt: Salt may seem an odd ingredient for a hydrating serum, but it’s packed full of minerals that help nourish your skin, such as magnesium, sodium, and calcium.
  • Lactic Acid: Lactic acid exfoliates, fades dark spots and helps other products in your skincare routine penetrate deeper for better, faster results.
Young woman looking at herself in a little mirror

Related Article: Unbiased Rodan + Fields Review: Ingredients, Products, Prices & Results

How Do You Use It?

R+F Active Hydration Serum is designed for nightly use after cleansing but can be used AM and PM if you have very dry skin. Those with oily or combination skin should stick to just one application a day.

It comes in a convenient twist-top bottle that automatically dispenses the proper product amount with the push of a button.

Simply close your eyes and apply the serum to your entire face. You can continue on to the next step in your routine immediately— no need to wait for the serum to set.

Naturally, R+F recommends using the brand’s other products, such as those in the REDEFINE line, following the serum for the best results.

What Are the Benefits of the Rodan Fields Active Hydration Serum?

As mentioned, Rodan+Fields Active Hydration has a few advertised benefits. First, based on an 8-day study, it increases moisture levels by 200% for up to 8 hours.

In a second 2-week study, 100% of participants reported better moisture retention within the first week, and 94% had improved hydration levels by week two.

Keep in mind that hydration and moisturizing are not the same things. Hydrating products like this active serum add actual water to the skin, while moisturizers lock that water in, supporting the skin’s barrier.

Even if you don’t have visibly dry skin or spots, improved hydration can resolve a long list of skin concerns, such as greasiness, sagging skin, fine lines, and more.

If you want to make your skin glow, moisture matters, and Rodan+Fields Active Hydration Serum is formulated to deliver just that.

Does the Active Hydration Serum Have Any Side Effects?

As everything in this product is natural, side effects are uncommon. We did find a few customer reviews from people reporting redness, skin irritation, and other symptoms of an allergic reaction.

Like with all serums and skincare products, remember to do a patch test before you put it on your entire face.

This product may also cause flare-ups in those prone to Malassezia (Pityrosporum) Folliculitis, also known as fungal acne due to the presence of Ascorbyl Palmitate and Behenic Acid.

Beautiful woman with clean skin

Some people report their skin feels sticky after using R+F Active Hydration Serum, but this complaint mostly comes down to user error. Skincare serums like this aren’t designed to be used alone or heavily.

Applying too much product or failing to apply other products after use may result in some stickiness until the product dries.

Is R+F Active Hydration Serum Worth the Investment?

Rodan+Fields is a trusted brand well-known for producing high-quality skincare products, and their Active Hydration Serum is no different.

Based on user reviews, clinical studies performed by the company, and a review of this serum’s ingredients, it is likely to improve your skin’s hydration level to relieve dry skin.

According to the company, long term and frequent application will do more than that.

It will leave you with smooth, youthful, and radiant skin, and we see no reason it wouldn’t deliver on that promise, making it well worth the investment, or a trial run at the very least (though there is no trial size).

Results are supposed to be instant.

Even so, if you’re on a budget, this serum might not fit your needs. There are products at better price points that can simplify your skincare routine, such as [promo-showProductNameAffLink].

[promo-showProductName] is an all-in-one anti-aging product that will help improve your skin’s health in more ways than one.

Rather than using multiple serums for various skin concerns, such as dryness, acne, wrinkles, and elasticity loss, why not cut out a few steps and use just one cream?

Want more details? Check out the official [promo-showProductName] website.

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Avatar for Megan Foley

Megan has been a freelance writer and editor since 2016. In that time, she’s penned a diverse collection of articles for online publication, with a focus on skincare and beauty. From in-depth product reviews to concise marketing content, Megan is passionate about developing content that informs, entertains, and inspires.