These days, hyaluronic acid has joined the pantheon of tried-and-true ingredients—so much so that it's hard to find a moisturizer (or serum or toner...) without the moisturizing light-but-heavyweight. So it wasn’t exactly groundbreaking when the newish Irish brand Pestle & Mortar launched their Pure Hyaluronic Serum. In fact, such was my enthusiasm that it took me over a month to even open and try the stuff. My mistake.

Beauty products are so complicated these days. So many steps, so many life-changing promises...it's refreshing to open something as simple as this bottle. The clear, scentless gel-like solution goes on easily and dries quickly. And sure, it plays well with others if you feel so inclined to layer and add your own spin. But for now, I've crowned it my pared-down, all-in-one (it's got things like aloe and vitamin E, too, as I can't completely abandon my need for multiple things on my skin at once). Not for nothing, the company’s founder is a mother of five with totally flawless skin too. But the most important thing about it is that it leaves my skin looking and feeling so damn smooth (even after a 10-hour flight!). Sometimes it really is the simple things.

—Victoria Lewis

Photographed by Tom Newton. Hyaluronic acid injections are big in Korea. Will the procedure catch on in the States?