Index / Prequel / Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum
Prequel

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum.

About this product

A lightweight hydrating serum with 10% glycerin, polyglutamic acid, and ectoin designed to plump skin and strengthen the moisture barrier.

Full ingredients

Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Polyglutamic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ectoin, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Fruit Extract, Erythritol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Xanthan Gum, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Acrylates/​C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopherol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide

More from Prequel 27 products · Guru Score 94% →

Guru Score

63%

Mixed

9 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This serum delivers solid hydration and a smooth, slippy texture that layers well, especially when applied to damp skin, though opinions split on whether it truly plumps. Most gurus praise the long-lasting moisture and short, clean ingredient list, making it friendly for sensitive skin; however, a few found it either too heavy, prone to pilling, or simply average in performance and not worth repurchasing. Those with dehydrated skin or anyone already using hyaluronic acid may find the polyglutamic acid a step up, but best patch-test first if you have a history of products pilling on you.
Synthesized from 9 expert reviews · most recent take June 2026

What they liked

  • Lightweight gel texture that layers easily
  • Long-lasting hydration through the day
  • Generous size at 1.7 ounces for the price

What they flagged

  • Heavy feel on sensitive skin types
  • Shiny finish may not suit oily skin

Type

Key actives

Vitamin E

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Mixed
"This is an incredible hydrating serum with 10% glycerin, polyglutamic acid, and ectoin, and it's affordable, 1.7 fluid ounces for $28. But [...] I didn't find myself loving the way this feels, it feels a little heavy, and as a sensitive skin type I think I need something a bit more soothing. [...] I can use it, but it felt like an additional step, so it just didn't fit into my routine very well, nor did I like the feel of it."
~Nay
"I understand that basically [...] one of the ingredients that Prequel revolves around is glycerin and I love that idea. [...] I want to love it. It doesn't work for me. This is the Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum. It doesn't matter what I do, doesn't matter how little I use, doesn't matter what layering, if I use it on its own, it doesn't matter. It pills on me no matter what. And that seems to be the case with glycerin products. [...] In leave on products, it just doesn't work for me."
~Yay
"This one's got polyglutamic acid, which is great for hydrating your skin. We've got ectoine, which is a wonderful ingredient, is great for so many different things. It's great for protecting yourself. It's great for soothing your skin. It's great for barrier repairing. It is an amazing protecting ingredient that does pretty much everything. And it plays well with every other product you've got or every other ingredient you can possibly think of. We've got hibiscus extract."
All 4 takes from No BS Beauty
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"It really does a nice job adding some moisture to skin. I would love to see it include a couple more soothing ingredients or beneficial ingredients, but it's got a short ingredient list, which is nice for sensitive skin. For what this product promises to provide excellent skin moisturization, improve the skin barrier and support the skin's natural moisturizing factor, I would say it pretty much does all of those things in a serum, especially with a short ingredient list."
Prequel Skincare Multi Quench Plumping Hydration Face Serum Review, How to Use, and Dupes
"It really does a nice job adding some moisture to skin. I would love to see it include a couple more soothing ingredients or beneficial ingredients, but it's got a short ingredient [...] list, which is nice for sensitive skin. For what this product promises to provide excellent skin moisturization, improve the skin barrier, and support the skin's natural moisturizing factor, I would say it pretty much does all of those things in a serum, especially with the short ingredient list."
The Best Hydrating Facial Serums - Fragrance Free- There’s One for Everyone!
"This one's got polyglutamic acid, which is great for hydrating your skin. We've got ectoine, which is a wonderful ingredient, is great for so many different things. It's great for protecting yourself. It's great for soothing your skin. It's great for barrier repairing. It is an amazing protecting ingredient that does pretty much everything. And it plays well with every other product you've got or every other ingredient you can possibly think of. We've got hibiscus extract."
Ectoin: The Skincare Ingredient You’re Not Using (But Should Be) + My Favorite Products
"This was one of Prequel's first products [...] when they first came out. [...] This one's got more of a shiny, radiant finish to it. [...] A little bit of this one goes a very long way and it has no scent. The packaging is really nice and [...] this is 1.7 oz, which is [...] the largest out of all of them. So really nice option. No scent, really wonderful brand."
~Mixed
"It's definitely unique to this product. [...] The discomfort is not significant and it's very mild and it doesn't last very long. It's short-lived. There's no accompanied redness. I haven't had any peeling or irritation. I have found that it's average in its performance as a hydrating product. I don't think it is as good for me or I don't enjoy it as much. I don't get as much wow factor from this."
~Yay
"This is a lovely serum that they came out with re recently. I always want to call this quench, but it's multi-quench. Super hydrating serum. [...] So far, I'm loving it. And I definitely think it's going to be on sale on Prime Day."
~Yay
"I was surprised by the hydration that it does bring to the skin. And I think what really struck me about it was the long lasting hydration. That's something that I really key in on because I do often suffer with dehydration. [...] If you have higher hydration needs, your skin demands a lot of hydration because it's going through dehydration, transepidermal water loss, and losing hydration throughout the day."
All 2 takes from Kelly Driscoll
5 Tips to Boost Confidence | Chatty AM Skincare Routine
"This is the Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum. I've really been enjoying this. This is poly glutamic acid. There's ectoin in here, which you know is one of my favorite kind of lowkey favorite ingredients for dehydrated skin. And I definitely am feeling a touch of dehydration lately in my skin. So I've been playing around with this one."
I Tried 5 Prequel Skincare Products | Worth It for Sensitive Skin?
"I was surprised by the hydration that it does bring to the skin. And I think what really struck me about it was the long lasting hydration. That's something that I really key in on because I do often suffer with dehydration. [...] If you have higher hydration needs, your skin demands a lot of hydration because it's going through dehydration, transepidermal water loss, and losing hydration throughout the day."
~Mixed
"Does it plump your skin? No. Does it hydrate your skin? Yes. Is it a must-have? No. I'm going to use it, finish it, and I'm not going to repurchase it. But if you're someone who uses hyaluronic acid, like a basic hyaluronic acid, then this is a much more superior formula. If you like hyaluronic acid, then you can obviously think about getting this product. It's a good, superior kind of product. I like it."
~Yay
"Serums that have hyaluronic acid are really good at doing this. The Prequel Multi-Quen Serum is also very good at doing this because it uses poly glutamic acid, but these are molecules that essentially draw water to the surface of the skin. So, it's going to fill in those little fine lines, make the skin look more hydrated and juicy, and that's instant prettiness in my book. These tend to work the best when you apply them to damp skin."
SponsoredFounder's own brand
All 9 takes from Dr. Sam Ellis
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"Serums that have hyaluronic acid are really good at doing this. The Prequel Multi-Quen Serum is also very good at doing this because it uses poly glutamic acid, but these are molecules that essentially draw water to the surface of the skin. So, it's going to fill in those little fine lines, make the skin look more hydrated and juicy, and that's instant prettiness in my book. These tend to work the best when you apply them to damp skin."
Makeup + Retinol: The Hidden Conflict You’re Ignoring | Dr. Sam Ellis
"While your skin is just the tiniest bit damp, I love going in with a [...] hydration serum. I am a big fan of my Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum. This uses polyglutamic acid, which not only helps"
Introducing Prequel's NEW Retinal Renew Retinaldehyde Gel 0.1% & 0.2% | Dr. Sam Ellis
"If you're using the Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum, I would clean my skin, apply that, then go in with retinol, and then moisturize on top."
Introducing Prequel's NEW Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum | Dr. Sam Ellis
"When I put on Multi-Quench, it's so good, it glides so effortlessly, it's nice and slippy, and then it just melts into the skin. Not only does this feel good right when you apply it and throughout the day, but it also allows you to layer other products over it and not let your hydrating serum compromise the rest of your skincare. In my mind, a great hydrating serum supports the rest of your skincare regimen and doesn't interfere with it."
6 Skincare Hacks I Would Do NOW for Better Skin in 30 Days | Dr. Sam Ellis
"My go-to hydration serum is from my brand Prequel, it's the Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum. And instead of using hyaluronic acid, which is pretty typical in hydration serums, this one uses poly glutamic acid, which has an even better ability to hold on to water in the skin. It also offers barrier support, so you're not just getting this robust skin plumping and skin hydrating ability, you're also making the skin healthier."
My Real Routine: What I Tell Patients vs. What I Do Myself | Dr. Sam Ellis
"It's the whole reason I developed the Prequel Multi-Quench Hydration Serum. I wanted something that I could layer under my moisturizer that would give me a little added immediate plumpness and improve the health of my skin. So, it was like two birds, one stone, one extra step, but totally worth it for me."
Anti-aging Skincare: When to Spend and When to Save | Dr. Sam Ellis
"The Plumping Hydration Serum from my brand Prequel Multi-Quench, which is very quickly becoming our bestseller, has won multiple Beauty Awards this year for the hydration category and it's $28 for 1.7 oz and it's gorgeous and effective and gives you that instant juicy oomph to your skin."
Make Your Retinoids Work BETTER | Easy Retinol Hacks | Dr. Sam Ellis
"I will often take my Prequel Multi-Quench hydration serum and put a layer of that on first before I go in with my retinoid. Even though I've been using retinoids for so long I still have rosacea and sensitive skin and I like having a little bit of a buffer. Plus I like that instant hydration and plumping I get from the serum while I'm sort of waiting for those long-term results of my retinoid."
How to Treat Crepey Eyes Like a Dermatologist | Dr. Sam Ellis
"When my brand Prequel launched Multi-Quench, which is our plumping hydration serum, so many people DM'd me about putting it up under their eyes and how much it helped the appearance there."
~Yay
"My current favorite Prequel product is the Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum. I actually tried it out because of my friend Pensmith Skincare, she's an expert aesthetician and I literally trust everything she says. She raved about this so I have been using it ever since I heard her talk about it and I've really been loving it. I applied this after the liquid exfoliant and it just kind of plumps the skin. It makes it feel and look very nice."
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What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is an antioxidant, and it is often in a formula to keep the other ingredients stable rather than as the active itself. It pairs well with vitamin C, though on its own the evidence for visible change is limited.

Source: NIH, National Library of Medicine

Frequently asked.

What is Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum?

A lightweight hydrating serum with 10% glycerin, polyglutamic acid, and ectoin designed to plump skin and strengthen the moisture barrier.

Is Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum worth it?

The gurus mostly approve it, but with enough reservations to keep it in the middle at a Guru Score of 63%.

What is Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum's Guru Score?

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum holds a Guru Score of 63%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 9 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum best for?

Prequel Multi-Quench Plumping Hydration Serum is generally suited to dry skin and sensitive skin.

Cheaper alternatives the gurus rate.

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