If your skin frequently feels tight, flaky or lackluster, odds are you’ve been on the hunt for a great hydrating serum for dry skin — and chances are you stumbled upon The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum more than once.
Moisture is the key to rejuvenated, healthy-looking skin. Without it, your skin barrier is compromised, fine lines look more prominent and that natural plumpness vanishes. Here’s where hydrating skin care products like The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum come into play.
This fan-favorite product has been raved about as the top hydrating serum for dry skin, because there’s nothing fancy about its formula — but who needs frills when you can keep it simple and effective? Made with a combination of hyaluronic acid in several different molecular weights, combined with vitamin B5 to calm the skin. All of which sounds lovely, but does it live up to its promise?
But let’s face it: there are a lot of hydrating skincare products out there, so is this serum as great as everyone says? This comprehensive review of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum will cover everything you need to know—ingredients, packaging, performance, as well as some personal thoughts on how this serum compares with others from the brand and real ́user experiences.
By the end, you’ll have a pretty good idea of whether The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum needs to make room for itself in your regular skincare lineup.
Did You Know?
Your skin naturally contains hyaluronic acid, but levels of the nutrient can deplete over time and through exposure to environmental toxins. A single gram of the stuff can carry up to six litres of water which is why it’s used in hydrating skincare products.
At a Glance: What You Need to Know
| Feature | The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum Review |
|---|---|
| Primary ingredients | Hyaluronic acid (multi-weight), Vitamin B5 |
| Texture | Lightweight, non-greasy, dries quickly |
| Pricing | Affordable (usually under £10) |
| Suitable for dry skin? | Yes, best hydrating serum for dry skin |
| Other benefits | Plumps, minimizes fine lines, vegan, cruelty-free |
| Drawbacks | Can feel sticky if overapplied |
| Texture | Lightweight gel-like serum |
| Compared to competitors | Outperforms many higher-priced hydrating skincare products |
A Closer Look: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum
Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is one of the more well-known (and popular!) water-based serums that has users raving about its hydrating and plumping power. The brand has two offerings: a tried and true original formula and a newer one containing ceramides.
- Multi-pronged hydration: Hydrates different layers of skin with varying sizes of hyaluronic acid molecules.
- Better moisture barrier: Pro-vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and ceramides (in the updated version), help nourish skin’s barrier.
- Lightweight serum: Water-based texture absorbs quickly and non-sticky.
- Minimizes fine lines: Layers onto skin to plump up and minimize wrinkles that come with dryness.
- Budget-friendly: An affordable option to bring powerful hydration to your routine.
- Safe for all skin types: This lotion is non comedogenic and can be used on dry, oily or sensitive skin.
Key Ingredients and Their Functions
What’s inside the bottle? All of that added up means The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum is one of the best hydrating skincare products out there. Let’s demystify it:
- Multi-molecular Hyaluronic Acid (weighing low, medium and high): Moisturises for several skin layers, maximising also hydration.
- Vitamin B5 (Panthenol): Hydrates the skin, reduces redness and strengthens your skin barrier.
- Water (Aqua): Hydrates without the oil.
- No fragrance, no oils, no silicones, no alcohols: great for sensitive and dry skin.
- Ceramides: Traps moisture, helps to scaffold the barrier up even higher.
First Look: My Thoughts on the Packaging
There’s no flashy packaging with The Ordinary, whose minimalist branding looks more like that of a science-led laboratory than a cosmetics company, but you do get chic and practical glass dropper bottles. It’s durable, recyclable, and that professional sensation you’d want from good-for-you hydrating skincare. The bottle is nice and tactile to touch, for an effortlessly convenient daily application that adds a dash of style to your routine.
The bottle is fully recyclable too, so eco-friendly shoppers will also love it as one of the best hydrating skincare products in the budget range.
Who Should Try this Serum?
Who do I recommend The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum To? If you’re interested in visible moisture and comfort—minus the danger or cost—this serum is for you.
- Dry skin types: The serum tackles conditions such as tightness, itchy patches and makeup flakiness by drenching your complexion in water at multiple levels.
- Barrier-compromised skin: Panthenol and ceramides revive sensitive, stressed or environmentally compromised skin.
- Sensitive and allergy-prone skin: With a minimalist ingredient list, this one’s free of many common irritants so reactions are less likely.
- For beauty on a budget: It offers more for your money than many far more expensive, luxury best hydrating serum for dry skin options.
- Ageing skin: Plumping and smoothing qualities provide a hydrating effect from the inside, which minimises fine lines and droopiness.
How I Use It for Best Results
The way to get the maximum effects of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum are straightforward, but the devil’s in the details:
- Thoroughly wash skin and keep away from harsh stripping cleansers.
- Use 2-3 drops per use; they go a long way.
- Pat onto face and neck when skin is damp, if possible.
- Immediately follow with moisturizer to lock in hydration and enhance plumping action.
- Apply morning and night as part of your daily hydrating skin care routine.
- To make extra sure you’re absorbing as much moisture as possible, combine with richer creams or avec dedicated barrier treatments.
Pair It With
To maximize benefits, pair The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum with Niacinamide Serum, moisturizer with ceramides and gentle cleanser.
User Reviews: What People Are Saying
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum Thousands of users can’t be wrong: This serum actually works. The majority of dry skin types will see flakiness diminish, elasticity improve and a comfort bounce come back to the skin — sometimes in as little us a week.
Clinical trials and consumer panels have seen up to 134% immediate rise in moisture, sustained at 55% improvement over six weeks—thus, one of the best hydrating serum for dry skin in terms of immediate and progressive effect. Lines and wrinkles appear softened, skin texture improved 64% smoother* and a visible reduction in dehydration lines.
If there is some residual tackiness, from what I have tried, it can be mitigated by applying less or layering with a richer cream. Allergic reactions or irritation are rare, making it a safe bet for most — but as with all hydrating skin care products, patch test first.
Editor’s Note: My Skin Type & Experience
My skin is dehydrated, sensitive, and prone to eczema flare-ups. Enter The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum and it became an essential in my arsenal of hydrating skincare products. Within days, the tightness in my skin subsided, and my complexion appeared plumper, smoother, and more even under makeup.
How It Stacks Up Against Other Serums
How does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum compare to similar products in the best hydrating serum for dry skin category? Let’s elaborate:
Mini Serum Face-Off
Value, clinical efficacy and the obvious real-world use is where The Ordinary continues to shine—so it’s our best hydrating serum for dry skin that doesn’t need a miracle (or cost one) when shopping for hydration.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Budget-friendly
- Clean, gentle, and vegan
- Suitable for layering, boosting the effect of moisturizers and SPFs
- Deep hydration with multi-layer penetration
- Pairs well with other hydrating skincare products
- Fragrance-free and suitable for sensitive skin
Cons
- Can feel sticky if over-applied
- Glass packaging is breakable
- Results are subtle, not instant transformation
Final Thoughts: Is It Worth Adding to Your Routine?
The name The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum is deceptive as it does much more than just hydrate the skin’s surface. Multi-weight hyaluronic acid drenches every level of skin, while vitamin B5 brings lasting relief and ceramides lock in all the good stuff and keep out all bad stuff. The fact that it’s tested by dermatologists and is supposed to be noncomedogenic makes me even more excited to use this serum, especially considering it’s also one of the cheapest hydrating skincare products on the market.
FAQs
What makes The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Serum different from other hydrating face products?
Its multi-weight hyaluronic acid, plus vitamin B5 and ceramides offer deeper and longer-lasting hydration and barrier repair than most single-weight formulas.
Would sensitive skin be able to use it?
Yes, research shows virtually no irritation, even among sensitive- or allergy-susceptible users. Patch test if you’ve had issues with hydrating skincare products in the past.
Does it actually minimize fine lines and wrinkles?
The clinical study shows reduction in lines as high as 31% and a 60% increase in overall skin plumpness. It’s not a miracle, but it works pretty well for most people.
