The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 On your shelf ✓
Maya's readThe Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a serum built around Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid and Pro-vitamin B5. It leans strongest on hydration, barrier repair. Best suited to dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin. Go slow — the active is potent enough to irritate if overused.
Skip it if your barrier is already sensitised or compromised — the acids can sting broken or over-exfoliated skin.
What it delivers
How it feels A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film. — estimated from the formula
What's in it that matters
Classic humectant with strong evidence for improving skin hydration and supporting barrier when combined with emollients.
Water-binding molecule that increases hydration; works best under occlusive/emollient layers to reduce evaporation.
Humectant and soothing ingredient that helps calm irritation and supports barrier repair and recovery.
Key facts
- Type
- Serum
- Key actives
- Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid 2%, Pro-vitamin B5
- Fragrance
- None detected
- Fungal-acne (Malassezia) safe
- Likely, by the formula
- Pregnancy
- No flagged actives
- Ingredients
- 16 listed
- Typical price
- ~€8
How to use it
In the evening, and not every night — 2–3 times a week is plenty. Follow with a moisturiser, and wear sunscreen the next day.
Keep it away from
- Retinoids (retinol, tretinoin)
- Benzoyl peroxide
- Other exfoliating acids the same night
Free from
- Fragrance-free
- Alcohol-free
- Silicone-free
- Paraben-free
Best for
- Dry
- Dehydrated
- Sensitive
Worth knowing
Nothing our knowledge base would flag: no high-comedogenic or pregnancy-caution actives here.
Common questions
Is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 good for dry skin?
By our read of the formula, it suits dry, dehydrated, sensitive skin. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is a serum built around Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid and Pro-vitamin B5. It leans strongest on hydration, barrier repair. Best suited to dry, dehydrated and sensitive skin. Go slow — the active is potent enough to irritate if overused.
How do you use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5?
In the evening, and not every night — 2–3 times a week is plenty. Follow with a moisturiser, and wear sunscreen the next day.
What are the key ingredients in The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5?
The actives that do the work are Glycerin, Hyaluronic acid, Pro-vitamin B5. The rest of the list is texture, preservatives and emulsifiers that hold the formula together.
Does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 contain fragrance?
No. By our reading of the ingredient list it is fragrance-free, which is a plus for sensitive or reactive skin.
The full formula, decoded
Every ingredient on the label, in the order it appears (highest amount first). We link the 7 our library knows, name what each one does, and flag anything that can irritate or clog. The rest we leave plain, nothing is hidden.
- Aqua/WaterSolvent (base)
- Sodium HyaluronateHumectant
- Pentylene GlycolHumectant / solvent
- PropanediolHumectant
- Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerHumectant
- PanthenolHumectant
- GlycerinHumectant
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine DisuccinateChelator (stabiliser)
- Citric AcidExfoliantmild irritant
- Isoceteth-20Emulsifier
- EthoxydiglycolSolvent
- EthylhexylglycerinPreservative booster
- Sodium ChlorideThickener (salt)
- Hexylene GlycolHumectant / solvent
- PhenoxyethanolPreservativemild irritant
- ChlorphenesinPreservative
Copy the raw INCI list
Aqua/Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Chloride, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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We don't make or sell skincare of our own. So there's nothing here we're trying to push, just an honest read of whether this formula suits your skin.