Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum
The Budget Hydrator, Perfected
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Dramatically improved texture eliminates the sticky, tacky feel of the original formula
- +Five molecular weights of HA provide the most comprehensive multi-depth hydration in the lineup
- +Ceramide complex adds genuine barrier support that the original formula lacked entirely
- +Just $1 more than the original despite meaningfully upgraded ingredients and technology
- +Available in a 60ml size for better long-term value and 4-6 months of use
- +Suitable for post-microneedling use due to gentle, barrier-supporting formulation
- +Universally tolerable with zero common irritants, fragrances, or allergens
- −Some users report pilling when layered under silicone-heavy sunscreens or foundations
- −A small number of users in very dry climates report feeling tighter rather than more hydrated
- −Dropper dispenses more product than needed per application, encouraging waste
- −Combined review counts with original make it hard to isolate reformulation-specific feedback
- −Ceramide concentrations likely supplemental rather than replacement for dedicated ceramide moisturizers
The full review.
Changing a bestseller is risky. Since The Ordinary launched in 2016, the original Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 became a top seller. Millions of bottles sold and countless routines use it; it defined the budget hydrating serum category. Changing it risks alienating a decade of loyal users. Changing it correctly proves you listen.
The Ordinary got it right.
The 2024 reformulation of the Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5—now subtitled “Hydrating Serum” and upgraded with ceramides—addresses user feedback. It fixes the stickiness, adds barrier support, and includes a fifth molecular weight. The result makes the original feel like a draft.
Texture
The texture changed most. The original’s sticky, tacky finish is gone. The reformulated serum absorbs cleanly, leaves a lightweight dewy finish, and layers under other products without the gummy resistance of the original. For a product used twice daily under serums, moisturizers, and sunscreen, this matters. It is the difference between using a product because it works and enjoying the experience.
Formula
The upgraded formula sits beneath the new texture. The five-weight hyaluronic acid complex now includes hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid, which has a smaller molecular size than the low-weight HA in the original. Hydrolyzed HA penetrates deeper into the epidermis, reaching layers that low-molecular-weight sodium hyaluronate struggles to reach. Combined with the original’s high, medium, and low-weight HA plus the sustained-release crosspolymer, this is the most comprehensive multi-depth hydration system The Ordinary has ever bottled.
The ceramide complex is the main addition. Phospholipids and sphingolipids—the lipid building blocks of the skin’s intercellular matrix—turn this from a pure humectant into a hydrate-and-protect formula. The original pulled water into the skin but lacked ways to keep it there beyond panthenol’s barrier support. The ceramide components reinforce the moisture barrier so the HA complex hydration stays put. Vitamin E (tocopherol) also protects these oxidation-sensitive lipids from degrading.
Panthenol remains. The Ordinary kept it because it works. Pro-vitamin B5 reduces transepidermal water loss and soothes irritated skin, complementing both the HA complex and the new ceramide components. It connects the hydrating and barrier-supporting parts of the formula.
How to Use
The serum performs as the ingredient list predicts. Apply it to damp skin—the optimal method for any HA product—for immediate plumping and a dewy finish that settles into non-greasy hydration within a minute. The surface stickiness of the original is essentially absent. After one to two weeks of twice-daily use, hydration improves: less midday tightness, better moisture retention in air-conditioned rooms, and smoother skin texture.
Ceramide benefits take four to six weeks of consistent use to strengthen the barrier. Lipid barrier repair is a cumulative process. Users who previously paired this serum with a ceramide moisturizer may find they need that second product less, as the serum now handles some barrier repair.
Common Complaints
There are limitations. Some users report pilling when layering this serum under silicone-heavy sunscreens or foundations. This is a texture incompatibility, not a formulation flaw. The dropper dispenses more than one application requires, which causes waste. Also, retailer review counts combine original and reformulated reviews, making it hard to isolate feedback for the new version.
Best for
At $9.90—one dollar more than the original—the reformulation offers great value. The ceramide addition alone justifies a price increase that DECIEM avoided. A 60ml size also improves the per-unit economics. This sub-$10 serum delivers five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, ceramide barrier support, panthenol, and vitamin E in a pleasant texture.
Existing fans will find the transition easy. The Ordinary preserved what worked, fixed what didn’t, and added benefits. Newcomers should choose this version over the original. The 2024 reformulation shows that acting on user feedback turns a bestseller into something better.
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list
Aqua (Water), Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Panthenol, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, p-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
The reformulated formula uses a five-weight hyaluronic acid system. Research shows molecular weight dictates skin penetration depth and biological activity. A Pavicic et al. study in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2011) found low-molecular-weight HA (50-130 kDa) penetrates the epidermis better than high-molecular-weight forms. High-MW HA (>1,000 kDa) forms a better surface film and retains moisture immediately. Hydrolyzed HA — enzymatically cleaved into fragments smaller than standard low-MW HA — reaches deeper into the epidermis where water supports cellular processes.
The ceramide addition uses dermatological data on the stratum corneum's lipid matrix. The skin barrier contains roughly 50% ceramides, 25% cholesterol, and 15% free fatty acids in a lamellar structure. Phospholipids and sphingolipids act as precursors and structural components of this matrix. Imokawa et al. published a study in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology showing that topical sphingolipids improve barrier function in skin with low ceramide content — the specific group that benefits most from a hydrating serum with barrier support.
Tocopherol (vitamin E) has two functions here. As an antioxidant, it protects phospholipids and sphingolipids from oxidative degradation. Lipids undergo peroxidation easily, so a water-based serum needs antioxidant protection to keep them stable. Tocopherol also has anti-inflammatory properties in skin, which supports the formula's soothing profile.
Camargo et al. reviewed panthenol in the Journal of Cosmetic Science (2011). They confirmed topical panthenol reduces transepidermal water loss and speeds barrier recovery — benefits that now complement the ceramide components.
References
- Efficacy of cream-based novel formulations of hyaluronic acid of different molecular weights in anti-wrinkle treatment — Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (2011)
Dermatologist Perspective
Dermatologists like this reformulation because the ceramide components fill a gap in the original formula. Board-certified dermatologists say a hydrating serum should support both water content and barrier integrity; the original only did the first. The five-weight HA approach follows current best practices for humectant delivery. Dermatologists also endorse the formula for post-procedure use, specifically after microneedling and light chemical peels. The improved texture is clinically relevant too — patient compliance correlates with cosmetic elegance, so a less sticky formula increases consistent use.
Where it fits in your routine.
Apply 2-3 drops to the face and neck morning and evening. Use immediately after cleansing while skin is damp. Pat gently into skin; do not rub. Follow with moisturizer to seal in hydration. If skin dries after cleansing, mist face with water first for best results. Layer under any serum, cream, or sunscreen. Wait 60-90 seconds for absorption to minimize pilling risk. This works for post-microneedling and post-peel use.
At $9.90 for 30ml — or less per ml in the 60ml size — this reformulation uses five molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, ceramide barrier support, panthenol, and vitamin E for about the price of two fancy lattes. The $1 increase over the original is small compared to the ingredient upgrades: ceramides and a fifth HA weight usually justify a $5-10 premium. DECIEM's decision to keep the price nearly the same shows a commitment to accessibility, making this one of the most value-dense serums on the market. For twice-daily use, the cost per application is approximately ten cents.
This serum hydrates and supports the skin barrier. It suits people who found the original formula too sticky or want ceramide benefits without a separate product. It works for dehydrated, dry, sensitive, or post-procedure skin at any budget level.
This serum works for those happy with the original formula. It lacks active benefits like brightening, anti-acne, or exfoliation and focuses only on hydration. Users whose sunscreens or foundations pill with water-based serums may find layering frustrating.
Product details.
Completely unscented — no detectable fragrance or chemical smell ***
A frosted glass dropper bottle with a white pipette cap matches The Ordinary's clinical aesthetic — now in a 60ml size for better per-unit value.
The first application provides immediate visible plumping and a dewy, hydrated feel without the stickiness of the original. It absorbs within a minute on damp skin. There is no adjustment period, purging, or tingling. Users switching from the original see the texture improvement immediately. ***
2-3 months with twice-daily use on face (30ml); 4-6 months with the 60ml bottle ***
12 months ***
All Year ***
The backstory.
After the original Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 spent eight years as one of the bestselling serums in skincare history, The Ordinary reformulated it in 2024 — a risky move given the original's cult status. The reformulation was driven by two clear pieces of feedback: the texture was too sticky, and a hydrating serum should also support the skin barrier. By adding ceramides and a fifth molecular weight of HA while improving the texture, DECIEM managed to upgrade without alienating the original's devoted user base.
About The Ordinary
Established Brand (5–20 years)The Ordinary launched in 2016 under DECIEM and became a top name in affordable, ingredient-focused skincare. The brand lacks proprietary clinical trials for its specific formulations, but it uses well-studied actives at transparent concentrations, which earns widespread dermatologist acknowledgment.
Common myths.
The ceramides in this formula replace a ceramide moisturizer.
The phospholipids and sphingolipids provide supplemental barrier support. At serum concentrations, they complement a dedicated ceramide moisturizer instead of replacing it. They act as a barrier primer — helpful, but not a substitute for the main course.
The reformulated version is the same product in new packaging.
The INCI lists differ significantly. The reformulation adds hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid (a fifth molecular weight), phospholipids, sphingolipids, tocopherol, and p-anisic acid. It also changes the base to remove the sticky texture. This is a genuine upgrade, not a rebrand.
FAQ.
What's different about the reformulated Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5?
The 2024 reformulation adds a fifth molecular weight of HA (hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid), ceramide components (phospholipids and sphingolipids), and vitamin E. The texture is less sticky than the original. The ceramides provide barrier support the original formula lacked, so this product hydrates and protects instead of just hydrating.
Does the reformulated version pill under makeup?
Some users report pilling when layering this serum under certain silicone-heavy sunscreens or foundations. To minimize this, apply to damp skin, use less product (2-3 drops is sufficient), let it absorb fully for 60-90 seconds before applying the next product, and pat rather than rub when applying subsequent layers.
Can I use this serum after microneedling?
Yes — The Ordinary states this reformulation works for post-microneedling use. The hyaluronic acid hydrates treated skin immediately, and the ceramides support barrier recovery. The fragrance-free, alcohol-free formula reduces irritation risk on compromised post-procedure skin.
Is the 60ml size a better value?
Yes. The 60ml bottle has better per-ml value than the 30ml and lasts 4-6 months with twice-daily facial application. If you like the product, the larger size is the smarter purchase — this serum is a daily-use staple, not an occasional treatment.
Should I apply this to wet or dry skin?
Apply to damp skin. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant that draws moisture. On damp skin, it pulls surface water in instead of drawing from deeper skin layers. Splash water on your face or use a hydrating toner first, then apply 2-3 drops of this serum immediately.
Community
What the community says.
"Significantly less sticky texture compared to the original formulation"
"Excellent hydration and plumping effect at a sub-$10 price point"
"Ceramide addition provides noticeable barrier support benefits"
"Layers well under other products without pilling for most users"
"Suitable for use after microneedling and other professional treatments"
"Some users report pilling when layered under certain sunscreens or makeup"
"A few users experience dryness rather than hydration in very arid climates"
"Review count includes original formulation reviews making it hard to isolate reformulation feedback"
"Dropper dispenses more product than needed per application"
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