Product record / Serums, Hyaluronic Acid
SerumThe Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz
- $9.90
- retail price
- 2%
- hyaluronic
- $0.33
- per mL
- 4.3 ★
- 1,293 ratings
- Data source
- Concentration disclosed in product name The Ordinary discloses 2% hyaluronic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
- Best for
- Hydration
- How it feels
- Lightweight, fast-absorbing serum
- Value
- $9.90 for 30 mL · $0.33/mL
Bottom line The $9 serum that works beautifully if you know the damp-skin rule — and notoriously backfires when you don't.
Editorial verdict / Social intelligence
The $9 serum that works beautifully if you know the damp-skin rule — and notoriously backfires when you don't. 1
- Beauty benefit
- Multi-depth humectant hydration: four (original) or five (ceramide) molecular weights of hyaluronic acid plus pro-vitamin B5 draw water into multiple skin layers and reinforce the moisture barrier, leaving skin plumper and smoother.
- Does it work
- Yes, for most people in most climates — with one non-negotiable caveat. Applied correctly (on still-damp skin, sealed with a moisturizer), the serum delivers genuine, visible plumping at a price point that nothing else matches. Applied to completely dry skin without an occlusive follow-up, high-MW HA can draw moisture out of skin rather than in, producing the 'dried me out' complaints that follow this product across reviews. This is a technique issue, not a formula defect. See the verified data below →
Consensus strength
Strong4.2/5 stars on Deciem's own site; 4.3/5 on DermApproved across 1,274 reviews; 9/10 from Green Contours editorial; broad editorial and community consensus that texture (sticky original) vs ceramide split led to The Ordinary reinstating the original formula alongside the ceramide version in October 2024 after community backlash — 41% prefer original, 59% ceramide version per Deciem community poll. Pilling documented at Deciem Chat Room. Dry-climate worsening confirmed across multiple editorial and community sources.
01 / The key active
Hyaluronic Acid at 2%
This product discloses 2% hyaluronic acid — concentration disclosed in product name.
Concentration disclosed in product name. The Ordinary discloses 2% hyaluronic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
Other products with Hyaluronic Acid:
02 / The full ingredient list
Every ingredient, in label order
Exactly as printed, each token matched to the EU CosIng register and flagged where a CIR safety assessment exists. Highlighted rows are the key actives.
| # | Ingredient, as printed | CosIng functions | CIR |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Aqua (water) CosIng: AQUA |
| — |
| 02 | Sodium Hyaluronate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 03 | Propanediol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 04 | Pentylene Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 05 | Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 06 | Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 07 | Phospholipids |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 08 | Sphingolipids |
| — |
| 09 | Panthenol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 10 | Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 11 | Glycerin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 12 | Polysorbate 20 |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 13 | Citric Acid |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 14 | Sodium Citrate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 15 | P-anisic Acid |
| — |
| 16 | Tocopherol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 17 | Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 18 | Caprylyl Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 19 | Ethoxydiglycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 20 | Ethylhexylglycerin |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 21 | Hexylene Glycol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 22 | Phenoxyethanol |
| ✓ reviewed |
| 23 | Chlorphenesin |
| ✓ reviewed |
23 ingredients as printed · 22 exact CosIng matches · 1 normalized spellings · source: concentration disclosed in product name
03 / Where to buy
Where to buy Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz
Some links on this page earn us a commission. It never changes our analysis — the methodology is public.
04 / What people say
What buyers actually say
Aggregated from 1,274 verified reviews across 3 sources.
What works
- Common Instant visible plumping and hydration — skin looks and feels softer immediately and improves further over weeks 594
Immediate visible plumping effect Editorial
- Common Exceptional value — the most affordable multi-weight HA serum available at any major retailer (~$9) 511
Exceptional value at $8.90 for a multi-weight hyaluronic acid serum Editorial
- Common Layers cleanly under other serums and moisturizers — lightweight, fast-absorbing, no oils or silicones in original formula 105
ultra-hydrating serum that helps plump and smooth the skin Editorial
- Common Ceramide version (2024 reformulation) eliminates the original's sticky texture and adds skin-barrier reinforcement 71412
Eliminated the sticky, tacky feeling of the original formula Editorial
- Some Clean fragrance-free, alcohol-free, silicone-free formula — safe for sensitive and reactive skin 510
Universally tolerable formula with zero common irritants Editorial
What to know
- Common Original formula is noticeably sticky/tacky — the top complaint that drove the 2024 reformulation 54
Noticeably sticky, tacky texture that some users find cosmetically unpleasant Editorial
- Common Pilling when layered — the crosspolymer film can bead up under subsequent products if each layer hasn't fully absorbed 45
The product can cause visible flaking when layered with other products. Use less product and ensure each layer fully absorbs before application. community
- Some Applied to dry skin in low-humidity climates, HA draws moisture out of skin rather than in — leaves skin feeling drier 569
high-molecular-weight HA on the surface could theoretically draw moisture from deeper skin layers Editorial
-
Small 30ml bottle depletes quickly with twice-daily use Editorial
- Some Ceramide reformulation was controversial — community backlash forced The Ordinary to revive the original formula in parallel by October 2024 38
Our community across our social, Ordinary.com and customer happiness channels made it clear they missed the original formula, because after all everyone has different skin and preferences. community
What you'd only know from the reviews
-
Apply to damp — not dry — skin. This is the single most important usage tip and the root cause of nearly all 'dried my skin out' complaints. Apply immediately after cleansing while skin is still damp, or mist your face first. The humectants then bind environmental moisture rather than pulling it from deeper skin layers. 9135
-
Always seal with a moisturizer. HA is a humectant, not an occlusive. Without a cream or oil on top to trap the moisture it pulled in, it will re-evaporate — especially in air conditioning or dry winter air. This step is non-negotiable for dry-climate users. 5editorial ↗
-
There are now TWO versions sold simultaneously: the original (4-HA, $8.90, no ceramides, slightly tacky) and the ceramide version (5-HA + ceramides, $9.90, silkier). The Ordinary brought back the original in October 2024 after community revolt. The ceramide version is strictly better on paper, but 41% of the Deciem community prefers the original — mostly sensitive-skin users who find the ceramide additives reactive. 34
-
The original formula's pH sits at 6.0–7.50 — essentially neutral — unlike vitamin C or AHA serums. This means it stacks safely with nearly everything, but also means no wait time is needed before applying your next product. 1
vs. SkinCeuticals
Community is split cleanly between original and ceramide versions — not a dupe war but a preference war within the same product line. The ceramide version wins on texture (silkier, no tackiness) and barrier science (added ceramides, phospholipids). The original wins on simplicity: fewer ingredients, lower sensitivity risk, and the minimal price difference ($1) keeps both accessible. The Ordinary's unprecedented decision to sell both versions simultaneously validates that no single formula satisfies everyone. The pilling and dry-skin complaints apply primarily to the original; the ceramide version largely solves texture but adds ingredients that a minority find reactive.
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05 / Questions
Frequently asked
- What's in The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz?
- The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz lists 23 ingredients. Key active: 2% Hyaluronic Acid. The Ordinary discloses 2% hyaluronic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page. The full ingredient list, matched to EU CosIng, is on this page.
- Does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz work?
- Yes, for most people in most climates — with one non-negotiable caveat. Applied correctly (on still-damp skin, sealed with a moisturizer), the serum delivers genuine, visible plumping at a price point that nothing else matches. Applied to completely dry skin without an occlusive follow-up, high-MW HA can draw moisture out of skin rather than in, producing the 'dried me out' complaints that follow this product across reviews. This is a technique issue, not a formula defect.
- How much Hyaluronic Acid is in The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz?
- 2% Hyaluronic Acid. The Ordinary discloses 2% hyaluronic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.
- Where can I buy The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides - Hydrating Serum 1.0 oz?
- $9.90 on Amazon (price recorded as of the date shown). The Ordinary discloses 2% hyaluronic acid in product name; INCI from Ulta product page.