REVIEW: Can The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Really Hydrate Your Skin?

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid
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The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Brand
The Ordinary
Product
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Where to Buy

When we think of healthy skin, we imagine a plump, smooth look that’s only seen on the skin that’s fully moisturized. Without a doubt, we all dream of that baby-soft bounce that we’ve come to associate with well-hydrated skin.

While we may resort to drinking more than enough water just to achieve this kind of hydration, one key factor that gives skin its plumpness is hyaluronic acid — a natural substance produced by the body to retain water and keep your tissues well lubricated and moist.

This is why products such as The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid can be helpful as a hydration support formula. By boosting the hydration levels of our skin, it makes it look smoother and healthier — all with a simple drop of its powerful formula! 

Furthermore, well-hydrated skin also reduces the appearance of wrinkles, so The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid could really be the key to younger-looking skin. In fact, some dermatologists even inject hyaluronic acid fillers on the skin to keep it looking firm and youthful. For those who prefer not to go through needles, there is a wide selection of Hyaluronic Acid supplements in the market.

In addition, studies have shown that hyaluronic acid can also address skin problems such as redness and dermatitis.

And although The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum is now beginning to sound like the fountain of youth, let’s first get to know more about this product and see what does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid do. Before you go grab a bottle (or two since it’s so affordable), it also pays to read what other users have to say in their The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid reviews and see the hyaluronic acid side effects through the netizens’ The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid before and after photos.

The Ordinary Skincare Brand

Offering effective clinical technologies positioned to raise pricing and communication integrity in skincare The Ordinary best describes itself as “Clinical formulations with integrity”. The brand forms part of DECIEM, an umbrella of businesses focused on advanced functional beauty.

This brand direction only means that The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid (and all other DECIEM products) are free of parabens, sulfates, mineral oil, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, animal oils, coal tar dyes, formaldehyde, mercury, oxybenzone.

Furthermore, DECIEM does not test on animals and does not pay others to do so. As such, their products are not sold in mainland China since such sales require animal testing for registration purposes.

You may also want to read: REVIEW: Why Is the Internet So Divided Over The Ordinary Niacinamide Serum?

What Does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Do

While hyaluronic acid is found naturally in the skin, its main function is not hydration. Instead, it acts as a lubricating agent for our skin, nerves, hair, joints, and eyes. It also draws in moisture in the cells making them look and feel plump.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid formula combines three forms of HA with varying molecular weights (low, medium and high-molecular-weight HA, as well as a next-generation HA crosspolymer at a combined concentration of 2%) for multi-depth hydration in a water-based formula.

This makes the product effective because hyaluronic acid is too large of a molecule to penetrate the skin, and instead sits on its surface. This may draw moisture out of the skin and make the surface feel soft and hydrated temporarily. However, with The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid’s various HA forms, it offers multi-depth hydration and visible plumping without drawing water out of the skin solely to improve temporary surface hydration.

The Key Hero Ingredients

  • Hyaluronic Acid 2% – offers multi-depth hydration
  • B5 – enhances surface hydration

How to Use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Apply a few drops of The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum on the face every morning and evening, before using creams.

If you experience irritation, discontinue use and consult a physician. Make sure that you use The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum only as directed on unbroken skin.

It’s also helpful to do a patch test prior to use. To do so, apply a small amount of the product onto a clean area of skin on the upper forearm, and observe if any redness, burning, itching, blistering or irritation occurs.

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid Reviews

What Beauty Bloggers and Beauty Magazines Say 

To help you get a sense of what industry experts thought about The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, we’ve summarised the reviews by some of the top beauty bloggers and beauty magazines!

Leah Prinzivalli, Allure

the ordinary hyaluronic acid before and after photo of Leah Prinzivalli
Leah Prinzivalli. Photo Credit: Allure

I wake up with skin that looked like you could bounce a quarter off it. My moisture barrier is intact and brimmith over with hydration.

For Allure’s Leah Prinzivalli, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid is thicker than most serums she’s used. She used two drops of the product each evening and wakes up with perfectly hydrated skin.

Celia Shatzman, Byrdie

Just because this serum is low in price doesn’t mean it’s low in quality.

Naming The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid as the best budget HA in the market, Celia Shatzman of Byrdie explains that the serum’s smooth texture and plumping powers belie its affordable price tag, and if you didn’t know any better, you’d think that you are using a much more expensive product. 

Braelyn Wood, Health

It’s not hard to see why this budget-friendly pick has become my new obsession. I slather it on every morning after applying my Versed Daily Brightening Solution, and it leaves my skin looking instantly plumped and feeling baby soft.

Meanwhile, Braelyn Wood of Health also commented that serum’s texture is a bit thick and tacky at first, but she also said that it quickly dries down. She reports that her skin looks better after just a few weeks of daily application.

Ruggero Loda, Orchids and Peonies

Whilst I didn’t love this as much as other hyaluronic acid serums I have used, I do find that The Ordinary’s Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is worth exploring, especially if on a budget, trying new things or if you go through hyaluronic acid serums like you do with underwear.

On her blog orchidsandpeonies.com, Ruggero Loda says that The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid made her skin feel smoother, hydrated and almost a little bouncy. While she did not care for the chemical-like smell, she admits that The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid worked to give her skin a boost of hydration and did quite well to smooth out the skin.

Rebekah Ho, Hypebae

I felt like it really made my skin healthier because even when I use it intermittently, the pillowy effect still lasts.

Blogger Rebekah Ho of Hypebae is a fan of Deciem‘s minimalist, shelfie-worthy packaging. She also appreciated the serums’ texture, saying that it glides on like an oil, but it dries smooth like a gel, leaving no residue on top of her face. After using The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid for a week, she reports that the texture of her skin was definitely more noticeably plump and moisturized.

Farrah Penn, BuzzFeed

the ordinary hyaluronic acid before and after photo of Farrah Penn
Farrah Penn. Photo Credit: Buzzfeed

My skin looks radiant, my pores look tight, and I’ve received tons of compliments.

Farrah Penn, along with other Buzzfeed writers Sheridan Watson and Claire de Louraille, tried a range of The Ordinary products for a month. Among the products she used was The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, which she credits with keeping her face moisturized. She said the difference has been noticeable each week —  by the third week, she felt she no longer needed her light powder foundation.

What the Internet Says

For a more honest and comprehensive review, we’ve scoured the internet to learn what people have to say regarding The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum. Here’s what we’ve found on Reddit and Twitter:

The Believers:

  • 62% were satisfied with the product and agreed that it was effective
  • 22% loved the product and said that The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid is part of their regular skincare routine
  • 18% hailed this serum for its moisturizing effects on their dry skin
  • 10% were really happy with the product’s reasonable pricing
  • 7% mentioned that The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid helped resolve skin problems such as acne, rosacea, and psoriasis
  • 7% said they noticed a smoother, more supple texture on their skin, and some fine lines were reduced

The Naysayers:

  • 15% experienced some type of adverse reaction, like breakouts, irritation, redness, and flaking
  • 12% were not happy with the product’s texture — they described it as sticky or tacky, leaving a residue on the skin
  • 10% were concerned about pilling (wherein the product failed to soak into the skin properly), but an equal 10% recounted how they resolved this by keeping the face damp or moisturized when they apply The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid
  • 7% did not notice any benefits after using The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum

Over to You

Keeping our skin hydrated makes it look healthy and young. Aside from warding off wrinkles, well-moisturized skin also prevents the occurrence of skin issues such as inflammation, breakouts, and flaking.

Now that you have discovered what does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid do and have read The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid reviews, it’s time to experience firsthand what this very affordable product is all about, and you’ll be on your way to beautifully hydrated skin!

Hyaluronic Acid at its most potent.
With three forms of HA with varying molecular weights, as well as an HA crosspolymer, your skin is bound to enjoy multi-depth hydration that wouldn’t wash away your budget!
Price
95
Effectiveness
84
Texture
70
Packaging
85
Ingredients
95
Potent ingredients: Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
Affordable pricing
Sticky texture
May cause pilling or irritation
86