All scans / Serums / The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) ingredients: is it worth it?
A solid hydration serum, but nothing more than that.
A solid hydration serum, but nothing more than that.
READ MORE
The efficacy score is driven by a strong humectant base: multiple forms of hyaluronic acid sit near the top of the list, with panthenol and glycerin adding real water-binding support. The score stays below elite levels because this is primarily a hydration formula, not a treatment serum; there are no high-evidence correction actives, and the red algae extract is more of a texture/support ingredient than a true driver of performance.
We may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. Links never influence scores.
DemythSkin rates The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) 4.1/5 for efficacy and 4.8/5 for safety.
ACTIVE INGREDIENTS BY TIER
Gold Standards
High clinical proof | Skin-transformativeReliable
Proven resultsPotent
Developing evidenceOverhyped | Marketing
Hype | Limited dataDocumented Irritants
Evidence-backed flagFORMULATION BASE (8)⌄
FULL INGREDIENT LIST⌄
Aqua (Water), Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.
WHAT EACH INGREDIENT DOES (17)⌄
- Aqua (Water)
- solvent base
- Sodium Hyaluronate
- main humectant
- Pentylene Glycol
- humectant solvent
- Propanediol
- humectant solvent
- Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
- long-wear humectant
- Panthenol
- soothing humectant
- Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract
- texture support
- Glycerin
- classic humectant
- Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
- chelating agent
- Citric Acid
- pH adjuster
- Isoceteth-20
- solubilizer
- Ethoxydiglycol
- solvent carrier
- Ethylhexylglycerin
- preservative booster
- Hexylene Glycol
- solvent humectant
- 1,2-Hexanediol
- humectant preservative
- Phenoxyethanol
- preservative
- Caprylyl Glycol
- humectant preservative
EXTERNAL CITATIONS
Sodium Hyaluronate: Foundational humectant used to bind water in the stratum corneum; supported by the product’s top-of-list placement in the formula.
Panthenol: Well-studied humectant/soothing ingredient that supports hydration and barrier comfort; listed within the first six ingredients.
Glycerin: Gold-standard humectant for improving skin hydration; present in the upper half of the formula.
DISCLAIMER: THIS ANALYSIS IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. AI-GENERATED DATA BASED ON PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENT LISTS. VERIFY WITH A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation): common questions
Is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) worth it?
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) scores 4.1 out of 5.0 for efficacy (Effective) and 4.8 out of 5.0 for safety (Very Gentle) on DemythSkin's independent ingredient analysis. A solid hydration serum, but nothing more than that.
What are the key active ingredients in The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)?
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) contains no gold-standard actives. Its formula is built on supporting and base ingredients rather than clinically transformative actives.
Does The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) contain fragrance or known irritants?
DemythSkin's analysis found no flagged irritants in The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation). It scores 4.8 out of 5.0 for safety.
How is The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) scored?
DemythSkin grades every product on two independent scores: efficacy (whether the ingredients have clinical evidence of working) and safety (irritation and sensitisation risk). Ingredients are graded S through D against a database of over 3,000 compounds. Brand and price are not part of the score, and no brand pays for one.
Free scores for every product in the database, or see them on Sephora, Ulta and Amazon with the Chrome extension.