🇦🇪United Arab Emirates

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 for acne-prone skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers excellent hydration for your combination skin, as multiple forms of hyaluronic acid and panthenol work synergistically to plump and hydrate without exacerbating acne-prone concerns.
  • The inclusion of Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract provides additional soothing benefits, complementing the humectant properties for overall skin comfort.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, featuring gentle ingredients like Panthenol and Glycerin with no harsh or irritating components.

How to apply

  • Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
  • Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
  • Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
  • Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 7.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for its deep hydration and plumping effects, leading to smoother skin and reduced fine lines. While the reformulated texture is generally better absorbed, some users still report pilling when layering products. It is also frequently noted as an excellent value option.

Highlights

  • Hydration and plumping Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin feels immediately hydrated”
    • “gave my skin a much needed drink”
    • “lovely, plumped-up feel”
    • “fine lines look smoothed”
  • Great value Often Mentioned
    • “can't beat the price”
    • “staple for budget skincare”
    • “great value for money”
    • “performs like expensive serums”
  • Sticky finish Often Mentioned
    • “feels very sticky”
    • “leaves a tacky residue”
    • “feels like glue”
    • “hair sticks to face”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
    • “no irritation at all”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “didn't sting”
  • Smoother texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels soft and smooth”
    • “texture looks healthy”
    • “makeup sits better”
    • “reduced dry patches”
  • Pilling issues Sometimes Noted
    • “peels off like PVA glue”
    • “pills under my moisturizer”
    • “flakes off in little balls”
    • “ruined my foundation”
  • Breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “broke me out in cysts”
    • “caused tiny whiteheads”
    • “made my skin red”
    • “clogged my pores”
  • Foaming Rarely Noted
    • “turns white and foams”
    • “soapy consistency”
    • “froths up when rubbed”
    • “takes long to absorb”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, amazon.com, target.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 a great fit for acne-prone skin?

This product is a great fit because its multiple forms of hyaluronic acid and panthenol hydrate acne-prone skin without clogging pores or triggering breakouts. It also helps calm the skin and keep it comfortable using soothing ingredients like Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract and glycerin.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Sodium hyaluronate, vitamin B5 panthenol, glycerin, and ahnfeltia concinna extract make this serum a great fit by providing deep hydration and soothing benefits without clogging pores or making acne-prone skin worse.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.

Biomedicines, 2025Drug Delivery, 2017

What does Vitamin B5 do for acne-prone skin?

Vitamin B5 helps calm redness, manages oil, and keeps skin hydrated without clogging pores. It supports the skin barrier and works well in acne routines to soothe irritation and improve healing.

European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2016Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening helps keep the routine simple and avoids potential sun sensitivity issues.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your skin a boost of hydration, followed by your retinol. This approach helps keep your skin comfortable and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

How often should I use this serum?

This serum fits your acne-prone skin very well and is safe to use daily, as it hydrates deeply without clogging pores or causing irritation. Using it regularly helps keep your skin comfortable and smooth.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it deeply hydrates with multiple forms of hyaluronic acid and panthenol without clogging pores or making breakouts worse. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from it, and gentle ingredients like glycerin and panthenol help keep skin calm and comfortable.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can safely use this serum around the eyes and on the body because its gentle, hydrating ingredients provide deep moisture without causing irritation. Regular application helps keep delicate areas smooth and comfortable.

Polymers, 2023The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Topical sunscreen formulations containing UV filters, red algae extract, Ginkgo biloba, and vitamins protected hairless mice from UV-induced erythema, reduced transepidermal water loss, and significantly decreased the expression of p53 and caspase-3 compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2015
  • Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous dressings containing 3% Corallina officinalis extract exhibited bead-free morphology, enhanced mechanical strength, strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and excellent biocompatibility for skin cell survival and proliferation.

    Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition, 2026

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Sphingolipids, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.