SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel for sensitive skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Vitamin B5 Panthenol
Calcium Pantothenate
PhenoxyethanolHigh
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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
- Excellent suitability for your normal skin and moderate benefits for your redness and irritation are provided by sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, which offer superb humectant action and barrier repair. Pantothenic acid and urea further support hydration and soothing effects, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The safety profile is excellent for your sensitive skin, as the formula is free from harsh ingredients and includes urea and glycerin to calm and protect.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently describe this gel as a lightweight, oil-free hydration booster that pairs exceptionally well with Vitamin C serums and retinols. It is frequently praised for plumping dehydrated skin and smoothing texture without clogging pores, making it a staple for those with acne-prone, sensitive, or post-procedure skin.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Pure hydration in a bottle”
- “Skin drinks it in instantly”
- “Hydrating but non-greasy”
- “Soaks right into skin”
Excellent layering Often Mentioned
- “Layers well with other products”
- “Foundation does not pill over it”
- “Great base for moisturizer”
- “Perfect after Vitamin C serum”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin supple and smooth”
- “Makes face feel soft”
- “Restores radiance and plumpness”
- “Diminishes fine lines”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Pricey for the size”
- “Expensive for a basic serum”
- “Wish it was cheaper”
- “Cost prohibits repurchase”
Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't clog my pores”
- “Calms irritated skin”
- “Great for oily complexion”
- “Good for post-procedure recovery”
Runs out quickly Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle only lasts 6 weeks”
- “Goes too fast for the price”
- “Need to restock frequently”
- “Small bottle for daily use”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “Didn't notice significant improvement”
- “Not sure it did anything”
- “Just an expensive moisturizer”
- “Saw no difference in hydration”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “Find it a bit sticky”
- “Leaves a tacky residue”
- “Felt sticky/tight after applying”
- “Texture is slightly gummy”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, skinceuticals.com, bluemercury.com, dermacaredirect.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel a great fit for sensitive skin?
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is a great fit because sodium hyaluronate and glycerin draw in moisture and help repair your skin barrier, while vitamin B5 and urea soothe and calm redness and irritation. The formula has an excellent safety profile for sensitive skin because it is free from harsh ingredients and includes protective components.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this serum a great fit by keeping your skin soft and repairing its barrier, while vitamin B5 and urea help calm irritation. These ingredients have an excellent safety profile for sensitive skin because the formula is free from harsh additives.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
What does Vitamin B5 do for sensitive skin?
Vitamin B5 helps soothe sensitive skin and calms redness while keeping it hydrated. It supports the skin barrier and may reduce irritation, though frequent exposure can sometimes cause sensitivity in very reactive skin.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and gives you extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and calm your sensitive skin before putting on your retinol. Using a soothing, moisture-boosting treatment underneath helps lower the chance of redness and irritation while keeping your face soft and comfortable.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is applied in the evening as part of your routine for sensitive skin. Daily use helps boost hydration and calm redness while protecting your skin barrier.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as its formula is free from heavy oils and harsh ingredients. Ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw in moisture without leaving a heavy layer that traps dirt or oil.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this serum around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula features soothing ingredients like pantothenic acid and glycerin that help calm and protect delicate skin. The skin on the body and around the eyes tends to be thin, but this product is free from harsh ingredients and offers an excellent safety profile for sensitive areas.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2002A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic 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, 2020Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012A comprehensive topical regimen incorporating niacinamide, Pro-Xylane, and panthenol following PicoWay laser treatment decreased transepidermal water loss, increased hydration and skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles and redness, and improved skin tone in 88 Chinese females compared to a standard care control group.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2026Formulations containing 1.0% and 5.0% panthenol decreased transepidermal water loss after 30-day applications on healthy subjects compared to control and vehicle.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Calcium Pantothenate, Glycerin, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Pca, Urea, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Disodium Edta, Pantothenic Acid
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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