SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel for dry sensitive skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Vitamin B5 Panthenol
Calcium Pantothenate
PhenoxyethanolHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry and sensitive skin, as sodium hyaluronate and glycerin act as humectants to draw moisture into the skin and support its barrier function.
- Urea and trehalose further enhance the moisturizing effects, providing additional comfort for dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients and no harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
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 Hydrating B5 Gel a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is a great fit because ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin draw moisture into the skin while urea and trehalose provide extra comfort for flaky areas. These soothing components help support the skin barrier safely without harsh substances.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Research and Technology, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin draw moisture into your skin while vitamin B5 and urea help soothe and comfort dry patches. These ingredients work together to give you deep hydration and support your skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
What does Vitamin B5 do for dry sensitive skin?
Vitamin B5 helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and calm by boosting moisture and reducing redness. It also supports skin barrier repair to help prevent water loss and irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. It is placed in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it before your retinol product to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. This type of routine helps minimize dryness and irritation while supporting your skin barrier during active treatments.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is used in the evening as part of your routine for dry sensitive skin. Daily application helps improve skin moisture, smoothness, and overall barrier comfort.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin. It features soothing and hydrating ingredients that help keep skin soft and comfortable without heavy oils that typically block pores.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is a great fit because its soothing ingredients and gentle moisture draw water into dry, sensitive skin without irritation. While the thin skin around the eyes and various body areas benefit from extra hydration, this product is unlikely to cause issues and safely supports delicate skin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Topical 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 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, 2017A 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, 2025Topical 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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