Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum for oily skin
Pineapple Ceramide
Vitamin B5
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 moderate hydration for your oily skin, as sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and niacinamide provide humectant action and seboregulation. Glycerin further supports moisturizing effects, helping to balance oil production without causing dryness.
- The formula is generally safe for your oily skin, with dipotassium glycyrrhizate and niacinamide included to soothe and reduce potential irritation.
- This serum provides basic hydration and is suitable for oily skin, though it does not offer advanced benefits for managing excess shine.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this serum to be a lightweight, cooling hydrator that plumps and smooths dehydrated skin without irritation. It is frequently praised for its ability to mix well with other products and soothe sensitive skin, though many users note it is best used as a hydration booster rather than a standalone moisturizer, especially for very dry skin types.
Highlights
Lightweight and fast Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly into my skin”
- “lightweight and non-greasy”
- “melts into skin without residue”
- “texture is slippery and glides easily”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels noticeably plump”
- “provides a daily flood of hydration”
- “skin looks healthier and quenched”
- “great hydrating base to build upon”
Expensive for value Often Mentioned
- “way too expensive for the amount”
- “eye-watering price tag”
- “not worth the money compared to alternatives”
- “pricey for just a hydrating serum”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “has not irritated my sensitive skin”
- “soothing and cooling quality”
- “calms redness and sensitivity”
- “great for acne-prone skin”
Mixes well Sometimes Noted
- “mixes really well with Marula oil”
- “creates a nice smoothie with C-Firma”
- “helps other serums perform better”
- “compliments my moisturizer perfectly”
Not enough moisture Sometimes Noted
- “not enough moisture on its own”
- “skin still felt dry after use”
- “need to layer a lot of moisturizer on top”
- “useless alone for very dry skin”
Functional packaging Rarely Noted
- “love the twist-up pump”
- “dispenser ensures no waste”
- “airless pump keeps it fresh”
- “cute and travel-friendly bottle”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't notice any difference”
- “just a 'meh' product for me”
- “couldn't tell if it was doing anything”
- “underwhelmed by the results”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “felt slightly tacky on my skin”
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “texture is a bit gloopy”
- “feels sticky if you use too much”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, temptalia.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does B-Hydra Serum work for oily skin?
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum works for oily skin by offering moderate hydration and helping to balance oil production without feeling heavy. However, it does not provide advanced benefits for managing excess shine. Oily skin needs a product that safely hydrates and improves texture, balances oil and minimizes pores with ingredients like a high concentration of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and soothing additions like allantoin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and niacinamide make this serum a good fit for oily skin by providing hydration and helping to balance oil production. Glycerin and vitamin B5 further support moisture, while a moisturizing treatment for this skin type needs high-concentration hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, soothing ingredients, and pore-clearing or shine-controlling benefits.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Pineapple Ceramide do for oily skin?
Pineapple Ceramide helps balance oily skin by providing lightweight moisture without adding heaviness. This type of skin needs ingredients that support the moisture barrier while keeping pores clear and managing extra oil.
What does Panthenol do for oily skin?
Panthenol helps regulate sebum and reduce redness for oily skin while keeping it hydrated. It is very well tolerated and is unlikely to cause adverse reactions across oily skin types.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, applying it right before your retinol to help keep your skin comfortable and calm. This product type needs ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide to better manage shine and support oily skin during strong treatments.
How often should I use this serum?
Apply this serum in the evening as part of your routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Daily application helps keep your oily skin moisturized and balanced without causing dryness.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin because its lightweight formula provides moderate moisture with ingredients like glycerin and vitamin B5. To better manage excess shine and care for oily skin, a product of this type needs additional oil-controlling ingredients and mattifying benefits.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this serum around the eyes, though the skin on your body may need a richer moisturizer with heavier nourishing oils and barrier-repairing ceramides.
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, 2017A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A 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, 2017Topical 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 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, 2025Moisturizer 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, 2019Panthenyl 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, 2026Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Coconut Alkanes, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Watermelon Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Panthenol, Sodium Pca, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Niacinamide, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyproline, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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