SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Vitamin B5 Panthenol
Calcium Pantothenate
PhenoxyethanolAverage
- AverageOily 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 and glycerin provide humectant benefits to help manage oily shine.
- Urea and trehalose further support skin hydration, though stronger ingredients for seboregulation would enhance its effectiveness for oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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
★4.6Overall 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
How well does Hydrating B5 Gel work for oily skin?
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel works reasonably well for oily skin by offering moderate hydration and helping manage oily shine through sodium hyaluronate and glycerin. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but a product of this type needs stronger ingredients for oil control, lightweight texture, and ingredients that support the skin barrier without heavy oils to achieve a better fit.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this serum a good fit by offering moderate hydration to help manage oily shine. To work best for oily skin, a product of this type needs a lightweight texture without heavy oils, along with peptides and ingredients that support the skin barrier.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Vitamin B5 do for oily skin?
Vitamin B5 helps regulate oil and keeps oily skin feeling soft and smooth. It also reduces redness and keeps the skin calm with a very low chance of irritation.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine as a treatment step after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but a product of this type for this skin works best when it also includes stronger ingredients for oil control.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin hydrated and soothe any dryness. Using a moisturizing product alongside retinoids is safe and helps your skin tolerate the treatment better while keeping it soft and smooth.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works well in your evening routine once a day to help manage oily shine while keeping your skin calm. To make it a better fit for oily skin, a product of this type needs stronger ingredients for oil control.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe formula without harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. However, because it only offers moderate hydration, an oily skin type needs stronger ingredients that help control excess oil for the best results.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This serum is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. However, oily skin around the eyes or body needs products with stronger oil-balancing ingredients to be fully effective.
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
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.