The Ordinary HYALURONIC ACID 2%+B5 30ML

Values: 100% Genuine (Adilsons policy) · Fragrance-Free (confirmed via INCI) · Vegan-Friendly* · Halal-Friendly*.

Oily-Tight Paradox: if your skin looks shiny by midday but feels tight right after cleansing, that's dehydrated-oily skin, not oily skin — the surface oil is often overcompensation for a lack of water underneath, and a hydrating serum like this one addresses the actual cause rather than just blotting the symptom.

Pros: multi-weight HA for hydration at more than one depth, added barrier lipids and B5 in the current formula, fragrance-free, layers under anything. Caveats: does nothing on its own without a sealing moisturizer, and this exact SKU is currently out of stock at Adilsons.

Bedside-compatible: yes, no rinsing, no precise dosage. It is one of the gentlest possible additions to a minimal 2-3 product routine (cleanser, this serum, moisturizer) on days when a full routine isn't realistic.

Step 1 (When): AM and/or PM, on damp skin. Step 2 (How much): 2-3 drops. Step 3 (How): press into skin, then seal with moisturizer within about a minute.

Introduce this as the ONLY new product in your routine. Wait a full 14 days before adding anything else. This isolation window ensures you can identify whether any reaction is caused by this specific product.

1. Cleanser. 2. Toner (optional). 3. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 — 2-3 drops on damp skin. 4. Moisturizer, applied promptly. 5. Sunscreen SPF50+.

Mauritius' morning humidity actively helps this serum: hyaluronate draws ambient water vapor to the skin surface rather than pulling it from deeper layers, which is exactly the opposite of what happens in a dry air-conditioned office later in the day.

1. Double cleanse if needed. 2. Toner (optional). 3. Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 — 2-3 drops on damp skin. 4. Any treatment serum. 5. Moisturizer.

This is a supportive hydration step, not a restricted "lane" active, so it sits comfortably alongside a retinoid, acid, or Vitamin C elsewhere in the same PM routine.

Technique: press into slightly damp skin — humectants work by grabbing available water, so damp skin gives them more to hold onto than bone-dry skin. Wait time: about 60 seconds, then seal with a moisturizer promptly — this is the single most important technique note for this whole product.

This is an encyclopedia map of all product types. You do not use all of these daily. You select modules based on your skin state.

Global rules: viscosity ladder thinnest-to-thickest, water-phase before oil-phase, treatments before seals. Wait-time defaults: watery layers 10-20s, serums 30-60s, 10-15 minutes before sunscreen outdoors. Amount defaults: toner/essence 5-8 drops, serum 2-3 drops, eye product half a rice-grain, gel moisturizer 1-1.5 peas, cream 1-2 peas, sunscreen the two-finger rule. If a routine pills, stings, or feels heavy, reduce layers, never increase them.

AM Maximum Stack: (1) rinse/gentle cleanse, (2) pH-prep toner, (3) hydrating toner layers, (4) essence, (5) mist, (6) soothing serum, (7) antioxidant lane, (8) pigment-support lane, (9) hydration serum lane — this product lives here — (10) oil-control lane, (11) peptide/repair lane, (12) eye product, (13) moisturizer, (14) optional occlusive seal, (15) SPF50+ non-negotiable, (16) lip SPF. Prioritize comfort and SPF adherence over stacking.

PM Maximum Stack: (1) micellar pre-cleanse, (2) oil cleanser, (3) water cleanser, (4) pH-prep toner, (5) hydrating toner layers, (6) essence, (7) soothing serum, (8) anchor active, (9) targeted serum (this hydration step often sits here if not used AM), (10) moisturizer, (11) sleeping mask, (12) occlusive seal, (13) spot treatment, (14) lip sleeping mask. Do not layer retinoids with AHA/BHA the same night; keep one lane per night — hydration always accompanies whatever lane you run.

Water-thin serum tier — apply after toner/essence, before moisturizer, always in the water-phase before any oil or silicone step.

The formula deliberately blends standard, hydrolyzed (low-MW), and cross-linked hyaluronate so hydration happens at more than one skin depth at once, per the brand's stated formulation logic.

Before starting, your routine should already include a moisturizer to seal this serum's benefit — used alone, on its own, in dry air, hyaluronic acid can transiently increase dryness rather than fix it.

Dehydration: the multi-weight hyaluronate complex binds water at more than one skin depth; Panthenol supports comfort and barrier function alongside it. Secondary benefit: phospholipids and sphingolipids in the current formula contribute barrier-supportive lipids.

What this product cannot do: it cannot replace a moisturizer, fix acne, or fade dark spots — it hydrates, nothing more, nothing less.

Moisturizer to seal (mandatory): primary pick Anua Birch Moisture Boosting Cream. Alternatives: Anua Peach 77% Niacin Conditioning Milk, Beauty of Joseon Calming Serum, The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 Serum as a lighter, same-brand barrier-support layer.

Sunscreen: primary pick Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun SPF50+. Alternatives: SKIN1004 Hyalu-Cica Water-Fit Sun Serum, Anua Heartleaf Silky Moisture Sun Cream, MIXSOON Cica Hyal Sunstick.

Toner to prep: primary pick Anua Rice 70 + Ceramide Glow Milky Toner. Alternatives: MIXSOON Centella Asiatica Toner, Anua Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner.

Chronic stress elevates cortisol, which increases transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and compromises barrier function — exactly the state this serum's hyaluronate-plus-barrier-lipid combination is positioned to support, even though it isn't a dedicated stress-skin product.

Water-Permeable. This is a thin, water-based serum that does not form an occlusive film on skin, so water contact during ablution is not physically blocked by this product alone (a heavier moisturizer or sunscreen layered on top is a separate consideration).

Adilsons provides this assessment based on the product's physical properties. Rulings on wudu validity vary between scholars. Consult your own trusted Islamic authority.

MYTH: "Hyaluronic acid alone is enough to fix dry skin." REALITY: without a moisturizer sealing it in, especially in air conditioning, HA can pull water from your own skin and leave you drier than before.

MYTH: "More layers of HA serum means more hydration." REALITY: 2-3 drops is enough to saturate the skin's binding capacity; extra layers mostly sit on the surface unabsorbed.

AC environment warning: in air-conditioned environments, hyaluronic acid draws moisture from your deeper skin layers instead of from the air. Always seal this product with an occlusive when in AC for extended periods.

Mauritius tap water hardness varies by region; as a leave-on serum applied after cleansing, hard-water residue is mainly a concern at the cleansing step rather than here.

Full INCI (2024 reformulation): Aqua (Water), Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phospholipids, Sphingolipids, Panthenol, Ahnfeltiopsis Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin. [--- Estimated 1% Line ---] Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, P-Anisic Acid, Tocopherol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin.

Preservative system: Phenoxyethanol and Chlorphenesin, broad-spectrum cosmetic preservatives.

Fragrance status: Fragrance-Free, confirmed via INCI. Scent: no detectable scent. EU 26 allergen screen: none detected in the declared INCI. Alcohol disclosure: Alcohol-Free.

Halal: *Self-assessed by Adilsons based on available INCI data. No ethanol from fermentation, no porcine-derived ingredients, and no haram animal-derived ingredients detected in the declared ingredient list. This is NOT a formal Halal certification. Muslims with stricter requirements should consult their own scholars.

Vegan: *Self-assessed by Adilsons based on available INCI data. No animal-derived ingredients detected. This is NOT a formal vegan certification by The Vegan Society or equivalent body.

Cruelty-Free: *Brand-stated policy. Not independently certified by Leaping Bunny, PETA, or equivalent third-party audit in this research pass. *The Ordinary's parent company entered Mainland China retail (Sephora China) in February 2025, where post-market animal testing may apply by law; cross-border e-commerce sales may be exempt.

Microplastic status: Contains Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, a synthetic cross-linked polymer used for its water-binding structure — disclosed here rather than an unqualified "microplastic-free" claim.

MFDS Classification: Not applicable — Canadian brand, not MFDS-registered. Clinical evidence: hyaluronic acid's water-binding mechanism is well-documented ingredient-class science; no brand-published in-vivo trial specific to this exact 2024-reformulated SKU was found. Evidence confidence: Medium.

This is the 2024-reformulated version of the SKU — earlier versions had a shorter ingredient list without the phospholipid/sphingolipid barrier-lipid addition; if your bottle's INCI looks different from the list above, you may have older stock.

Fungal Acne Safety: FA-Conditional — Polysorbate 20 is present; most current trackers consider it low-risk, disclosed for transparency.

Assessment: Low-to-Medium. If applied too heavily and not given time to settle before moisturizer, the multi-weight HA complex can ball up slightly under a rich cream.

Mitigation: use only 2-3 drops, wait about 60 seconds, and pat the moisturizer on rather than rubbing.

Fresh formula is clear to milky-white; any yellowing, separation that won't remix, or off smell signals it should be discarded.

Storage: keep away from direct heat and sunlight; Mauritius bathroom humidity is not a major threat to this formula specifically, but heat still degrades the preservative system faster over time.

Patch test: inner forearm 24 hours, then behind the ear 24 hours, before full-face use.

72-hour barrier reset (if reaction occurs): stop all actives; for 72 hours use only a gentle cleanser, plain moisturizer, and mineral SPF; reintroduce one product per 14 days after.

Emergency stop signals: hives, swelling, blistering, persistent burning, or breathing difficulty — seek emergency care.

1. Applying on completely dry skin instead of damp skin. 2. Skipping the moisturizer step entirely. 3. Using it in AC for hours without an occlusive layer. 4. Over-applying, assuming more equals more hydration. 5. Expecting it to fix acne or pigmentation, which it isn't designed to do.

At 2-3 drops per use, twice daily, a 30ml bottle lasts roughly 60-90 days.

Using more than 2-3 drops doesn't improve hydration once the skin's binding capacity is saturated — it just uses product faster. Reorder about two weeks before you expect to run out.

This serum's one job is water-binding — it sits in the water-thin rung, before moisturizer, in both AM and PM.

AM: cleanser → this serum on damp skin → moisturizer → SPF. PM: cleanser → this serum on damp skin → treatment serum if any → moisturizer.

If you're in AC most of the day, add an occlusive layer over your moisturizer, since this serum alone cannot compensate for hours of dry indoor air. If you have no moisturizer yet, get one before this serum — it is a support product, not a base-layer replacement.

After purchasing, you will receive our skincare education email series covering this product in depth. The recommendations above are based on formulation synergy with Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, not on margin or stock levels. If a pairing does not exist in our catalog, we say so. If you already own a product that fills the same role, use what you have first.

If you want a barrier-support serum with amino acids instead of pure hyaluronate, The Ordinary Amino Acids + B5 Serum is a genuine same-brand alternative with a different (protein-building-block) mechanism.

This product's primary function is: surface hydration via hyaluronate. You do not need this if you already own another open hyaluronic acid or humectant-forward serum — finish that one first.

This product is sourced through authorized Korean distributors — primarily Craver Co., Ltd (South Korea), alongside other verified distribution partners. Craver is a major Korean beauty distributor and the parent company of SKIN1004, handling authorized distribution for multiple K-beauty brands. All products are shipped directly to Mauritius via verified channels.

For comprehensive information about how we verify authenticity, our layered verification system, and how to check your product at home, visit our dedicated Authenticity and Trust page.

The Ordinary's "Clinical formulations with integrity" positioning means this serum is named and sold as exactly what it is — a hyaluronic acid complex plus B5 — with no invented marketing name.

Reviews aggregated via Cosmetics & Toiletries' ingredient breakdown and community blogs describe a noticeably plumping, smoothing effect immediately on application, with the caveat that it needs a moisturizer over top to avoid a tacky or even drying feel in dry air. Several reviewers specifically flag the 2024 reformulation as feeling different in texture from the earlier version.

A specific Reddit thread for this exact SKU was not found in this research pass — say so plainly rather than inventing one.

Do I need to seal it with moisturizer? Yes, always — this is the single most important usage note for any hyaluronic acid serum.

Can I use it every day, both AM and PM? Yes, it has no restricted-frequency active in it.

Why does my skin feel tighter after using it? Almost always a sealing or ambient-humidity issue — see the AC warning and Troubleshooting sections.

Is the 2024 reformulation different from the old one? Yes — it added phospholipids, sphingolipids, and other supporting ingredients not in the earlier version.

Can I use it with Vitamin C or retinol? Yes, hydration serums have no restricted-lane conflicts with actives.

Humectant

An ingredient that binds and holds water at the skin's surface.

Hyaluronate

The salt form of hyaluronic acid used in cosmetic formulas.

Panthenol

Vitamin B5 derivative used for skin comfort and barrier support.

TEWL

Transepidermal water loss — water escaping through the skin barrier into the air.

Phospholipids/Sphingolipids

Lipid molecules that are structural building blocks of the skin's own barrier.

Every product sold by Adilsons Beauty is 100% genuine, sourced through authorized Korean distribution channels. Full details on our verification system: Authenticity and Trust.

Our team is available to help you build a routine, troubleshoot reactions, and answer ingredient questions. WhatsApp: +230 5 778 2336.

For in-depth skincare education, visit our blog at adilsons.mu/blogs/k-beauty or subscribe to our email to get our guided education series delivered to your inbox.

Coverage: Island-wide delivery (Mauritius).

Processing and Timing: Orders process in 1-2 business days; usually ready by Day 3 for pickup by our delivery partners/regional team. Partner collection can take up to 1 week. After pickup, delivery typically takes 1-5 business days (weekdays only).

Express: May be available by region; request on WhatsApp: +230 5 778 2336.

Liquids/Sensitive Items: Serums, toners, liquid makeup (and kits containing liquids) are pickup or door-to-door only; checkout enforces this.

Scheduling: Deliveries run by region on set schedules; we will contact you the evening before.

Pickup: Citadelle Mall pickup available.

Returns: No change-of-mind exchanges.

Refunds (Summary): For defective/damaged on receipt (report within 48h), wrong item, or manufacturing defect within 6 months. Refunds via bank transfer (7-10 business days); card refunds may incur a 5% processor fee (fee not charged for defects/order errors). Opened skincare/personal-care items are non-returnable (except if damaged on delivery).

Source of Truth: This is a quick snapshot. If anything differs, the policy pages are final.

Store Policies: For the most up-to-date information, please review our Shipping Policy and Refund Policy.

Best for: anyone whose skin feels tight, flaky, or dull from dehydration — regardless of oil level — who already has a moisturizer to seal this serum's benefit in.

Key benefits: multi-depth hydration mechanism, added barrier lipids in the current formula, fragrance-free, layers with anything.

Keep in mind: useless without a moisturizer step, can backfire in dry AC air if unsealed, and this exact SKU is currently out of stock.

Assessment: Suitable. Fragrance-free, retinoid-free, with a minimal, well-tolerated preservative system — generally a comfortable choice for treatment-sensitized skin needing hydration support.

Consult your oncology care team before introducing any new skincare products during treatment.

AC/humidity swing interaction: this is the single most climate-sensitive product in a typical routine — it performs excellently in Mauritius' ambient humidity but needs deliberate sealing in air-conditioned spaces to avoid the reverse-osmosis effect of pulling water from your own skin.