When it comes to healthy-looking skin, hydration is paramount. Prolonged dehydration can impact the skin renewal process and lead to dry, flaky skin as well as uneven skin texture and a dull appearance–which is why a hydrator is often the cornerstone of a good skincare regimen.

Here we’ll take you through three of our own:

• Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 - a hyaluronic acid-based moisturizer that helps to reduce the visibility of fine lines.
• Amino Acids + B5 - a lightweight, water-based serum for more radiant-looking skin.
• Marine Hyaluronics - a hydrating formulation derived from marine bacteria and plants that results in a softer, plumper complexion.

And help you to choose the right one for you.

Our reformulated Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum combines various molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, pro-vitamin B5, and topical ceramides. This non-tacky hydrating serum supports the skin’s moisture barrier to seal in moisture, with improved skin hydration and smoother skin texture. In doing so, it helps to reduce the appearance of visible fine dry lines.

Key Ingredient Overview:

Hyaluronic acid (hyaluronic acid) is a polysaccharide compound: a carbohydrate consisting of several sugar molecules bonded together that organize themselves into different sized mesh-like structures. It’s found across multiple skeletal tissues and organs, but most abundantly in the skin, accounting for around 50% of the total body hyaluronic acid.

In the skin, it’s main role is to bind to and retain water. The hyaluronic acid levels in our body decline as we get older, making it a potential contributing factor to some aging concerns associated with loss of water, such as wrinkles and loss of skin elasticity.

Pro-vitamin B5,B5 in Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 stands for pro-vitamin B5 (also known as panthenol or dexpanthenol), a molecule that is again naturally present in the skin. It supports the formation of key skin barrier components like ceramides and fatty acids. When applied to the skin, B5 has been found to support those same components, allowing the skin barrier to continue doing what it does best: preventing the loss of moisture.

Ceramides are oil-like molecules that are naturally found within the skin’s lipid barrier. This lipid barrier is found in the spaces between skin cells and is composed of ceramides (50%), fatty acids (10 - 15 %), cholesterol (27%), cholesterol esters (10%), and cholesterol sulphate (2-5 %). These fatty molecules organize themselves into layers that keep water locked in, making them important components of the skin’s natural barrier against moisture loss.

Ceramides and other skin lipids form multiple layers across the skin, known as lipid bilayers. In between these layers, water is locked in, providing much needed moisture to the skin.

When applied to the skin, ceramide-like ingredients help supplement the skin barrier by providing it with a bit more of what it needs to prevent excessive loss of water.

Hyaluronic acid instantly hydrates and plumps skin, while ceramides support the skin’s moisture barrier to seal in moisture. Together, they help to give softer, smoother skin in 2 weeks and reduce the appearance of fine dry lines in 4 weeks.

Our Amino Acids + B5 is a lightweight water based serum that works to support and strengthen the skin barrier by preventing water loss. The amino acids mimic the skin’s natural moisturizing factors, while the pro-vitamin B5 helps maintain the skin’s surface level hydration to promote softer, smoother, and more radiant looking skin.

Key Ingredient Overview:

Amino acids are the smallest subunits that bind together via peptide chains to form peptides. In turn, peptides can combine together to form proteins. These three types of molecules are integral to the structure and function of many components of the body, including the skin. Many skin-friendly amino acids are found within the skin’s own natural moisturizing factors: these components help to protect the stratum corneum from water loss, which helps in maintaining long-term hydration for the skin. The amino acids mimic the natural function of the natural moisturizing factors found within the skin. Topical supplementation of amino acids can help support and strengthen the skin barrier by preventing water loss.

Pro-vitamin B5 within this formulation works to support the barrier function by aiming to provide surface and below-surface hydration to promote softer and smoother looking skin.

Marine Hyaluronics is a water based serum that has been formulated to target skin dehydration. This serum works to enhance skin hydration to promote softer, smoother looking skin. With continued use, this formula helps maintain skin hydration, supporting the maintenance of a healthy skin barrier. This hydrating serum includes a combination of ingredients derived from marine bacteria and plants that work to target hydration across the skin surface, resulting in a softer, plumper complexion.

Key Ingredient Overview:

Pseudoaltermonas exopolysaccharides are chains of sugar-like molecules produced by marine bacteria. They have a high water retention capacity, functioning similarly to that of hyaluronic acid, which suggests a similar mechanism of action. Pseudoalteromonas exopolysaccharides aim to provide immediate moisturizing effects and, with continued use, long-lasting hydration of the skin.

Pseudoaltermonas ferment extract is an ingredient derived using biotechnology. This simply means we use existing biology in the form of marine bacteria to help develop it. This ingredient has been observed to target skin roughness, promoting smoother, softer looking skin.

Ahnfeltia concinna extract, also known as red algae extract, is used in cosmetic formulations to provide skin hydration.

The three serums covered offer similar skin benefits, offering skin hydration, smoother, softer looking skin, and supporting the skin barrier by limiting water loss. Hyaluronic Acid + B5 has the additional benefit of reducing the appearance of fine dry lines in 4 weeks while improving elasticity. So if you also want to target fine lines and wrinkles, you may want to explore our Hyaluronic Acid + B5.

These serums also have quite similar consistencies: they are all suitable for all skin types; they are all water based; and relatively lightweight. And then, when it comes to product texture, this is entirely subjective so choose the right one for you.

When choosing a new hydrating serum to add to your regimen, it’s important to consider your personal product preferences, the skin concern/s you want to target, and what products/ingredients you already have within the regimen.

If you prefer lightweight products, you may want to explore water based hydrating serums like the three mentioned above. If you have severely dry skin, you may want to explore thinker or heavier hydrating products like oils or creams. The Ordinary offers a wide range of hydrators to allow for a more personalized hydration skincare regimen.

Another important aspect to consider when selecting a new hydrator to add to your regimen is what other products and ingredients you use regularly to ensure there are no product conflicts.