One of the most exceptional budget-friendly serums is The Ordinary. This brand, based in the US, is renowned for its range of iconic products, such as the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1%. Today, we're focusing on the HA 2% + B5 version. Let's dissect every detail to see if it truly exceeds its price tag as claimed.
What's the appearance like for this serum from The Ordinary?
The general appearance features paper packaging and serum bottles typical of The Ordinary. They all come in glass bottles with plastic screw caps like these. You have to inspect the label on the bottle carefully to ensure you're getting the right formula, or else you might end up with a different product. Overall, there's not much to say about the design. It's super simple, to say the least, and describing The Ordinary serum couldn't be any simpler.
The texture and scent of this Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum
Review of this product indicates it has a slightly dense texture. When applied on the hand before the face, it feels a bit thick. It fully absorbs in just about a minute. It absorbs super quickly, leaving a smooth, refreshing feeling on the skin. It's odorless and doesn't cause any irritation, even on first use, so those with sensitive or acne-prone skin can still use it. Since it's free of fragrance, you can feel relatively confident using it.
Analysis of the key ingredients in this serum from The Ordinary
This serum's key ingredient is HA – Hyaluronic Acid. This is a substance not unfamiliar to skincare enthusiasts. It has the ability to retain moisture up to 1000 times its weight. This isn't just a rumor; this ingredient is truly remarkable. For those with dry skin looking to increase moisture, HA is worth considering.
The packaging of The Ordinary serum clearly states 'Ultra Pure.' This is a technology to fractionate HA molecules into 4 sizes—small, large, medium—to adapt to various layers of skin cells, providing moisture and vitality from within.
The product also contains vitamin B5 for soothing the skin. This component helps to restore and moisturize the skin. The combination of HA and B5 works wonders for skin repair. Because vitamin B5 dissolves in water and meets HA, the absorption rate is lightning fast.
Additionally, The Ordinary serum also includes other 'supporting roles' such as Pentylene. Looking at the ingredient list, rest assured it contains moisturizing and anti-inflammatory agents. With this ingredient, the serum's texture is improved, providing a light, non-greasy feel. There's also another moisture-binding agent, Propanediol, of natural origin commonly used in cosmetics. This acts as a preservative, so it's worth noting if you're sensitive to this ingredient.
Impressions on the effectiveness of The Ordinary serum.
I find this one quite addictive. I've tried serums from Timeless with B5 and a few other B5 variants, but it's only with The Ordinary serum that I'm really impressed. This one's perfect for those with dry to combination-dry skin like mine. It feels slightly tacky upon application, but a gentle pat and it absorbs right away. You have to note that HA acts as a 'water conduit' into the skin and locks it in. Don't let it pull moisture out; instead, use HA when your skin is already moist. Applying skincare steps consecutively like this is highly effective.
I've only been using it for 1-2 weeks, and I can already see a difference in my skin, so I really like The Ordinary serum. It's priced at around 300k VND, so it's definitely worth considering. Give it some thought.