One of the top-selling SkinCeuticals products is the Hydrating B5 Gel. This oil-free serum is a fairly straightforward product. In fact, it only has four ingredients! It contains water, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), phenoxyethanol (a preservative), and calcium pantothenic acid (vitamin B5). That’s it.
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This simple formula is great for the skin. This lightweight serum helps replenish moisture for supple, smooth skin. This SkinCeuticals gel uses two popular ingredients for this effective product. But there is one big question about this product, why is it so expensive.
It’s natural to wonder, are they any worthy SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel alternatives? Given the straightforward ingredient profile, we knew we could find more affordable alternatives to this product.
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
Before jumping into the SkinCeuticals alternatives, it’s first important to understand what makes this product special. This serum was designed to restore hydration to the skin but it’s a great option for all skin types. The Hydrating B5 Gel offers the following benefits to the skin:
- Skin will feel supple and smooth
- Helps skin retain moisture
- Improves the effectiveness of other moisturizing products
- Helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
Key Ingredients
As noted above, the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel uses a simple formula with two key ingredients: hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5.
- Hyaluronic Acid is most known for its ability to retain water. It holds up to 1,000 times its molecular weight in water! It makes for a powerful ingredient to help the skin retain moisture. Who doesn’t want plump, supple skin? By improving the lipid barrier, hyaluronic acid helps the product the skin against pollutants and toxins that can lead to wrinkles and dullness. Also, hyaluronic acid can help improve skin elasticity, tone, and texture.
- Vitamin B5 helps the skin absorb and retain moisture for softer, smoother skin. It also has anti-inflammatory properties to help soothe, calm, and promote healthy skin. This ingredient is unique since it acts as both an emollient and a humectant. This means it helps attract and bind water to the skin while also locking this moisture in.
So we get it, hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 are awesome ingredients for the skin. But what other products offer this ingredient combo?
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel Alternatives
We took a look at other products that offer the same hydrating duo ingredients at the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. Want to get straight to the good stuff? Our top SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel alternative is the Dr. Brenner Honest Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
The Ordinary is known for offering simple formulas with potent ingredients for crazy low prices. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid vs. SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is one of the first comparisons we had to make.
Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Ingredients
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid has a 2% concentration but we don’t know how that compares to the SkinCeuticals gel. The ingredient list isn’t as simple as the SkinCeuticals product. Here’s the full ingredient list:
Aqua (Water), Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Isoceteth-20, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol.
The Ordinary serum includes two forms of hyaluronic acid; sodium hyaluronate and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer. It also has ingredients that help improve absorption, effectiveness, and protect texture. Even though the ingredients listed above may look scary, they are considered safe to use.
Is It a Good Option?
Absolutely. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 serum is a great alternative for the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. These products have the same key ingredients and the The Ordinary product is about 1/6 of the price. The SkinCeuticals gel offers a lighter texture that absorbs quickly on the skin. On the other hand, The Ordinary serum is thicker and is a bit tacky after application.
This product has even more hydrating ingredients making it a great alternative!
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5
The La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 combines hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and madecassoside for this hydrating, lightweight serum. Hydrate, plump skin, and help repair the skin barrier.
La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Ingredients
This La Roche-Posay serum also contains two key ingredients in the SkinCeuticals product. On the positive side, this serum contains additional hydrating and skin-soothing ingredients. However, it also contains silicone and added fragrances. This product is going to deliver results and have a great texture but keep that in mind before purchasing.
Aqua / Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Glyceryl Isostearate, Madecassoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Disodium Edta, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Butyleneglycol, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum / Fragrance, Product packaging may vary.
Is It a Good Option?
Can you get similar results for less cost with the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5? Yes, probably. But this isn’t our first choice since it has silicone and added fragrances. If these ingredients aren’t a concern, then it’s a great SkinCeuticals alternative!
Dr. Brenner Honest Hyaluronic Acid Serum – Best Overall
The Dr. Brenner serum offers the same hydration benefits with the highest-grade, organic, and vegan hyaluronic acid. Did we mention is also has vitamin B5? This serum leaves the skin visibly plump and smooth. Similar to the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel, it helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Dr. Brenner Honest Hyaluronic Acid Serum Ingredients
This Dr. Brenner Hyaluronic Acid serum has the same four ingredients as the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. It’s literally the two key ingredients, water and a preservative that makes sure it doesn’t go bad. On top of that, phenoxyethanol is the same ingredient in the SkinCeuticals formulation.
Water, Calcium Pantothenate (Vitamin B5), Sodium Hyaluronate (Hyaluronic Acid), Phenoxyethanol.
Is It a Good Option?
Yes, the Dr. Brenner Honest Hyaluronic Acid Serum is great cheaper alternative for the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel. This product is 1/8 of the cost and has the exact same ingredients. We don’t know how the concentrations differ, but it literally uses the same four ingredients as SkinCeuticals. Based on the ingredients and positive reviews, this is the best alternative for the SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel.
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