If I had to pick my favorite skincare ingredient, it would be hyaluronic acid. This is a hero ingredient, and everyone should use it no matter what skin type you have! It has been the ultimate game-changer in my skincare routine. I have oily skin, but even I need the extra hydration to keep the excess oils away.
Today I want to compare two Hyaluronic Acid serums that I’ve been testing out the past few months. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 and L’Oreal Derm Intensives Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum are two of the most popular serums on the market right now.
Let me say that I am not an expert in skincare by any means. I am simply sharing some things I have learned throughout my skincare journey.
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What is Hyaluronic Acid
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is commonly found in a lot of skin care products such as moisturizers, sheet masks, and eye creams. This naturally occurs in the skin and helps keep it hydrated and plump. HA is a glycosaminoglycan which is a protein that supports the maintenance of collagen and elastin in the skin. This also means that it works overtime to keep the skin stable and replenished. Hyaluronic Acid is also known as a humectant which means it retains or preserves moisture.
I will be honest with you, there are a lot of terms that I did not quite understand. I am still learning about the science behind skincare, so I encourage you to go through these resources here and here. These will explain some of the terms in further detail, and give you an idea of just how great HA is.
The Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid (HA)
So, what are the benefits of Hyaluronic Acid? I thought you’d never ask.
One major benefit of hyaluronic acid is that it is very hydrating and can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. As I said it helps to draw in and retain moisture. As we get older, our skin’s ability to retain water lessens which causes a loss of firmness and elasticity. Environmental stressors such as air pollution also contribute to this as well. When this is added into your skincare routine, it can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
This benefits all skin types because all skin types need moisture and hydration, yes even oily skin. When oily skin doesn’t have enough moisture, it can produce excess oil which leads to breakouts. This serum in particular is lightweight and absorbs quickly into the skin.
Hyaluronic Acid Ingredients
Let’s compare the ingredients found in both the L’Oreal and The Ordinary serums. Both are water-based serums that contain similar ingredients like Sodium Hyaluronate. This penetrates deeper into the skin because it has a lower molecular weight than HA.
The rest of the ingredients vary, for example, The Ordinary uses citric acid which removes dead skin cells and promotes new skin growth. The L’Oreal serum has hydrogenated castor oil that creates a protective layer that acts as a barrier to prevent moisture loss.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: Click here for the full list of ingredients.
L’Oreal Paris Revitalift 1.5% Pure HA: Click here for the full list of ingredients.
Usage
When testing out any new skincare product, it is best to start slowly, apply it once or twice per week to see how your skin reacts. Patch testing can also be helpful when adding new products to your routine. I like to use this serum in my AM and PM routines. Apply 2-3 drops before moisturizer and after toner all over the face.
How they Compare
The difference in price is the most obvious in these serums. The Ordinary ‘s products are effective and very affordable. It’s no surprise that their products fly off the shelves almost immediately. This serum is priced at $6.80. The Ordinary formula uses three forms of HA with different molecular weights, this offers multi-depth hydration and visible plumping.
The L’Oreal Hyaluronic Acid Facial Serum is more expensive at $29.99. The amount of HA in each serum is also different, The Ordinary has 2% HA+ B5 which also helps retain moisture and keep skin soft and healthy. L’Oreal contains 1.5% HA, while this may not seem like a lot, only 1% HA is needed to make a noticeable difference in your skin.
I didn’t notice much of a difference in results. Both of these serums provide intense hydration and moisture, they immediately left my skin feeling soft and supple. They also absorb quickly into the skin and doesn’t give your skin that sticky or tacky feeling. The consistency was different for each serum. The Ordinary serum is thicker while L’Oreal has a watery consistency.
Other Alternatives
Final Thoughts
After using both of these serums for a few months, I would repurchase both. If I went based on the price I would go with The Ordinary serum. My results were the same for both products.
I really enjoy comparing products! I hope you enjoyed this post and learned a little bit more about HA and how it works with your skin. Do you incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into your skincare routine? If so, let me know which is your favorite! Also, let me know what other products you want me to compare.
xx,
Brianna
So I have recently added a few of the Ordinary products after I had already used up a bottle of the Loreal Paris Hyaluronic acid that I HONESTLY fell in love with because I DID really notice the plumbing in my fine lines and just over all skin improvement, so with that being said for Christmas I got from The Ordinary the Vit. C suspension 30% in silicone tube, I also got the retinol 1% in squalane, I don’t know if I mentioned it but I got the hyaluronic acid 2% + B5, I got the AHA 30% + BHA 2% peeling solution which is a 10-minute exfoliating facial and then last but not least I got the alpha arbutin 2% + h a. So that’s what I got from the ordinary now I also purchased the L’Oreal Paris revitalift moisturizer and also L’Oreal hydrafresh toner, last but not least for my eyes I use L’Oreal Paris dermo expertise eye defense and that basically sums up my skincare routine. I’m not sure if I’m correct in what I thought I noticed or if it was just because it was the first time I had ever used a hyaluronic acid on my face but for some reason I feel that maybe I thought that the L’Oreal Paris hyaluronic acid did a little extra Plumping ET cie. For my skin now that could just be me making it up in my head I don’t really know but anyway… What I’m here to ask is I think I would like to add collagen into the mix somewhere is there any product out there that you would suggest that is a good good product to add collagen into my routine? Also do you have any thoughts suggestions or comments on my skincare routine with what I just told you that I. Feel free to give me your thoughts thank you very much. Also please let me know if there’s something that you think is extraordinary that you think I would love to add I’m 42 but I would say I look like a young 42 and I don’t really have any skin issues other than fine lines and I guess I’m losing a little bit of elasticity I guess and firmness in my skin and then under my eyes I’m getting a little bit of the sunken in look but that’s about it.
Hi Shelly,
Thank you for reaching this post. I am glad you enjoyed both of these serums! It has been a few months since I’ve talked about these, but now that I’ve tried different HA serums, I would say these two are my least favorite. I found that the Ordinary serum was sticky. Now I am using the Ghost Democracy HA serum and the texture is SO much better! I also struggle with puffiness under my eyes and dark circles and I find that products with caffeine help a lot, you should test out the Ordinary caffeine solution or the caffeine eye cream from The Inkey List. Hyaluronic Acid does a great job at plumping the skin, if you are interested you should also try the Plum Plump serum from Glow Recipe, it’s a little pricey, but a great option as well. May I ask if you are using an SPF everyday? This will also help slow down the signs of aging like fine lines. As for collagen The Inkey List has a Collagen booster that firms the skin the reduces the look of fine lines! I am not a professional these are just my opinions and knowledge from my own experience, but I hope this helped! Please let me know if you try any of these products out and how they works or you! 🙂