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SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel Review

Facial Treatments

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Product Grade
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Best Feature:
Boosts skin's natural ability to attract and retain moisture
Worst Feature:
It is a very expensive addition to current skincare routine
Best Uses:
Enhancing the effectiveness of a daily moisturizer
Pricing:
$70
Manufacturer:
SkinCeuticals

Where to Buy

Store Name
Price
SkinStore
$69.00
DermStore
$83.00

Overview

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel is a concentrated topical serum than combines hyaluronic acid with vitamin B5 to enhance the effects of your moisturizer and give your skin a smooth and youthful appearance. Applied under your moisturizer, the hyaluronic acid in the serum attracts and locks moistures into the skin, while the vitamin B5 works to repair tissue. Occasionally referred to as "nature's moisturizer", hyaluronic acid is found naturally in our bodies and has an impact on a number of functions, namely maintaining skin's elasticity and hydration, and lubricating muscles and joints. Hyaluronic acid production in your body declines as you age, and this contributes to your skin becoming more dehydrated and less elastic. The Hydrating B5 Gel is recommended for use with vitamin C treatments (SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic) and a moisturizer to effectively counter signs of aging and leave skin feeling supple and smooth.

You can purchase SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel on skinceuticals.com or skinstore.com for $69. You can also purchase a set of six 5ml sample size bottles on skinmedix.com for $45.

Product Report Card Grade

We give SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel an A- because it is a lightweight, effective serum that can be used on any skin type to boost the hydrating power of a moisturizer. The serum features sodium hyaluronate (the salt form of hyaluronic acid) to attract/bind water to skin, and it also incorporates vitamin B5 to help heal and revitalize skin. While we think the Hydrating B5 Gel is an amazing product for all skin types (and currently use it ourselves), we had to deduct a few points because it is incredibly expensive and doesn’t replace the need for a moisturizer.

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Comparison at a Glance
 
This Product
Product Name
SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
Peter Thomas Roth's VIZ-1000 Hydrating Serum
Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Booster
Price
See Prices
See Prices
See Prices
Overall Score
Our Awards
Date Reviewed
February 2012
February 2012
February 2012

Pros/Cons
Pros
Boosts skin's natural hydrating ability; super absorbent, fragrance-free, lightweight, non-greasy formula that is good for all skin including very sensitive, acne-prone and oily skin; addition of vitamin B5 helps soothe, heal and regenerate the skin
Effective at smoothing and hydrating skin; serum is non-greasy, lightweight and super absorbent; fragrance-free; not tested on animals
Hydrates skin; vitamin B5 helps soothe, heal and regenerate the skin; lightweight, non-greasy serum good for oily skin; doesn't contain artificial fragrances or dyes; can be used as a spot treatment for dry skin around eyes and lips; not tested on animals
Cons
Expensive; best results when combined with CE Ferulic antioxidant (est. $144); isn't a replacement for a moisturizer; tested on animals
Expensive; cannot be used as a replacement for moisturizer
Expensive; contains some ingredients that may be irritating to sensitive skin

Details
Skin Type
Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination and Sensitive
Normal, Dry, Oily, Combination and Sensitive
Normal, Dry, Oily and Combination
Skin Concern
Aging and Dry/Dehydrated Skin
Aging and Dry/Dehydrated Skin
Aging and Dry/Dehydrated Skin
Price (est.)
$74
$65
$54
Treatment Size
30ml
30ml
30ml
Active Ingredients / Technology
The serum contains sodium hyaluronate (salt form of hyaluronic acid) and vitamin B5. Sodium hyaluronate attracts and binds moisture to the skin, while Vitamin B5 promotes cellular renewal and heals damaged skin.
The serum helps keep skin hydrated with a concentrated formula containing sodium hyaluronate (salt form of hyaluronic acid), sodium PCA, honey, Yerba Santa and a mineral complex. It also features Silk Proteins to soften skin and sea algae to soothe skin and promote moisture.
The serum is a concentrated blend of sodium hyaluronate (salt form of hyaluronic acid), panthenol (Vitamin B5), glycolipids and algae extract. Sodium hyaluronate attracts and binds moisture to skin, panthenol aids in skin/tissue repair and hydration, glycolipids moisturize skin, and algae extract softens skin and restores its moisture balance.
Fragrance
Fragrance-Free
Fragrance-Free
Fragrance-Free
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate (salt form of Hyaluronic Acid), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5) and Phenoxyethanol.
Water, Saccharide Isomerate, Lactobacillus/Eriodictyon Californicum Ferment Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Silk, Saccharomyces Zinc Ferment, Saccharomyces, Copper Ferment, Saccharomyces Manganese Ferment, Saccharomyces Iron Ferment, Saccharomyces Silicon Ferment, Saccharomyces Potassium Ferment, Lactobacillus/Olea Europea (Olive) Leaf Ferment Extract, Honey Extract, Algae Extract, Opuntia Tuna Flower/Stem Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Pca, Urea, Trehalose, Polyquaternium-51, Butylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea.
(Dermalogica doesn't guarantee that list is accurate, so you should also double check the package): Water (Aqua), Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Glycerin, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Panthenol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Sea Water, Glycolipids, Linalool, PPG-5-Ceteth-20, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben.
Product Design
It comes in a clear bottle with a dropper applicator.
The serum comes in a clear pump bottle that limits its exposure to air.
The serum comes in an opaque bottle with a small opening to limit its exposure to light and air.

ProductReportCard Editors' In-Depth Review

Pros And Cons

Pros

  • Boosts skin's natural hydrating ability
  • Super absorbent, fragrance-free, lightweight, non-greasy formula that is good for all skin including very sensitive, acne-prone and oily skin
  • Addition of vitamin B5 helps soothe, heal and regenerate the skin

Cons

  • Expensive by itself and best results are when you combine it with the CE Ferulic antioxidant (est. $144)
  • Not a replacement for a moisturizer. Moisturizer is still strongly recommended to help maintain skin's hydration.

Key Features

Size
30ml
Skin Type
Suitable for all skins types
Skin Concern
Anti-aging or dry/dehydrated skin
How it works
Serum contains hyaluronic acid that is able to absorb up to 1,000 times its own weight in water from the moisture in the air. You can think of it like a sponge - it soaks up moisture and locks it into your skin and tissue underneath. Vitamin B5 promotes cellular renewal and heals damaged skin. The gel is not a replacement for your moisturizer, but amplifies the hydrating power of your moisturizer. For best results, you should apply the Hydrating B5 Gel after using SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic (antioxidant) and then follow with your moisturizer and SPF.
Directions
Apply 2-3 drops on face and neck once or twice a day (avoid eyes).
Key Ingredients
water, sodium hyaluronate (hyaluronic acid), pantothenic acid (vitamin B5), phenoxyethanol.

Reputation

SkinCeuticals Hydrating B5 Gel has received great feedback from customers on Dermstore.com (5/5 out of 142 reviews), Amazon (4.5 out of 24 reviews) and Totalbeauty.com (9.4/10 out of 25 reviews). It was also one of InStyle's Best Beauty Buys for 2011. While some people use the serum alone under their moisturizer, many people use it in conjunction with the CE Ferulic antioxidant, as recommended by SkinCeuticals, and have amazing results. If you can afford both, you should definitely spring for it, but, otherwise, I think you are fine going with just the Hydrating B5 Gel.

I personally have been using the Hydrating B5 Gel for over a year and love it. I don't use any other SkinCeuticals products because they tend to be more expensive, but I think this is definitely worth the money. I have fair skin that is sensitive and prone to breakouts, so I have to be careful about the products I choose. I didn't really know what to do when the skin around my nose started to get really dry/red in the winters, and an esthetician suggested I buy this serum after a facial. Despite my personal rule never to buy products in spas/salons, I went for it. I'm so glad I did. The serum gave my moisturizer the extra boost it needed and my skin has never been better. I moved from California to Colorado during the winter and the serum continues to work wonders even in a significantly drier climate. My fiancé loves it and it is definitely a product that I have recommended to friends and family.

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