Side-by-side comparison

La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5

Both are serums. They share a 85% active-ingredient overlap, so the real decision is about price, texture and the supporting ingredients. Here's the side-by-side.

85%Active overlap
La Roche-Posay
Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum
SerumMid-rangeMorning or evening
DrynessDamaged Barrier

Two molecular weights of hyaluronic acid with panthenol and madecassoside. Designed for visible fine-line plumping on dehydrated skin — works best on damp skin sealed with moisturiser. Fragrance-free.

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The Ordinary
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
SerumBudgetMorning or evening
DrynessDamaged Barrier

A water-based humectant serum combining three molecular weights of hyaluronic acid with a crosspolymer and panthenol. Surface and deeper-layer hydration in one step. Apply to damp skin and seal with moisturiser — on bare dry skin, HA can pull water outward and make things worse.

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The verdict

Which should you choose?

On price, the The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 sits in the Budget tier versus Mid-range for the La Roche-Posay — so it's the more budget-led pick if the overlap is what you're after.

The overlap

What they share

At 85% active overlap, these are the ingredients doing comparable work in both formulas:

Hyaluronic AcidPanthenol
The formulation

Ingredient stacks, side by side

La Roche-Posay — top of the list

  • Aqua / Water~50–80%
  • Glycerin~5–25%
  • Propanediol~3–10%
  • Sodium Hyaluro…~2–6%
  • Hyaluronic Acid~1.5–4%
  • Panthenol~1–2%
  • Madecassoside~1–2%
  • Tromethamine~1–2%
  • Propylene Glycol~1–2%

The Ordinary — top of the list

  • Aqua (Water)~50–80%
  • Sodium Hyaluro…~5–25%
  • Sodium Hyaluro…~3–10%
  • Hyaluronic Acid2%
  • Panthenol~1.5–4%
  • Pentylene Glycol~1–2%
  • Propanediol~1–2%

● marks ingredients that appear near the top of both lists. Percentages are positional estimates from INCI order, not disclosed doses.

At a glance

The specs

La Roche-PosayThe Ordinary
CategorySerumSerum
Price tierMid-rangeBudget
Best forDryness, Damaged BarrierDryness, Damaged Barrier
Usage notesMorning or eveningMorning or evening
Active overlap85% — Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol
Questions

Common questions

Is the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum or the The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 better?
Neither is universally better — they share 85% active-ingredient overlap, so for the actives that drive results they're close. The The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the more budget-friendly option, while the other may differ on texture, finish and supporting ingredients. Pick based on your skin's priorities rather than a single 'winner'.
What's the difference between the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum and the The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5?
Both are serums that share Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol. Where they differ: they sit in different price tiers (Mid-range vs Budget).
Are the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 dupes for each other?
They share 85% active-ingredient overlap based on published INCI lists, so one can stand in for the other on the actives that matter — chiefly Hyaluronic Acid, Panthenol. A dupe matches the hero actives, not the full sensory experience, so expect differences in texture, fragrance and exact concentrations.
Can I use the La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 together?
They both fill the serum slot in a routine, so you'd normally pick one rather than layer both. If you want to use both, treat one as your daytime option and the other for evening, and patch-test when introducing anything new.
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99% overlap

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