If there’s an ingredient anyone should use, it’s Hyaluronic Acid:
It inundates dry and dehydrated skin with all the moisture it needs to heal.
It hydrates oily skin without adding more oil and grease to it.
It’s so gentle, it doesn’t give sensitive skin a rash.
And it’s more affordable than ever. Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum will set you back only £5.00. Yep, this stuff is even cheaper than The Ordinary. But is it just as effective? Have I found the new best kept drugstore secret or am I still recommending The Ordinary over this? I’ve put it to the test to find out:
Key Ingredients In Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum: What Makes It Work?
HYALURONIC ACID TO HYDRATE SKIN
Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum contains Sodium Hyaluronate, a form of Hyaluronic Acid that better penetrates your skin. But what does it do? It’s a moisture magnet that draws water from the environment and binds it into your skin. It’s so powerful, it can hold up to 1000 times its weight in water! Extra moisture = happier skin. The more moisture your skin has, the plumper and brighter it gets.
P.S. Sodium Hyaluronate isn’t the only moisture magnet here. Glycerin does the same thing, but on a smaller scale.
Related: Why You Need Hyaluronic Acid In Your Routine, No Matter Your Skin Type
The Rest Of The Formula & Ingredients
NOTE: The colours indicate the effectiveness of an ingredient. It is ILLEGAL to put toxic and harmful ingredients in skincare products.
Green: It’s effective, proven to work, and helps the product do the best possible job for your skin.
Yellow: There’s not much proof it works (at least, yet).
Red: What is this doing here?!
Aqua (Water): The main solvent in the formula, it helps other ingredients dissolve too.
Propanediol: A type of alcohol that hydrates skin (yes, really). It also acts as a solvent to dissolve other ingredients in the formula.
Betaine: A humectant that helps balance skin hydration, so your skin stays soft and supple for longer.
Phenoxyethanol: A preservative that inhibits the growth of bacteria in your skincare products, thus keeping them safe for longer.
Ethylhexylglycerin: A preservative that also hydrates skin.
Chlorphenesin: A gentle preservative that prevents bacteria contamination.
Carbomer: It’s used to create gel-like formulations. There mustn’t be too much here as the formula is incredibly runny.
Allantoin: A skin-soother that reduces inflammation, redness, and irritation.
Methylparaben: A preservative that kills any bacteria and fungi that may find their way into your skincare products.
Xanthan Gum: It thickens the texture of skincare products.
Disodium Edta: A chelating agent. Put simply, it attaches to the metal ions that would otherwise spoil the formula and neutralises them.
Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: An emollient that also helps the oily and watery parts of the formula blend together, creating a pleasant texture.
Sodium Hydroxide: It helps to adjust the pH of skincare products.
Tocopheryl Acetate: A form of Vitamin E. It has antioxidant properties but it’s here to help the formula last longer.
Texture
This serum has a clear texture that’s lightweight to the point of being runny. It sinks in quickly without leaving a greasy residue behind.
Fragrance
It’s fragrance-free. I dig this. It doesn’t smell like much, so if you like rose-fragranced products, you’ll be disappointed. But, fragrance is the most irritating ingredient in skincare, so I’m always pleasantly surprised when a brand leaves it out.
How To Use It
Like all hyaluronic acid serums, you can use it up to twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. Apply it after anti-aging serums (think retinol, Vitamin C, etc), but before moisturiser.
Packaging
Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum comes in a black and white bottle with a pump applicator. It’s sleek, but the pump tends to release more product than necessary. Be careful! This stuff may be cheap, but that doesn’t mean you want to buy it too often because half the bottle gets wasted!
Performance & Personal Opinion
If you’re a regular around here, you know that I recommend hyaluronic acid to everyone. Hydration is the foundation of flawless skin. You can use all the antiaging actives in the world, but if your skin is dry or dehydrated, it’ll look like a shrivelled old prune. That’s where hyaluronic acid comes in. This moisture magnet floods your skin with moisture, keeping it well hydrated all day long.
In summer, when the weather is hot and my skin is naturally well-moisturised, I stick to a moisturiser with hyaluronic acid. But as soon as the colder season rolls around, and the harshest temperatures threaten to suck all the moisture out of my skin, I add a separate hyaluronic acid serum to the mix for good measure.
Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum is one of the cheapest on the market, yet it delivers a hydrating punch. First things first: the pump dispenser releases way more product than you need for the face. Every. Single. Time. I use the excess on my neck and décolleté so that none gets wasted. Oh, the texture is runny too, so be careful when you use it. On the plus side, it sinks in immediately without feeling tacky. Phew!
If your skin is severely dehydrated, you’re better off with a serum that has multiple forms of hyaluronic acid, like Niod Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Complex. For everyone else, this is more than enough. I use it every morning and night after my other serums (Vitamin C and retinol) and it makes my skin so soft and smooth. It also plumps up fine lines a little, so they look smaller, too. Does it brighten skin? When skin has all the moisture it needs, it naturally looks a little dewier. You guessed it, the results are subtle here.
Related: Niod Multi Molecular Hyaluronic Acid Complex Review
How Does Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum Compare To The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5?
That’s the question you all want an answer to, right? The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is better in almost every way. For starters, it has TWO forms of Hyaluronic Acid, so it’s more hydrating. It binds more water to your skin, keeping it softer and suppler for longer. It has also a better texture. OK, it’s a bit foamy, which is weird. But… It’s not as runny, so it’s easier to apply and no product gets wasted. Just because this stuff’s cheap, doesn’t know you should use lose product every time. Oh, the packaging is different too. The Ordinary comes in a white bottle with a dropper applicator, so it dispenses only the right amount of product you need. It’s a couple of pounds more expensive, but you do get a little bit more so it all works out in the end. The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
What I Like About Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Lightweight, fast-absorbing texture
Hydrating, makes skin softer and smoother
Plumps up skin so fine lines and wrinkles look smaller
Gives skin a youthful glow
Fragrance-free
What I DON’T Like About Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum
Texture is runny
Product always dispenses too much product
Contains only one form of Hyaluronic Acid, so not as hydrating as other options on the market
Who Should Use This?
Everyone can use it, no matter what your skin type is. It’s especially suitable for people who need the extra hydration.
Does Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum Live Up To Its Claims?
CLAIM
TRUE?
Hydrates all skin types.
True.
Skin looks brighter.
True.
Skin feels moisturised.
True.
Price & Availability
£5.00 at Boots
The Verdict: Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for a cheap hyaluronic acid serum that gets the job done, Boots Ingredients Hyaluronic Acid Serum doesn’t disappoint.
Dupes & Alternatives
La Roche Posay Heal B5 Hyaluronic Acid Serum (£27.75): A simple, no-frills Hyaluronic Acid serum with Vitamin B5 to soothe redness. Available at Boots, La Roche Posay, and Sephora.
Niod Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Acid (£25.00): The most hydrating and plumping serum I’ve tried, it has 13+ forms of Hyaluronic Acid to hydrate every layer of skin. Available at Beauty Bay, Cult Beauty, and Niod
Paula’s Choice Resist Hyaluronic Acid Booster ($34.00): A hyaluronic acid serum with ceramides to strengthen the skin’s protective barrier and heal dry skin. Available at Dermstore, Net-A-Porter, Paula’s Choice, SpaceNK.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (£5.90): A simple formula with Vitamin B5 to soothe and hydrate skin. It’s fragrant-free and suitable for sensitive skin too. Available at Beauty Bay, Boots, Cult Beauty, Sephora, SpaceNK, The Ordinary, and Ulta.
Vichy 89 Mineral ($29.50): A lightweight formula with thermal water and Hyaluronic Acid to deeply hydrate every skin type. Available at Dermstore and Sephora.
Aqua (Water), Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Allantoin, Methylparaben, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopheryl Acetate.
About Gio
Hi, I’m Gio. I’m a no-nonsense, tell-it-like-it-is skin coach and writer on a mission to help you achieve your best skin day ever – every day. I bust skincare myths and debunk marketing jargon to help you figure out what’s worth the splurge and what’s best left on the shelf – using science, not hype. I also offer skincare consultations to help you create the best skincare routine for your unique needs.
