Final Up to date on October 28, 2026 by Giorgia Guazzarotti
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 is a type of serums that makes you surprise why skincare manufacturers insist on cramming 27 elements into every thing. It has simply seven. The celebs? Hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5, two elements that know a factor or two about hydration. The promise is straightforward: plumper, smoother, extra hydrated pores and skin. No wrinkle-erasing miracles or guarantees to show again the clock. Only a large drink of water for thirsty pores and skin. However at £45 a bottle, is that sufficient to justify the value?
The Verdict
My score: 4/5
Greatest for: Dehydrated pores and skin that wants a critical moisture enhance with out a heavy, greasy serum.
Skip it if: You’re on a price range. You can get hyaluronic acid and vitamin B5 for a lot much less.
What I like: Light-weight, silky texture that absorbs in seconds with out leaving a sticky mess. Perfume-free and layers superbly underneath moisturiser.
What I don’t: $54 for a hydrating serum? Ouch. And it’s not sufficient on its personal if your pores and skin is very dry.
Backside line: Medik8 Hydr8 B5 does precisely what I need a hydrating serum to do: it leaves my pores and skin softer, plumper, and hydrated. And the texture is a dream. Is it value $54? If you hate sticky serums and don’t thoughts splurging, completely. In any other case, there are cheaper methods to maintain your pores and skin hydrated.
Key Components For Medik8 Hydra8 B5: What Does The Science Say?
Panthenol: Extra Than Simply One other Hydrating Ingredient
Why hassle including panthenol whenever you’ve already obtained hyaluronic acid? As a result of hydration isn’t nearly attracting water. Your pores and skin wants to carry onto it, too.
Panthenol, a type of vitamin B5, does each. It attracts moisture and reduces water loss by means of the pores and skin, serving to it keep hydrated for longer. It additionally soothes irritation and helps broken pores and skin get better. Useful in case your love affair with retinol has left your pores and skin pink, dry, and begging for a break.
Sodium Hyaluronate: Does Hyaluronic Acid Stay Up To The Hype?
Hyaluronic acid is in every single place today, and for as soon as, the skincare business has an excellent cause to be obsessed. Sodium hyaluronate is a type of hyaluronic acid that draws and binds water to your pores and skin, bettering hydration and making fantastic strains much less apparent. Let’s be clear on one factor: sodium hyaluronate (identical to every other ingredient) can’t eliminate wrinkles. As an alternative, it plumps up the pores and skin round them. It’s an optical phantasm, however you continue to look youthful, so I’ll take it.
Medik8 makes use of completely different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid to hydrate completely different layers of pores and skin. The bigger kinds keep on the floor and hydrate that whereas the smaller ones get deeper into your pores and skin, infusing moisture by means of the opposite layers. Does that make Hydr8 B5 dramatically higher than each different hyaluronic acid serum? Not essentially. But it surely does an excellent job certainly.
Associated: Can You Use Hyaluronic Acid With Glycolic Acid?
My Expertise With Medik8 Hydr8 B5 Serum
I’ve a love-hate relationship with hyaluronic acid serums. Love what they do for my pores and skin. Hate that sticky feeling a few of them go away behind. Fortunately, Medik8 Hydr8 B5 doesn’t have that drawback.
It’s barely thick when it comes out of the dropper, however turns watery as quickly as I therapeutic massage it in. It absorbs in seconds, with no stickiness, greasiness, or annoying residue. I can put my moisturiser straight on prime with out every thing turning right into a sticky mess. There’s no perfume, both. Only a easy glass bottle with a dropper that does the job.
And my pores and skin? It loves these items. It feels softer, smoother, and noticeably plumper straight after utility. The tightness disappears, and with common use, my pores and skin stays hydrated as an alternative of getting dry once more a few hours later. Even these pesky dehydration strains look much less apparent.
My solely criticism? The worth. $54 for a hyaluronic acid serum isn’t precisely pocket change, particularly when you will get the identical elements for significantly much less. However I can’t deny how beautiful this one feels on my pores and skin. If it’s in your price range, why not?
Medik8 Hydr8 B5 vs Different Hyaluronic Acid Serums: Which Is Higher?
Hyaluronic acid serums are in every single place, from £9 bargains to £120 bottles. They all promise plumper, smoother pores and skin, so what precisely are you paying additional for? Typically, a higher components. Typically, a nicer texture. And generally, a very costly bottle of wishful considering. Right here’s how Medik8 Hydra8 B5 compares to different widespread hyaluronic acid serums in the marketplace:
- The Odd Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (With Ceramides) ($9.90): Medik8 vs The Odd Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5: The Odd wins. 5 kinds of hyaluronic acid, vitamin B5, and added barrier-supporting lipids for a fraction of Medik8’s value? That’s arduous to argue with. The new components is a lot much less sticky than the previous one, too. Medik8 feels nicer on my pores and skin, however The Odd provides you extra elements for much less cash. Obtainable at: Sephora, SpaceNK, The Odd and Ulta
- NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Advanced ($43.00): NIOD wins if you wish to go all out on hydration. It has 15 completely different sorts of hyaluronic acid and different humectants to infuse a waterfall of moisture into your pores and skin. Its watery texture feels light-weight, though it can be a little sticky. Medik8 feels nicer on the pores and skin, however NIOD is far more hydrating. Take a look at my full overview of NIOD right here. Obtainable at: Cult Magnificence, Niod, Sephora, and SpaceNK
- Paula’s Selection Hyaluronic Acid Booster ($39.00): Select Paula’s Selection if your pores and skin is dry and your pores and skin barrier wants some TLC. It combines hyaluronic acid and panthenol with three ceramides and ldl cholesterol, elements your pores and skin makes use of to maintain moisture from escaping. The catch? It’s barely sticky and comes in a tiny 15ml bottle. Obtainable at: Cult Magnificence, Dermstore, Paula’s Selection and SpaceNK
- La Roche-Posay Hyalu B5 Serum ($42.99): It has a thicker, sticky texture, regardless of containing alcohol denat to skinny it. Alcohol will be drying, however the serum has hyaluronic acid, panthenol, and madecassoside, which helps soothe pores and skin, to counteract that. Personally, I’d select Medik8. It provides me the hydration I need with out the fragrance or the sticky end. Obtainable at: Cult Magnificence, La Roche Posay, Look Incredible, Goal, Ulta, and Walmart
- SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier Multi-Glycan ($120.00): SkinCeuticals wins for anti-ageing. In contrast to Medik8, it comprises 12% Proxylane, which can enhance seen indicators of ageing. The catch? It’s virtually three instances the value of Medik8. Ouch! Obtainable at: Blue Mercury, Cult Magnificence, Dermstore, Look Incredible, Skinceuticals, and SpaceNK
Does Medik8 Hydra8 B5 Stay Up To Its Claims?
| BRAND | CLAIM |
|---|---|
| Instantly floods the pores and skin with moisture whereas boosting its pure moisture retention and regeneration talents for even longer-lasting hydration. | It could’t regenerate pores and skin. Every thing else is true. |
| This light-weight components leaves pores and skin replenished with out clogging your pores. Very best for regular to delicate pores and skin sorts. | True. |
| Effortlessly smooths the look of fantastic strains and wrinkles whereas selling a plumper, extra supple-looking complexion. | A flowery approach of claiming it plumps up fantastic strains and wrinkles, so they give the impression of being smaller to the bare eye. True. |
Value & Availability
$54 at Cult Magnificence, Medik8 and SpaceNK
The Verdict: Ought to You Purchase It?
Completely! It hydrates my pores and skin superbly, absorbs in seconds, and doesn’t go away a sticky mess behind. Sure, you can get hyaluronic acid for much less, however a good components is about extra than its elements. I love how this one feels and performs, and I’m blissful to pay additional for it.
