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The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA vs The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)

Same comparison whichever way you searched it: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) vs The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA.

The bottom line

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) land in much the same place on performance, so value decides it: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) does the same job for less.

Reviewed by Maya FaourLast reviewed September 2026
The OrdinaryAlpha Arbutin 2% + HASerum · ~€9See every ingredient in Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA, decoded
The OrdinaryHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)Serum · ~€8See every ingredient in Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation), decoded

Which should you pick?

Pick Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA if

  • dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
  • fine lines and firmness are the goal
  • you prefer a simpler, more minimal formula

Pick Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) if

  • your barrier feels stressed and needs the support
  • plump, lasting hydration is what you want
  • you want the more affordable option

What each delivers

HydrationBarrierBrighteningOil-controlAnti-aging
Alpha Arbutin 2% + HAHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
  • Hydration
    710
  • Barrier repair
    38
  • Brightening / tone
    93
  • Oil-control & blemishes
    33
  • Anti-aging
    52

Side by side

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HAHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
TypeSerumSerum
Key activesAlpha Arbutin 2%, Lactic acidGlycerin, Hyaluronic acid 2%, Crosslinked sodium HA
TextureA light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.A light, fast-absorbing texture that layers cleanly under the rest of your routine, with no greasy film.
FragranceNone detectedNone detected
Fungal-acne safeLikelyLikely
PregnancyNo flagged activesNo flagged actives
Ingredients12 listed17 listed
Price~€9~€8

What's in one but not the other

The two labels share 5 of the 24 ingredients between them. The actives are where they part company.

What each one adds acts on The living epidermis, The stratum corneum for The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The stratum corneum for The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation). That is the layer each is understood to act on, not how deep it travels.

Only in Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA

Both share

No active in common.

Only in Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)

The molecule doing the work

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HAAlpha Arbutin
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)Glycerin

Better for…

  • Dark spots & uneven toneAlpha Arbutin 2% + HA
  • Fine lines & firmnessAlpha Arbutin 2% + HA
  • Dryness & dehydrationHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) is the cheaper of the two (~€8 vs ~€9).

Ready to pick one?

Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA on amazon.comHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) on amazon.com

Affiliate links, so a purchase sends us a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Glow Simplified earns from qualifying purchases. We make and sell nothing here, so the verdict above never bends toward a sale.

Common questions

Is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA or The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) better for dark spots & uneven tone?

For dark spots & uneven tone, The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) land in much the same place on performance, so value decides it: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) does the same job for less.

Which is cheaper, The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA or The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)?

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) is the cheaper of the two (~€8 vs ~€9).

Can I use The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA and The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) together?

They are both serums, so you would normally pick one rather than layer both in the same step. You can keep both and alternate them (morning and night, or on different days) if you like variety, but you do not need two.

What the scene shows

The cross-section at the top of this page is not decoration and not a diagram of the skin in general: it places the molecules these two are sold on at the layer each is understood to act on. The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA is placed by Alpha Arbutin (the living epidermis), Lactic acid (the stratum corneum). The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) is placed by Glycerin (the stratum corneum), Hyaluronic acid (the stratum corneum), Crosslinked sodium HA (the stratum corneum). A layer is where an ingredient does its work, never how deep it travels, and never a claim about how well it works.

Back up to the scene

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