Hyaluronic acid works like a hydration magician, capable of locking in up to five and a half litres of water in just a quarter teaspoon. So, it’s no surprise that it is a cult favourite among skincare enthusiasts looking for plump, rejuvenated skin.
The Ordinary has been the pack leader for many years, but it might finally have a worthy competitor in the form of the Korean skincare Mixsoon. Both brands have unique hyaluronic acid serums promising to add moisture and smooth skin texture but which opponent will win in a product showdown?
We’ve decided to step into the ring and do a simple comparison to keep you from getting lost in the rabbit hole of ingredient labels and products on the shelves. So, let’s glove up and enter the fray!
Table of contents
The Products at a Glance
If you’re short on time but still want to make an informed decision, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with this concise yet comprehensive overview of each product to help you quickly compare and choose the best hyaluronic acid serum for your needs.
Comparing Hyaluronic Serums
If you’re short on time but still want to make an informed decision, don’t worry. We’ve got you covered with this concise yet comprehensive overview of each product to help you quickly compare and choose the best hyaluronic acid serum for your needs.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
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What it is
The Ordinary focuses on making products backed by clinically proven ingredients. The brand offers a wide range of products allowing you to customise your routine based on your unique skin concerns. Whether you’re targeting hydration, anti-ageing, or acne control, you can build an effective regimen tailored to your needs.
For many, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 is the holy grail of face serums for dry skin. It has recently been reformulated to have a lightweight, non-sticky feel but still contains five types of hyaluronic acids and ceramides that you know and love. This powerhouse ingredient combination in this water-based serum ensures your skin stays moisturised while smoothing texture and wrinkles.
Hero Ingredients
Pro-vitamin B5 is a great support for the skin. This humectant helps attract moisture helping to stabilise the skin barrier and lock moisture in. It helps minimise the look of fine lines and texture instantly smoother skin.
The formula also contains ceramides — the fatty molecules naturally found in the skin. These help your skin stay hydrated and help protect the skin barrier to prevent more damage.
Why it Works
The lightweight formula replenishes skin’s hydration levels with all-day results and helps retain moisture to re-plump dry, dehydrated skin.
How to Use it
Apply two to three drops to the face in the morning and evening after cleansing your skin before any anhydrous serums or moisturisers.
Mixsoon Glacier Water Hyaluronic Acid Serum
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What it is
Mixsoon is a clean beauty brand that uses only the necessary ingredients minimising the possibility of harsh products. These gentle products are also great for sensitive skin and can easily be layered on top of each other without fear of the products reacting with each other or irritation.
The Mixsoon serum features a mix of hyaluronic acid molecules in varying molecular weights—low, medium, and high—as well as an HA cross polymer to deliver hydration at multiple skin layers. This synergy ensures the skin is thoroughly moisturised from deep within while maintaining surface hydration, resulting in a plump and radiant look.
The serum is designed to be gentle and non-irritating, making it ideal for those with sensitive skin. Formulated with just five natural, vegan ingredients and free from common irritants, it minimises the chance of negative skin reactions.
Hero Ingredients
The Glacier Water Hyaluronic Acid Serum contains three types of hyaluronic acids giving it a powerful hydration boost to your skin barrier. As the name suggests, it also contains Alaskan glacier water high in minerals that help with anti-ageing and cellular health.
Why it Works
This face serum is dense but lightweight and doesn’t feel sticky after applying it. Because it has a slightly thicker feel, it leaves a moisture film your skin will drink in, strengthening its barrier. The serum also contains antioxidants that help protect your skin from environmental damage. With regular use, you’ll notice a more radiant and resilient complexion.
How to Use it
Apply two to three layers of this serum morning and night after cleansing and toning for ultimate hydration. If you need a bigger punch of hydration you can soak cotton pads with the serum and apply it to dry areas for five to ten minutes. After, apply a rich hyaluronic acid face cream for the best results.
FAQs about Hyaluronic Acid Serums
What Are Hyaluronic Acid Benefits?
Not only is hyaluronic acid a powerful humectant that keeps skin moisturised, but it is also used in anti-ageing products, is great for wound healing, improves skin elasticity, and soothes redness, dermatitis, and other inflammatory skin conditions.
Can I Use Hyaluronic Acid With Retinol?
Absolutely! Hyaluronic acid and retinol complement each other well because some people find that retinol leaves their skin dry. So, using a HA serum under your retinol can be very beneficial.
Can I Use Hyaluronic Acid on My Face Every Day?
Yes, it is recommended that you use it morning and night before applying your moisturiser. The only time you shouldn’t use it daily is if you are noticing an allergic reaction or have broken skin.
Can I Use Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid Serum Together?
Yes, you can. In fact, these two ingredients are often used together because they complement each other so beautifully. Apply your Vitamin C serum first and allow it to sink into the skin first before topping it with a hydrating HA serum.
The Verdict: Which Is the Best Hyaluronic Acid Serum in South Africa?
Mixsoon’s serum emerges as our top choice. We appreciate its large product size, which offers excellent value and ensures prolonged usage. The serum’s formulation is remarkably minimalist, featuring only five ingredients, proving that simplicity can be a superpower when nourishing your skin.
However, The Ordinary remains popular due to its proven effectiveness and customisable formulations. Armed with potent ingredients like pro-vitamin B5 and hydrating ceramides, it strikes with the force of a knockout blow. Despite minor downsides such as a slightly sticky texture and less sturdy packaging, it suits users looking for a flexible skincare routine.
A slight downside for Mixsoon for some is that you need two to three rounds of application for full hydration, but this only enhances its versatility. By saturating cotton pads with the formula, you can deliver deep, layered moisture to specific problem areas, delivering a one-two punch against dryness — which we love!
The ordinary seems, more affordable and more available, but targets skincare in a minimalist way. Mixsoon seems to have a gentler, more targeted approach, but is slightly more expensive and a bit harder to find. However, Mixsoon does seem like it would work better than the ordinary
What I love about mixoon is that it is cruelty free, I trust cruelty free products because it’s movement is revolutionary in the beauty industry and that’s what we need plus it’s skincare products is suitable for all skin types. The ordinary is the most affordable chic high-end skincare products you’ll ever find that’s free of fragrance and targets special skin conditions.
I love how mixoon meets so many of my skins needs. And as my skin is changing with the seasons the products the are still able to give me the desired results.
Although I haven’t used either product, I would lean towards Mixsoon as it seems more suited for my sensitive, dry skin.
Although I haven’t used either product, I would lean towards Mixsoon as it seems more suited for my sensitive, dry skin.
What makes makes Mixoon more preferable for me is the fact that it being a brand that has niche skin care products enables my skincare concerns to be more specifically catered for and thus won’t
Be harsh on my skin. My skin care needs have a particular product to solve that issue and therefore makes it more preferable for me to opt for mixoon.
I feel that mixsoon is more easy in my sensitive skin