Hydr8 B5 Intense

B5 at full commitment

Panthenol sits second in the formula, as high as vitamin B5 realistically goes, with its acid form (calcium pantothenate) in support. Skin converts panthenol to pantothenic acid, the vitamin its own repair metabolism runs on: hydration and recovery from the same molecule.

The NMF, ingredient by ingredient

The skin’s Natural Moisturising Factor is a recipe of amino acids, PCA, urea, sugars and salts, and this formula recreates it almost line by line: eleven amino acids from lysine to phenylalanine, sodium PCA, urea, sorbitol and lactate. Dehydrated skin is short of exactly this list; the serum simply restocks it.

The modern humectants

Multi-weight hyaluronic acid, glyceryl glucoside, studied for activating the skin’s own water channels, trehalose (the desert-survival sugar), N-acetyl glucosamine feeding hyaluronic production from within, and the cellular osmolytes taurine and creatine. Saskatoon berry and black carrot bring antioxidant colour; allantoin soothes.

Fragrance-free throughout

A hydration serum with nothing to argue with, by design.

Dehydrated skin of every type, oily skin that lacks water, dry skin that lacks everything, and any face mid-retinoid or mid-acid whose routine needs a peacemaking middle layer. All ages, all seasons.

Worth knowing

Contains hydrolysed wheat protein and soybean seed extract, avoid with wheat-protein or soy allergy. The lactic acid present is an NMF component at trace level, not an exfoliant.

Morning and/or evening on lightly damp skin: 3–4 drops pressed over face and neck, then moisturiser while skin is still tacky, humectants work best with water to hold and a seal to keep it.

Layers under everything, including actives.

Use alongside

The hydration middle of the CSA routine, under C-Tetra by day, under Crystal Retinal by night, where it doubles as the comfort layer that makes the ladder easier to climb. Across the shelf it holds the hydration-serum chair with HA Densimatrix, Surge and Hydra-Cool: choose by feel, this is the B5-and-amino-acid interpretation.