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Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum.

About this product

A lightweight hydrating serum with multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, panthenol, niacinamide, and B vitamins designed to deliver intense hydration and plumping.

Full ingredients

Water/​Aqua/​Eau, Coconut Alkanes, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/​Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Wheat Amino Acids, Ananas Sativus (Pineapple) Fruit Extract, Berberis Vulgaris Root Extract, Citrullus Lanatus (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Coco-Caprylate/​Caprate, Panthenol, Sodium Pca, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Niacinamide, Cyclodextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lactate, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyproline, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin

More from Drunk Elephant 32 products · Guru Score 67% →

Guru Score

61%

Mixed

7 experts · Strong agreement

What the gurus are saying

This serum earns praise for its layered hyaluronic acid that feels thicker and more moisturizing than typical serums, though experts split sharply on whether the $48-49 price justifies what it delivers. Those drawn to it love the smooth, hydrating finish that works without feeling heavy, and some use it like a lightweight moisturizer; others find the B-vitamin amounts too low to matter and point to cheaper K-beauty alternatives that do the hydration job just as well. The real divider is your skin type and budget: those with dry or normal skin seeking that plump-without-heaviness texture may find it worth it, but anyone looking for repair or barrier support should look elsewhere.
Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take October 2024

What they liked

  • Absorbs quickly without heaviness
  • Hydrating and plumping feel
  • Smooth texture on skin

What they flagged

  • Pricey for a hydration-only serum
  • Very thin formula lacks substantive actives
  • Regulatory concerns over ingredient safety

Best for

Type

Formula notes

Fragrance-freeNo drying alcohol

Where to buy

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What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored
~Yay
"And when it comes to the B-Hydra, what I like about the serum is that it has different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid. This becomes almost like a super serum, it becomes almost like a moisturizer. It's a little thick and it's a beautiful serum, especially for you know who need that little extra hydration all the time. The Drunk Elephant B-Hydra is amazing."
~Nay
"It's not even that expensive, [...] it's a nice idea, it's hydrating, it's based in panthenol, which is a wonderful soothing ingredient, [...] but to me it just feels like K-beauty products do this whole gentle, hydrating [...] category so [...] well. B-Hydra has just never had a big appeal to me, it could be my skin type since I have dry skin. If you have oily to combo skin maybe you'd like this more than I do, but I [...] think you could save so much money and I don't think you'd miss it."
All 2 takes from AliceintheRabbitHole
My Honest Thoughts on Drunk Elephant's "Best Sellers" (in 2024)
"It's not even that expensive, [...] it's a nice idea, it's hydrating, it's based in panthenol, which is a wonderful soothing ingredient, [...] but to me it just feels like K-beauty products do this whole gentle, hydrating [...] category so [...] well. B-Hydra has just never had a big appeal to me, it could be my skin type since I have dry skin. If you have oily to combo skin maybe you'd like this more than I do, but I [...] think you could save so much money and I don't think you'd miss it."
Sephora's Best Selling Skincare is...Surprising
"I am shocked that B-Hydra is a best seller. To me it was just really fine. [...] I do not like paying forty nine dollars for a product where my conclusion is yeah, it's fine. It has niacinamide [...] and hyaluronic acid together in it, so if you're using this you probably don't need two separate isolated serums for those ingredients. This looks fine to me, but [...] I can't imagine choosing to buy this after trying other serums that did so much more for me."
~Mixed
"Drunk Elephant also has a B-Hydra hydration serum and this is a vitamin B hydration serum. Again, ingredients are not bad. It's just for $48 it's a little much. And if you don't want to spend that you don't have to, but for kids or twins if they want to use it, go for it. And when you see vitamin B, remember that niacinamide is a B vitamin and panthenol are B vitamins. These are great for the skin and this is a really solid choice if you wanted to spend the money."
~Mixed
"I used to recommend this all the time as a moisturizer when it's really not meant to be used as a moisturizer. [...] A lot of people like using it as like a moisturizer without feeling super heavy on the skin or just getting a nice splash of hydration to the skin, but that splash does not come cheap because it is $49 for this serum. It's really hard to find a dupe for because of how unique it felt on the skin in the way that it kind of smoothed over the skin while simultaneously hydrating it."
~Mixed
"I use my Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum."
~Nay
"It's super thin so it's easily absorbed, there's no doubt about that, but it's thin. It really needed that thickener. There are better other hyaluronic acids on the market that we've talked about in previous videos. Yes, there's some additional B5, but it's so low down the list that it's not really going to make a difference. I personally don't think that this product's worth it. I think there's other things on the market that can do probably much the same job if not better."
All 3 takes from Dr. Somji Skin
Drunk Elephant Complete Skincare Product Guide | Dr. Somji Reviews
"It's super thin so it's easily absorbed, there's no doubt about that, but it's thin. It really needed that thickener. There are better other hyaluronic acids on the market that we've talked about in previous videos. Yes, there's some additional B5, but it's so low down the list that it's not really going to make a difference. I personally don't think that this product's worth it. I think there's other things on the market that can do probably much the same job if not better."
What is Hyaluronic Acid? | What is Hyaluronic Acid Used For? | Hyaluronic Acid Complete Info Guide
"One other one that we know that has got different molecular weight is Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum, which is quite nice. It's a light moisturizer. It's also got some things like glycerin and ceramides in there to help lock in the moisture, so it's almost like a two-in-one. That's why you're paying a little bit more for it."
Quench Your Skin's Thirst! Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum | Dr. Somji Reviews
"There are better other better hyaluronic acids on the market. [...] Yes, there's some addition of B5, but it's so low down the list that it's not really going to make a difference. [...] The actual amount of active ingredients is quite low, so it's not going to really change your skin that much. I think there are other things on the market that can do probably much the same job if not better. So I personally don't think that this product's worth it."
~Yay
"This is a serum that is more hydrating than repairing. If you don't really care about a serum that repairs the skin barrier, then I would say go with this one because this one is more for hydration and plumping. [...] This does have a pineapple camide which is going to help with texture and tone. There is provitamin B5 in here which is a humectant, so this is going to hydrate and plump. There is also hyaluronic acid in here as well."

What the evidence says.

Independent of what the gurus think, this is what the published research supports about the main active ingredients here.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide has evidence behind it for redness, uneven tone and supporting the skin barrier, and it is usually well tolerated even by skin that reacts to most things.

Source: DermNet

Humectants and emollients

Ingredients like these draw water into the surface layers and slow how fast it leaves. The evidence is for comfort, softness and hydration rather than for changing the structure of the skin.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum?

A lightweight hydrating serum with multiple molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, panthenol, niacinamide, and B vitamins designed to deliver intense hydration and plumping.

Is Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum worth it?

The gurus are split. 2 of the 7 gurus give it their stamp of approval while 2 would skip it, which lands it in the middle at a Guru Score of 61%.

What is Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum's Guru Score?

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum holds a Guru Score of 61%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected.

Who is Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum best for?

Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum is generally suited to dry skin.

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