Index / The Ordinary / Marine Hyaluronics
The Ordinary

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics.

About this product

A lightweight, water-based hydrating serum from The Ordinary, designed to plump and hydrate skin with algae extract and water-soluble hyaluronic acid.

Full ingredients

Aqua, Glycerin, Algae Extract, Pseudoalteromonas Ferment Extract, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Aspartic Acid, Pca, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Propanediol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Salicylate, Sodium Benzoate, Hexylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol

More from The Ordinary 88 products · Guru Score 84% →

Guru Score

87%

Yay

6 experts · Moderate agreement
Guru Certified
Broad expert consensus

What the gurus are saying

Its watery, super-light feel stands out, and a small amount goes a long way for plumping and hydrating. A few takes say it hydrates much like hyaluronic acid but feels less sticky and tacky, so it may suit anyone who finds that texture off-putting. The one thing to keep in mind is that it's so thin it can feel like you're wasting product, and anyone wanting a rich thick serum may be disappointed.
Synthesized from 6 expert reviews · most recent take April 2026

What they liked

  • Watery texture, absorbs without stickiness or pilling
  • Lightweight enough to layer under other products
  • Affordable at seven dollars

What they flagged

  • Very liquid consistency makes it easy to waste product

Type

Key actives

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.

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✓Yay
"It's got red marine algae, which is a great hydrating ingredient, and then it's got several amino acids, which are great for barrier repairing. I really love this stuff. It's so easy to fit into any routine because it's just so light. You can certainly layer it. [...] I patted this on and then I patted on a little bit of another product right after, and it layered really nice and gave my skin some extra moisture."
All 5 takes from No BS Beauty
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"I think this is my third time purchasing this and I just ordered it a few days ago. It's The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics Moisture Lock Serum. [...] I'm not a big fan necessarily of hyaluronic acid and those ingredients in general since they're just in so many things, so I really like something lighter and this one is just wonderful. It's literally like a watery texture but a little bit goes a long way and it really does plump up your skin when you use it."
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"It's super light so you can add it to your routine almost like an essence or a toner and it just gives you so much moisture. I would say this one is really great for dehydrated skin types. It's super liquidy, almost more liquidy than water, so it's hard to use it without feeling like you're wasting it. But [...] I love it. [...] It's really easy to fit in your routine and it has some really nice ingredients in it, simple and affordable."
I've Tried Every Product From The Ordinary & These are the Skincare I'm Still Using Years Later
"The Marine Hyaluronics are super lightweight, watery, liquid, hydrating ingredients. You want to layer this under other moisturizers or serums, but it's really nice, lightweight, super affordable. Probably one of the more lightweight products that exist, and it just feels really nice and hydrating on your skin."
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"It's got red marine algae, which is a great hydrating ingredient, and then it's got several amino acids, which are great for barrier repairing. I really love this stuff. It's so easy to fit into any routine because it's just so light. You can certainly layer it. [...] I patted this on and then I patted on a little bit of another product right after, and it layered really nice and gave my skin some extra moisture."
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"This is my third bottle of the Marine Hyaluronics, it's seven bucks, it's a super lightweight serum. There's a lot of hydrating serums, this one is super super super lightweight, lighter texture than water. I think this one's probably best during the summer or to layer it with other products, but it is very very liquidy. You can [...] apply this after toning and then go with your serum or moisturizer."
✓Yay
"It's very thin and watery. It doesn't leave your skin tacky or sticky. It still hydrates and plumps your skin, but we have red algae in here and it just contains different ingredients. So if you don't like that heavy sticky tacky feel of hyaluronic acid, then you may want to look into the Marine Hyaluronics. If you still want something that is even lighter and even thinner on the skin, try the Marine Hyaluronics."
Top Pick: serum for dryness and tightness
All 5 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
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"Somebody asked me how this compares to The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics. Very similar, especially in texture, but I like this better. I like this way better than Marine Hyaluronics."
MY MORNING ANTI-AGING SKINCARE ROUTINE | A.M. SUMMER SKINCARE ROUTINE | OVER 30
"The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics is very similar to hyaluronic acid in the way that it plumps and hydrates the skin, but this is very very lightweight, like water. It spreads nicely and absorbs into the skin really well. I've never experienced peeling with this, but sometimes with The Ordinary hyaluronic acid serum sometimes I do experience pilling. I like this one more for the summer because of how lightweight it is."
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"It's very thin and watery. It doesn't leave your skin tacky or sticky. It still hydrates and plumps your skin, but we have red algae in here and it just contains different ingredients. So if you don't like that heavy sticky tacky feel of hyaluronic acid, then you may want to look into the Marine Hyaluronics. If you still want something that is even lighter and even thinner on the skin, try the Marine Hyaluronics."
PRODUCT'S I'VE USED UP | WOULD I REPURCHASE? BEAUTY EMPTIES 2023
"If you like hyaluronic acids but you don't like how they feel sticky and tacky on the skin, maybe you're experiencing pilling with hyaluronic acids, then I would say go with the Marine Hyaluronics. This is going to be plumping and hydrating. It's great for your morning and for your evening. I go through a bottle every single month, so I always have backups of that."
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"This is very very unique. I haven't found a serum that is similar to this yet. This one acts as your hyaluronic acid alternative so if you don't like hyaluronic acid then I would say go with Marine Hyaluronics because this serum is still going to plump and hydrate your skin no different than hyaluronic acid but this formula is thinner, it's not greasy, it's not heavy and it's like water so your skin absorbs this really nicely. There is no peeling and you can also use this everyday twice a day."
✓Yay
"The Ordinary makes a wonderful hydrating serum, the Marine Hyaluronics. I highly recommend it. It keeps the top layers of the skin hydrated and ultimately that smooths out fine lines and skin texture. It also helps support skin barrier turnover because the hydration that is held there in place allows the enzymes and the skin barrier to function better and ultimately that supports cell turnover. You also have glycerin which can penetrate a little bit more deeply to hydrate the skin."
✓Yay
"This is from The Ordinary and this is an absolute must. [...] The Marine Hyaluronics are fantastic. This is a wonderful serum for hydration and to help repair a damaged skin barrier. [...] This also has an algae extract which is extraordinarily supportive to skin and again very hydrating. [...] This is a water-soluble form of hyaluronic acid and a water-soluble algae extract in this little bottle."
All 2 takes from Cassandra Bankson
If Ariel The Little Mermaid's Had A Skincare Routine For Glowing & Hydrated Skin, This Is It
"This is from The Ordinary and this is an absolute must. [...] The Marine Hyaluronics are fantastic. This is a wonderful serum for hydration and to help repair a damaged skin barrier. [...] This also has an algae extract which is extraordinarily supportive to skin and again very hydrating. [...] This is a water-soluble form of hyaluronic acid and a water-soluble algae extract in this little bottle."
WHY HA IS BACK IN MY ROUTINE …. The hyaluronic acid “shower method” that transformed my skin.
"The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics is an oldie but a goodie and much less expensive. It used to be $8 when I bought it in the summer. [...] This is really nice and lightweight and I find that this is much more watery and a little bit less grippy. When I used this along with Debbie's shower method, it was fantastic, and the hyaluronic acid in this product bound to my skin and soaked in so beautifully."
✓Yay
"It's a water-based formula targeting hydration below the skin's surface for a softer, plumper complexion. [...] You don't get the satisfaction of using a thick serum - it's very lightweight and watery - but it does really make you feel very deeply hydrated. With consistent use over [...] a month, you do see plumpness and a revived quality to your skin. [...] Your skin never really feels dry or parched."
✓Yay
"You will get a better level of hydration from the Marine Hyaluronics than you will from the hyaluronic acid. It's also less likely to cause dryness because it works in a subtly different way. Hyaluronic acid is a humectant which draws in moisture. And if you're living in quite a dry and arid environment, it can actually end up sucking moisture from the deeper levels of the skin, actually being counterintuitive and dehydrating. You don't get that risk with the Marine Hyaluronics."
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What the evidence says.

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

Salicylic acid

Salicylic acid dissolves in oil, so it can get into a pore rather than just working on the surface. That is why it has long-standing evidence for blackheads and milder acne.

Source: DermNet

Frequently asked.

What is The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics?

A lightweight, water-based hydrating serum from The Ordinary, designed to plump and hydrate skin with algae extract and water-soluble hyaluronic acid.

Is The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics worth it?

Yes. All 6 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 87%.

What is The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics holds a Guru Score of 87%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 6 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.

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