Head to head

Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum 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 Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum.

The bottom line

Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes, anti-aging), while The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) is the simpler, more pared-back pick.

Reach for Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum if you want the actives; The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.

Beauty of JoseonGlow Deep SerumSerum · ~€15See every ingredient in Glow Deep Serum, 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 Glow Deep Serum if

  • dark spots, dullness or an uneven tone are your focus
  • you are dealing with breakouts and oiliness

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

  • you want the more affordable option
  • you are prone to fungal acne (malassezia)

What each delivers

HydrationBarrierBrighteningOil-controlAnti-aging
Glow Deep SerumHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
  • Hydration
    1010
  • Barrier repair
    98
  • Brightening / tone
    93
  • Oil-control & blemishes
    83
  • Anti-aging
    62

Side by side

Glow Deep SerumHyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)
TypeSerumSerum
Key activesGlycerin, Niacinamide, Alpha ArbutinGlycerin, 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 safeNot likelyLikely
PregnancyNo flagged activesNo flagged actives
Ingredients32 listed17 listed
Price~€15~€8

What's in one but not the other

Only in Glow Deep Serum

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

The molecule doing the work

Glow Deep SerumGlycerin
Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation)Glycerin

Better for…

  • Dark spots & uneven toneGlow Deep Serum
  • Fine lines & firmnessGlow Deep Serum
  • Breakouts & congestionGlow Deep Serum
  • Dryness & dehydrationEither works

The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) is the cheaper of the two (~€8 vs ~€15).

Ready to pick one?

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Common questions

Is Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum or The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) better for dark spots & uneven tone?

For dark spots & uneven tone, Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum is the stronger pick by our read of the two formulas. Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum does more across the board (it leads on brightening / tone, oil-control & blemishes, anti-aging), while The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) is the simpler, more pared-back pick. Reach for Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum if you want the actives; The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (Original Formulation) if you want fewer ingredients doing less, gently.

Which is cheaper, Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum 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 ~€15).

Can I use Beauty of Joseon Glow Deep Serum 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.

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