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The Ordinary

Marine Hyaluronics.

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics
Serums

About this product

A lightweight hydrating serum combining hyaluronic acid with marine extracts, red algae, amino acids, and a fermented marine bacteria complex designed to plump and hydrate the skin.

Full ingredients

Guru Score

88%

Yay

7 experts · Strong agreement
Guru Certified
Broad expert consensus
7Gurus
7Yay
0Mixed
0Nay

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

What the gurus are saying

This serum's watery, almost-liquid texture makes it exceptionally easy to layer without feeling heavy, and gurus praise it as a reliable alternative to standard hyaluronic acid serums, especially for those who find typical HA sticky or prone to pilling. The marine extracts and algae deliver hydration without the risk of drawing moisture from deeper skin layers the way hyaluronic acid can in dry climates, making it gentler in arid environments. Apply it to damp skin before other moisturizers or serums for best absorption and that plumped, dewy finish.
Synthesized from 7 expert reviews · most recent take April 2026

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
"It's got exopolysaccharides, which are marine alternatives to hyaluronic acid, which make them a little more lightweight than hyaluronic acid typically is, but still add that boost of moisture. 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. It's literally just like water but then it's got all these goodies once you smooth it into your skin, your skin gets to absorb all these goodies in this product. We've got algae extract, sodium PCA, several amino acids, several like seven, eight, nine, ten, then argan and a few other ingredients but those are the most exciting ones. And then look at how fast it soaks in you just leave your skin feeling nice and hydrated. So it's a really nice one and I really enjoy this one and I've repurchased it so many times so that says something huge and I love it."
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"I've repurchased this now, I believe this is my third bottle. [...] I'm not a crazy fan of hyaluronic serums in general, I think it's just kind of a simple basic ingredient, [...] but this stuff is just wonderful. 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 exopolysaccharides, which are marine alternatives to hyaluronic acid, which make them a little more lightweight than hyaluronic acid typically is, but still add that boost of moisture. 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. In here we've got red marine algae, we've got algae extract, we got 11 different amino acids, then we've got pseudo ultramon ferment extract, which is a biotechnologically derived ingredient produced by the fermentation of marine bacteria living in the cold Antarctic ocean. It has skin protecting properties as well as protects skin from dryness and redness specifically due to cold weather, probably because it comes from cold weather. This ferment can also help promote skin regeneration and smoothing of skin surface by stimulating protein synthesis in skin. So it's so affordable but for seven bucks you can't beat it, it's really nice."
Yay
"This is very similar and comparable to hyaluronic acid but the texture and the formulation of this serum is completely different. 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."
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"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. I do like to put one syringe full of this because I love that hydrated plump look. I do like to put this onto damp skin as well for better absorption, especially when you're using hyaluronic acids or the Marine Hyaluronics. You do want to put these onto damp skin so that you do get that better absorption. It just works so much better when you want that plumper hydrated look."
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"This is very similar and comparable to hyaluronic acid but the texture and the formulation of this serum is completely different. 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 another underrated serum from The Ordinary and [...] this is exceptional for those that have dryness and tightness to their skin. 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. This contains skin-friendly Marine bacteria but it also contains Hawaiian red algae and microfiltered blue green algae. This also contains amino acids and there are several types of amino acids in the formulation. [...] This serum alone is exceptional to hydrate and to keep your skin nice and comfortable."
Yay
"From personal experience comparing using this to latis and grounde lash I definitely do not have noticeable lengthening of my lashes but at the very least they're healthier less brittle"
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. You have marine extracts which are very, very hygroscopic."
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. So whenever you use this you need to follow it up with some form of a skincare oil or you need to make sure that this is sealed in with something else on top of it. Remember that hydration is different than moisturization. Hydration is literally adding hydration or water into the skin and then moisturizing is kind of sealing it in. With this hyaluronic acid, it's honestly perfect because hyaluronic acid binds to water. The hyaluronic acid has all of the moisture to bind to. You just need to make sure that it stays on and in your skin by sealing it in with an oil."
All 2 takes from Cassandra Bankson
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"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. So whenever you use this you need to follow it up with some form of a skincare oil or you need to make sure that this is sealed in with something else on top of it. Remember that hydration is different than moisturization. Hydration is literally adding hydration or water into the skin and then moisturizing is kind of sealing it in. With this hyaluronic acid, it's honestly perfect because hyaluronic acid binds to water. The hyaluronic acid has all of the moisture to bind to. You just need to make sure that it stays on and in your skin by sealing it in with an oil."
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"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
"This is a hyaluronic acid alternative that delivers deep hydration through exopolysaccharides from marine bacteria, Hawaiian red algae, glycoproteins from Antarctic marine sources, blue-green algae and amino acids. 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
"The Marine Hyaluronics actually uses marine extract to give a more multi-dimensional, multi-level hydration experience. And it delivers that. 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. It's just adding in that hydration. I [...] use this on the neck, I use it on the elbows where I'm dry. Put a little of this on, top it off with a moisturizer. You can always use this under a hand cream. That's a great way of elevating the moisture you see in your hands. It's just amazing."
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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 hydrating serum combining hyaluronic acid with marine extracts, red algae, amino acids, and a fermented marine bacteria complex designed to plump and hydrate the skin.

Is The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics worth it?

Yes. All 7 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 88%.

What is The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics holds a Guru Score of 88%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 7 expert reviewers we have collected. It is also Guru Certified, our mark for products that hold broad approval across many expert reviewers.

Who is The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics best for?

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics is generally suited to dry skin.

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