The original, what makes it special, the shelf parts we use and how to get closer. Add or swap parts and the score updates.
The original · Face Reality
$34 · 1.7 oz
A water-based gel with glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, aloe powder, lilac cell culture, totarol and a set of plant oils (sandalwood, lavender, rose, ylang ylang, camphor, orange).
Prices and listings checked Oct 28, 2026. Amazon prices change; the link shows today's price.
Step 2 · The build
The Ordinary
The 100 points
We split hydraBalance Gel into 4 standout parts. Each bar shows what the build earns.
The hydration core.
Soothing; level unpublished.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.
Antioxidant extracts; levels unpublished.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 50% of these points.
Scent and feel; they also raise sensitivity risk.
No close retail equivalent: we credit at most 25% of these points.
Optional
60 / 100. We have not found a shelf product that closes more of the gap yet.
79 is our ceiling. Aloe powder has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 50% credit. Lilac cell culture and totarol has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 50% credit. Plant essential oils has no close retail equivalent, so we cap it at 25% credit.
Step 3 · Buy
One link per part. Each opens the retailer in a new tab.
Your build
Running total $9.90
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)Snapshot prices. Each link shows today's price.
One bottle instead of a build. Sorted by match score; scores use the same standouts as above.
The Ordinary
No close match yet — we show the nearest formulas.
Why it is close. A hydrating serum with hyaluronic acid and panthenol at $9.90. Thinner than a gel moisturizer; layer a light cream over it.
Byoma
Why it is close. A gel-cream with ceramides and niacinamide at $14.99. Fragrance free.
Not an affiliate link.
La Roche-Posay
Why it is close. An oil-free light lotion, fragrance free, with ceramides.
Not an affiliate link.
The Ordinary
Running total
Buy on Amazon (opens in new tab)No gain nowThe Ordinary
Byoma
Running total
View product (opens in new tab)Not an affiliate link.
No gain nowByoma
La Roche-Posay
Running total
View product (opens in new tab)Not an affiliate link.
No gain nowLa Roche-Posay
Hyaluronic acid creams improved skin hydration in a randomized trial.
Pavicic 2011 · J Drugs Dermatolaqua (water), glycerin, carbomer, maltodextrin, phenethyl alcohol, caprylyl glycol, sodium hydroxide, alcohol denat., sodium hyaluronate (l), aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, potassium sorbate, syringa vulgaris (lilac) leaf cell culture extract, sodium metabisulfite, lonicera japonica (honeysuckle) flower extract, santalum austrocaledonicum (sandalwood) wood oil, trisodium ethylenediamine disuccinate, hamamelis virginiana (witch hazel) water, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, rosa damascena flower oil, citric acid, lonicera caprifolium (honeysuckle) flower extract, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, chlorophyllin-copper complex, totarol, acetyl tributyl citrate, alcohol, cinnamomum camphora (camphor) bark oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, phenyl t-butylnitrone
We split hydraBalance Gel into 4 standout parts worth 100 points in total. The build earns 60 of a possible 79. 79 is the most we claim, because some standouts have no close retail equivalent.
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides) by The Ordinary is our closest single-product match at 60 out of 100 for $9.90 (1 fl oz (30 ml)). It shares Sodium hyaluronate (multiple molecular weights, including crosspolymer), Panthenol.
hydraBalance Gel costs $34 for 1.7 oz. The closest dupe costs $9.90, a saving of about $24.10. Prices change, so check the seller page.
No. Dupes share the key actives but can differ in concentration, vehicle and supporting ingredients. Missing from this one: Aloe, Antioxidant extracts, Gel-cream texture. See our methodology for how we score.
Obagi · moisturizer
~$39.88our build, 3 partsOriginal $70, build ~$39.88.
Byoma + The Ordinary + CeraVe
Face Reality · cleanser
$19.99our build, 1 partOriginal $33, build $19.99.
La Roche-Posay
Face Reality · moisturizer
$14.99our build, 1 partOriginal $33, build $14.99.
CeraVe