Hello, I have been unable to find an answer after researching as far as my understanding can take me, so here goes!

Ingredients below. Please forgive the long post - I hope it’ll help others. :)

Two hyaluronic acid products that I tried have given me an itchy dermatitis style reaction - The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid & B5, and Clinique Dramatically Different Jelly.

I had used the Clinique DD Gel (which also has HA) with no problems unless I used it immediately after an acid.

My skin is prone to mild acne and now I’ve finally cleared it up (ultimately using PC 2% salycilic acid) it’s become more ‘normal’ and prone to tightness and dryness - a new problem for me and one I was initially happy to have!

My routine is very simple as I’m stuck on the moisturiser thing, Cerave foaming wash, PC 2% BHA and the Clinique Jelly are all I currently use.

I had compared the Clinique Jelly to the Gel on INCI decoder and found it actually contained less ‘bad’ ingredients so made the switch.

I get a mild red flushing, itchy reaction and sometimes no reaction. My skin hates it layered with the Paula’s Choice BHA.

The Ordinary was much worse - an instant very itchy and red reaction that seems like contact dermatitis.

The ingredients seem quite vanilla - to me anyway. I wondered whether it could be the hexylene glycol or the phenoxyethanol, and I suppose it could be, however both are in the Gel that my skin tolerated fairly well.

If anyone is able to shed any light I’d be very grateful!

Any recommendations for a non-comedogenic non-irritant not-too-heavy moisturiser would also be fantastic. I live in the U.K. however much prefer this community for science than the U.K. one, and can get my mitts on most brands like Cetaphil, PC, LRP, etc.

Also, it’s very humid here and often apply the products to a wet face - so I’d be surprised if it were the hyaluronic acid having the dreaded drying effect known in dry climates.

It’d be nice to stop wasting pennies/having an itchy face so huge huge thanks to anyone that’s even bothered reading! :)

Ingredients for The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid & B5:

Aqua (Water), Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Ahnfeltia Concinna Extract, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Citric Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Clinique Dramatically Different Jelly:

Water\Aqua\Eau , Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane , Butylene Glycol , Glycerin , Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract , Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract , Gelidiella Acerosa Extract , Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D'Orge , Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake , Sucrose , Caffeine , Sodium Hyaluronate , Hydroxyethyl Urea , Hydrolyzed Rice Extract , Sorbitol , Sodium Polyaspartate , Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30 , Ethylhexylglycerin , Propylene Glycol Dicaprate , Caprylyl Glycol , Trehalose , Polysorbate 80 , Carbomer , Sodium Hydroxide , Hexylene Glycol , Citric Acid , Sodium Citrate , Disodium Edta , Phenoxyethanol

Clinique Gel (which didn’t irritate unless layered with BHA too soon):

Water\Aqua\Eau , Dimethicone , Isododecane , Butylene Glycol , Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane , Glycerin , Laminaria Saccharina Extract , Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract , Saccharomyces Lysate Extract , Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract , Hordeum Vulgare (Barley) Extract\Extrait D'Orge , Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seedcake , Caffeine , Trehalose , Sodium Hyaluronate , Tocopheryl Acetate , Polysilicone-11 , Silica , Propylene Glycol Dicaprate , Oleth-10 , Lactobacillus Ferment , Laureth-23 , Laureth-4 , Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate/Vp Copolymer , Carbomer , Caprylyl Glycol , Hexylene Glycol , Tromethamine , Disodium Edta , Phenoxyethanol , Yellow 5 (Ci 19140) , Red 4 (Ci 14700) , Yellow 6 (Ci 15985)