Babor Ampoule Review – Hydra Plus & Active Night Fluids

Written By Jenny Wu on August 3, 2021

Like most brands I discovered Babor Skincare through Instagram. They were everywhere on my feed for a while as influencers shared their pr goodies, and then…crickets.

I remained intrigued however, and after the Babor Masterpiece Ampoule Set, which features their classic Hydra Plus Ampoules and Active Night Ampoules for a 7 day regimen.

Babor Skincare Overview

Found in Germany by Dr. Michael Babor in 1956, this brand specializes in using research proven plant extracts to deliver potent results. Think “green” or “all-natural” skincare, but rooted in science and not fear.

I was also impressed at their commitment to sustainability: no use of microplastic, a carbon-neutral production powered exclusively by green energy, a 30% reduction in the use of plastics by 2023, and active participation in reforestation projects.

Babor uses glass instead of plastic for its ampoules

While Babor has a full line of skincare products, they are most well known for their ampoules, a product you don’t see often in other brands.

What are ampoules?

Theoretically speaking, ampoules contain a highly concentrated amount of active ingredients, even more than serums and essence. Usually contained in single use vials to maintain ingredient freshness.

Realistically speaking, the term isn’t regulated so any brand can call anything an ampoule. They can call a serum an ampoule and it might be in your regular dropper bottle. Or they can come in small glass vials like Babor Ampoules but there’s no guarantee they’re actually more potent than regular serums.

Babor Ampoules come in single use glass vials with 2ml of product in each. Active ingredient % are not provided, so there’s no way to verify its potency compared to other serums/ampoules.

Babor Hydra Plus review

What is it
A concentrated skincare booster for dehydrated skin. A complex containing hyaluronic acid and a plant-based moisturizer help supply skin with intense hydration. Deeply hydrates the skin, leaving you with a refreshed and visibly vitalized looking complexion.

How I use it
In the evenings all over my face, neck, and decollage after cleansing and my first essence.

Best suited for
Oily, Combination, Normal, and Dry skin types that suffer from dehydration and/or want guaranteed ingredient freshness. Also great for traveling.

Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, C12-15 Pareth-12, Sodium PCA, Phenoxyethanol, PEG-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, Disodium EDTA.

Things to note
Contains fragrance, but it’s not too strong. Does not contain alcohol and has a pretty short ingredient list.

Packaging
A clear glass vial. Babor includes a tool for easily breaking the cap, which I highly recommend using.

Scent
A light artificial floral scent. Not the best but it’s not strong and doesn’t last.

Texture
Water like with some slip. I recommend pouring a dime sized amount each time and applying in layers.

Finish
Skin looks and feels hydrated, similar to using a sheet mask.

Where to buy
$29.95/7 at SkinStore and LookFantastic, $39.95/7 vials in the Masterpiece Set. Get 25% your SkinStore order with code JENNY!

Real talk, the ingredients are not that impressive. You have 4 humectants that work to draw and hold moisture on the skin, but these are also common ingredients found in other hydrating serums. But ingredients can only tell us so much about the efficacy of the product so I’m not ruling it out yet.

Since the Babor Hydra Plus is supposed to be more concentrated than your average serum, I did expect more noticeable hydration results with one use, similar to the Saro de Rue Freeze-Dried Hyaluronic Acid*. But after the first use, I was disappointed. Yes my skin felt hydrated, but no more compared to past hydrating serums I’ve tried.

I used the Babor ampoules 3 days in a row to see if that would make a difference to some of my fine lines (as a result of dry skin) and the overall state of my skin, but nope. I would’ve gotten better results if I just sheet masked instead!

They look cute, but they’re not very effective :/

Babor Active Night Ampoules Review

What is it
An overnight active concentrate for any skin in need of regeneration. Promotes skin regeneration overnight for effective beauty sleep. In the morning, your skin wakes up from its beauty sleep and looks fresh and vibrant.

How I use it
In the evenings all over my face, neck, and decollage after cleansing and my first essence.

Best suited for
Anyone that finds salicylic acid too harsh and prefers a gentler alternative – willow bark extract. If you get good results from salicylic acid already, please skip this.

Ingredients
Aqua, Salix Nigra Bark Extract, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-5 Laurate, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Tuber Aestivum Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pelvetia Canaliculata Extract, Alcohol, Plankton Extract, Tris(Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol) Citrate, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid.

Things to note
Contains alcohol and fragrance, yet somehow still smells slightly offensive. I can only imagine this without the fragrance!

Packaging
A clear glass vial. Babor includes a tool for easily breaking the cap, which I highly recommend using.

Scent
None at first, but then you get whiffs of something…not so pleasant. Luckily it’s not strong and does away quickly.

Texture
Water like with some slip. I recommend pouring a dime sized amount each time and applying in layers.

Finish
Glowy finish similar to using a sheet mask, but skin doesn’t feel extra hydrated. Can sting a little if your skin is on the sensitive side.

Where to buy
$39.95/7 at SkinStore and LookFantastic, $39.95/7 vials in the Masterpiece Set. Get 25% your SkinStore order with code JENNY!

This ampoule has some interesting ingredients, most notably Willow Bark Extract to help deliver gentle exfoliation while soothing the skin, White Truffle Extract for an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant boost (source), and a Brown Algae Extract that’s rich in amino acids and provide further hydration (source).

Alcohol and fragrance aside, this ampoule looks like it should deliver more noticeable results, and given the higher price, I definitely expect it to! So you can understand my disappointment when this was less effective than the Hydra Plus.

This didn’t really hydrate my dry skin, nor did it deliver refined + glowing skin the next morning that I’m used to from exfoliating serums. It didn’t particularly soothe nor nourish my skin the way centella asiatica or ceramide based products would either. I used all 3 ampoules and am still confused about what exactly these were supposed to do.

Perhaps I’m already used to salicylic and strong acids, so something even gentler would have little effect on me. But personally I’d still rather using an AHA/BHA then follow up with a truly soothing product than one of these ampoules.

Babor Ampoules alternatives

Since both of these ampoules were misses for me, here are some more effective products that I’d recommend:

To hydrate your dehydrated and/or dry skin:

The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics – Super affordable and works well as a hydrating essence. Inkeylist HA Serum* is also a great option.
First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydrating Serum – Not only is it hydrating, it’s also soothing thanks to colloidal oatmeal
Filorga Hydra-Hyal Serum* – A fantastic hydrating serum that give your plump bouncy skin! Raved about it here.
Maycoop Raw Sauce* – Technically a toner/essence but it hydrates better than a lot of serums I’ve tried! Raved about it here.
Saro de Rue Freeze-Dried HA Serum* – The most hydrating serum I’ve ever tried. If you want to splurge, this is it. Reviewed here.
A good sheet mask – Seriously, if you just need an instant boost in hydration, nothing beats a good sheet mask, and there are plenty of affordable ones too.

For gentle but effective exfoliation to revitalize your skin:

Lancome Clarifique Face Essence* – Doesn’t get gentler than this, I can use it twice a day with retinol and vitamin c and it still won’t irritate the skin. A bit too mild for my taste, but could be good for beginners. Reviewed here.
Kiehl’s Ferulic Brew Antioxidant Facial Treatment* – Stronger and more effective than the Lancome, but still really gentle imo. Features lactic acid, squalane, and ferulic acid. Reviewed here.
Dr. Wu Intensive Renewal Serum with Mandelic Acid – Comes in several different % but even at 18% it’s still quite gentle. I’ve had excellent results with this smoothing and refining my skin, and it’s one I’ll definitely repurchase one day.
Holifrog Halo AHA + BHA Evening Serum* – Even with 11% AHA/BHA blend it’s not harsh on the skin due to the nourishing base. Definitely the strongest of the 4 but still a gentle option given its potency!

Looking for products specifically to target pores? How to remove sebaceous filaments: my 3 tips for clearer pores

Final Verdict

out of 10

Ingredients

7.5
Packaging

9.5
Texture/Application

9
Performance

6
Price

6

I had high hopes for these given the social media buzz, but now I can see the hype was short lived. High price aside, these completely under-delivered. Not a great first impression of Babor or ampoules, but I'm not going to rule either out just yet. However, I do highly recommend skipping both of these ampoules, your money will be better spent anywhere else.

Ampoules and anything with * are products I received for review purposes, but all opinions are 100% honest and my own. This post contains affiliate links, and each purchase helps cover the cost of running this blog at no extra cost to you! Full disclosure policy

Jenny Wu

Passionate about science-based skincare. Tested hundreds if not thousands of products since my 20's. Working regularly with brands like iHerb, Ulta, CurrentBody, and MedStar Health to share my knowledge and experience in all things beauty. Learn more.

Skin profile: 35+, dry/combination, focused on well-aging, hydration, and a healthy glow ✨