The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil for sensitive skin
Argan OilLow
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the products alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.
Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate suitability for normal skin with sensitivity as Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil provides excellent moisturizing and smoothing benefits, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target and reduce redness and irritation.
- The emollient action of Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil offers general moisturizing benefits that may not provide enough comprehensive support for all normal skin concerns.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this oil for its intense hydration, effectively relieving dry, flaky skin and taming frizzy hair by locking in moisture. Many also appreciate its great value and multi-purpose use. A very high number of reviews mention a strong, unpleasant scent, often compared to manure or a farmyard, which some find off-putting. A moderate number of users find the oil greasy or slow to absorb, and a low number report breakouts or issues with the packaging.
Highlights
Unpleasant scent Mostly Mentioned
- “smells like manure”
- “scent of goat cheese”
- “smells like a farmyard”
- “could not get past the smell”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “relieved my dry flaky patches”
- “skin feels incredibly moisturized”
- “locks in moisture overnight”
- “cured my winter dryness”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable price for organic oil”
- “affordable compared to other brands”
- “huge bottle for the price”
- “great quality for few dollars”
Softens & tames hair Often Mentioned
- “makes hair soft and shiny”
- “tames frizz without weighing down”
- “great for dry ends”
- “keeps curly hair tamed”
Multi-purpose use Sometimes Noted
- “use it on face and hair”
- “mixes well with moisturizer”
- “great for cuticles and body”
- “added to body lotion”
Greasy/Slow absorption Sometimes Noted
- “sits on top of skin”
- “too heavy for day use”
- “left a greasy film”
- “takes forever to sink in”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “too rich for acne-prone skin”
- “broke me out immediately”
Messy packaging Rarely Noted
- “bottle leaks easily”
- “dropper is a bit messy”
- “oil gets everywhere”
- “cap doesn't seal perfectly”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, influenster.com, makeup.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
Why is The Ordinary Argan Oil a weak match for sensitive skin?
This product is a weak match for sensitive skin because while its argan oil provides general moisturizing and smoothing benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target and reduce redness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica and cica ceramide that specifically calm redness and support the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this oil a poor fit for sensitive skin?
This oil is a weak match for sensitive skin because Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil lacks specialized ingredients to directly target and calm redness and irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica, cica ceramide, and nourishing oils that strengthen the skin barrier while providing hydration.
What does Argan Oil do for sensitive skin?
Argan oil helps soothe sensitive and irritated skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it calm and comfortable. It hydrates dry areas and balances natural oils without feeling heavy, making it a gentle choice for easily upset skin.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Nutrients, 2024
Where does this oil go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This oil is a weak match for sensitive skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target and reduce redness and irritation. Sensitive skin needs products with calming agents and soothing plant extracts to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this oil with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help lock in moisture. However, a product of this type is a weak match for sensitive skin and needs added calming ingredients like ceramides or licochalcone to actively soothe redness and irritation.
How often should I use this oil?
This oil is a weak match for sensitive skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target and reduce redness and irritation. Products of this type need calming ingredients that soothe sensitive skin and reduce redness alongside general moisturizing benefits.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This oil may occasionally cause breakouts or feel greasy on sensitive skin since it leaves a heavy layer behind. Sensitive skin needs products with lightweight hydrators and calming ingredients that soothe irritation without blocking pores.
What the research says
Topical application of an argan oil NLC-based hydrogel formulation increased skin hydration in healthy volunteers over a one-month period through a synergistic effect of NLC occlusion and argan oil hydration.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Incorporating allantoin into argan oil enriched liposomes improved its accumulation in the dermis (~8.7μg/cm(2)) and permeation through the skin (~33μg/cm(2)) compared to conventional liposomes, water dispersion, and a commercial gel.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016
Why other products fit sensitive skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002
Ingredients
Behind this fit score
Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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