The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + HA for oily skin
Alpha Arbutin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Lactic Acid
ChlorphenesinAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 brightening for your oily skin due to alpha-arbutin, which helps regulate melanogenesis, and provides general hydration with hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate to support your skin's humectant needs.
- While beneficial for oily skin, the formula does not directly address concerns with oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is frequently used to address hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and uneven skin tone, with many users reporting visible fading after consistent, long-term use. The Hyaluronic Acid component offers hydration, particularly beneficial for dry skin. However, a significant number of users find the texture can be sticky or pill when layered with other products.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “Dark spots have faded noticeably”
- “Acne scars... starting to fade”
- “Helps ease the dark pigmentation”
- “Lightened up my skin a lot”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Lightweight water-based serum”
- “Glides smoothly”
- “Feels light to wear”
Sticky or tacky finish Often Mentioned
- “Can feel tacky on the skin”
- “Instantly makes your face sticky”
- “Leaves a slightly matte and sticky feel”
- “Slight tackiness”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Gentle on sensitive skin”
- “No adverse reactions”
- “Did not irritate my skin one bit”
Hydrating and plumping Sometimes Noted
- “Hydration is fantastic”
- “Skin felt hydrated without stickiness”
- “Gives my skin a nice glow”
- “Helps with dryness”
Pilling issues Sometimes Noted
- “It will show pilling”
- “Peas everywhere... had to take everything off”
- “Pilling... with other products”
Slow or no results Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't do anything special”
- “Takes a while to see results”
- “Haven't seen any more improvement”
- “Stopped working for me after some time”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, sephora.hk, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin work for oily skin?
This product works moderately well for oily skin by offering brightening with alpha-arbutin and hydration, though it does not directly address oily shine. To better manage oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and soothing extracts that control excess oil and target enlarged pores while keeping the skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Alpha-arbutin makes this serum a fit by helping brighten your oily skin, while hydrolyzed sodium hyaluronate provides general hydration. To be a better fit for oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to control excess oil and shine.
What does Alpha Arbutin do for oily skin?
Alpha Arbutin helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone while being gentle enough for oily skin. It is unlikely to clog pores or cause extra shine, and regular use may brighten dull areas without adding heaviness.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin needs a product of this type that also balances oil and shine while keeping skin hydrated.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C, applying the vitamin C first and following with this treatment once it absorbs. This combination helps brighten your skin, but an oily skin routine also needs oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works best in your evening routine once a day or a few times a week, as it does not directly control oily shine and needs ingredients that help balance excess oil.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. However, a product for oily skin needs ingredients that directly balance oil production and reduce shine.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Why other serums fit oily 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, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Alpha-Arbutin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Lactic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.