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The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA for dry skin

The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA

Superior

  • SuperiorDry Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best products for dry skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your dry skin is provided by glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, which offer humectant action, while lactic acid provides targeted exfoliation to address dryness and flakiness. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract further complements these benefits by soothing the skin and reducing potential irritation. The formulation is safe for your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
  • Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 7.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with dry, sensitive, or textured skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to gently exfoliate without compromising the moisture barrier. The majority of reviews report a noticeable improvement in skin smoothness and radiance, with many noting it effectively reduces flakiness and mild acne scars over time.

Highlights

  • Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
    • “perfect for sensitive skin”
    • “no irritation occurred”
    • “mild yet effective”
    • “great beginner acid”
  • Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “bumps are gone”
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “glass skin effect”
    • “texture improved significantly”
  • Brightens skin Often Mentioned
    • “woke up glowing”
    • “skin looks radiant”
    • “faded dark spots”
    • “evened skin tone”
  • Hydrating Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't dry me out”
    • “feels very moisturizing”
    • “plumps the skin”
    • “good for dry skin”
  • Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like cabbage”
    • “weird sour smell”
    • “scent is off-putting”
    • “smells like spoiled milk”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “caused small bumps”
    • “broke me out”
    • “experienced bad purging”
    • “worsened my acne”
  • Sticky finish Rarely Noted
    • “leaves sticky residue”
    • “feels tacky afterwards”
    • “takes time to absorb”
    • “slightly sticky texture”
  • Too mild Rarely Noted
    • “didn't see results”
    • “too weak for me”
    • “prefer the 10%”
    • “results take time”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, brandclub.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Lactic Acid 5% + HA one of the best fits for dry skin?

This exfoliant is an exceptional fit for dry skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw in moisture, while lactic acid gently clears away dry flakes. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract helps calm your skin and reduces any potential irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer make this exfoliant a great fit for dry skin by drawing in moisture, while lactic acid gently smooths away dryness and flakiness. Tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract also helps calm the skin and keeps irritation unlikely.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Lactic Acid do for dry skin?

Lactic acid helps relieve dry skin by drawing in moisture and strengthening the skin's barrier so it stays soft and smooth. This ingredient gently sheds dead cells and supports natural moisturizing factors, making it very useful for improving rough or flaky areas.

International Journal of Dermatology, 2025Skin Research and Technology, 2013

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?

Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This exfoliant treatment goes in your evening routine, starting out just once a week. Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer bring moisture while lactic acid smooths away dryness and flakiness, and tasmannia lanceolata leaf extract helps calm the skin.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

It is best to use this exfoliant and retinol on different nights to lower the likelihood of skin irritation and dryness. Using them separately allows both ingredients to renew your skin safely without overloading it.

How often should I use it?

Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps your dry skin adjust to the exfoliating lactic acid while keeping irritation low.

Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This exfoliant is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, and any breakouts reported by users are rare. The product features soothing ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, which support a safe profile and help keep the skin calm.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
  • Topical Tasmannia lanceolata extract reduced skin roughness, increased firmness, dermal density, and thickness of stabilized stretch marks compared to placebo in 29 women over 8 weeks, alongside increased pro-collagen I, elastin, and TGF-beta concentrations in ex vivo human skin explants.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Application 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, 2004
  • Topical 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, 1992
  • A 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
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
  • Acacia gum and carbopol hydrogel wound dressings containing gentamicin showed faster wound healing, well-developed fibroblasts, and blood capillaries compared to open wounds in swiss albino mice.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
  • Barley beta-glucan films formulated with sorbitol and acacia gum demonstrated suitable mechanical properties and stimulated in vitro keratinocytes growth.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • Gum arabic and beta-cyclodextrin microencapsulated peony seed oil emulsion protected against ultraviolet radiation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, increasing cell viability from 54.75% to 92.69% in UVB-damaged HaCaT cells, and repairing 95.56% of UVB-damaged skin within 7 days in animal experiments through regulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026

Ingredients

Water, Lactic Acid, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol

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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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