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The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution for mature skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution

High

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

One of the best serums for mature skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with mature skin: fine lines, wrinkles, and loss of firmness. 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

  • Highly suitable for your normal skin due to the humectant action of glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice powder, which help maintain hydration.
  • Offers moderate benefits for wrinkles and fine lines with palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 supporting collagen production, and moderate skin tone evening from acetyl glucosamine's exfoliating properties.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your normal skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week, and work up to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply this serum after your toner and before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • You can apply the serum on dry skin for the best results against fine lines.
  • Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the sensitive eye area.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with acne-prone and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to soothe redness and gradually fade post-acne marks without irritation. Many report improved skin texture and hydration, though some users find the results on older hyperpigmentation to be slow or unnoticeable.

Highlights

  • Soothing and calming Mostly Mentioned
    • “toned down the redness”
    • “beautifully calming on the skin”
    • “soothing for sensitive days”
  • Fades post-acne marks Often Mentioned
    • “helped get rid of my acne scars”
    • “faded blemishes quicker than normal”
    • “large improvements in post-acne marks”
  • Hydrating texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels velvety”
    • “nice hydrating slip”
    • “leaves skin plump and dewy”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin is noticeably smoother”
    • “helped with congestion”
    • “reduced look of pores”
  • Slow or minimal results Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't see any results”
    • “less successful on existing dark spots”
    • “over-promised and under-delivered”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “broke me out”
    • “caused tiny bumps”
    • “skin hated it”
  • Routine conflicts Rarely Noted
    • “conflicts with direct acids”
    • “hard to fit in routine”
    • “pills with other serums”
  • Sticky finish Rarely Noted
    • “slightly gloopy texture”
    • “can become tacky”
    • “sticky if applied heavily”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, kohls.com, theordinary.com, sephora.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution a great fit for mature skin?

This treatment is a great fit because it helps keep mature skin soft with hydrating glycerin and aloe, while palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 supports collagen to soften the look of wrinkles and fine lines. Acetyl glucosamine also helps even out skin tone through gentle exfoliation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for mature skin?

This serum is a great fit for mature skin because palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 supports collagen production to help reduce wrinkles and fine lines, while acetyl glucosamine evens out skin tone. Additionally, glycerin and aloe help maintain deep hydration with very little likelihood of irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

What does Aloe Vera do for mature skin?

Aloe vera helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles by supporting collagen production, keeping mature skin feeling soft and elastic. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve skin firmness over time.

Journal of Oleo Science, 2009Annals of Dermatology, 2009

What does N-Acetyl Glucosamine do for mature skin?

N-Acetyl Glucosamine helps keep mature skin smooth and plump by supporting natural moisture production and collagen synthesis. It is also likely to fade dark spots and even out skin tone over time, especially when paired with niacinamide.

Archives of Dermatological Research, 2009Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2004

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for mature skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it at night keeps things simple and helps protect your skin from the sun.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with your retinol product, or by alternating nights to keep your skin calm. This helps you get the smoothing benefits for fine lines while minimizing any potential irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

How often should I use this serum?

Use this treatment in the evening as part of your nighttime routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps smooth fine lines while keeping your skin hydrated.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for mature skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for mature skin due to its very safe makeup and low risk of irritation. It helps keep skin smooth and hydrated without heavy oils that usually trigger breakouts.

Is this serum 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 palmitoyl pentapeptide (pal-KTTKS) provided significant improvement versus placebo control in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines in Caucasian female subjects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

  • Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007

  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018

  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018

  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010

  • N-acetylglucosamine dose dependently increased hyaluronan production in cultured keratinocytes, and its combination with retinoic acid or retinol exerted a synergistic effect.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2004

  • Exogenous N-acetylglucosamine promotes hyaluronan production while having no effect on the expression of hyaluronan-synthesizing enzymes 1, 2, and 3 mRNA in cultured human dermal fibroblasts.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2009

  • Global gene expression profiling and in vitro biomarker approaches in human skin equivalent cultures successfully detected specific skin barrier, matrix, and hydration responses to topical compounds including niacinamide, hexamidine, Pal-KT, Pal-KTTKS, and N-acetylglucosamine.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2009

  • 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

Ingredients

Water, Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Acetyl Glucosamine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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