The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution for dry skin
Aloe Barbadensis
N-Acetyl Glucosamine Nag
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Biosaccharide Gum-2
Glycerin
High
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few serums fit it even better.
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
- Offers moderate suitability for your dry skin as Glycerin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder provide hydration and soothing effects, while Acetyl Glucosamine helps to reduce hyperpigmentation for a more even skin tone.
- Propanediol and Biosaccharide Gum-2 further enhance humectant action, though additional emollient ingredients would optimize hydration for your dry or flaky skin.
- The formulation is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviewsBased 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 dry skin?
This treatment is a great fit for your dry skin because glycerin and aloe leaf juice provide soothing hydration while N-acetyl glucosamine helps even out your skin tone. Propanediol and biosaccharide gum further boost hydration, though adding a richer cream would optimize moisture for dry or flaky skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin, aloe, and propanediol make this serum a good fit for dry skin by providing hydration and soothing effects. Glycerin and propanediol help increase skin moisture, while aloe calms the skin.
What does Aloe Vera do for dry skin?
Aloe vera helps boost skin moisture by increasing water content in dry skin without changing your skin barrier function. It is a light, gentle option that leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.
What does N-Acetyl Glucosamine do for dry skin?
N-Acetyl Glucosamine helps boost skin moisture and decreases flakiness by supporting natural hydration and normal exfoliation. Clinical studies show that topical use significantly increases skin water content and makes dry skin feel much softer.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid any extra sensitivity around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the treatment first in your evening routine, as the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on dry skin. Follow up with your moisturizer to lock in hydration.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is used in the evening as part of your routine. It is safe for your skin and helps keep it calm while improving skin tone.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts on dry skin, as its formula contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that trigger irritation or clog pores. It has a safe profile, though any new treatment may occasionally cause minor adjustments for some people.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017A 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, 2018Topical 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, 2018Topical 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, 2010N-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, 2004Exogenous 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, 2009Global 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, 2009A 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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
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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
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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