The Ordinary Argireline Solution 10% for combination skin
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Propanediol
Gellan Gum
Phenoxyethanol
Sodium Chloride
Low
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for combination skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 plumping for your combination skin due to acetyl hexapeptide-8, which supports skin elasticity but does not directly address oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin as it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients, though it could benefit from additional components for comprehensive oil control.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently describe this serum as "Botox in a bottle," praising its ability to soften dynamic facial lines, particularly on the forehead and around the eyes. While many with mature or expressive skin report smoother texture and reduced wrinkle depth with consistent use, a notable portion of users saw no visible difference, suggesting efficacy varies significantly by skin type and depth of lines.
Highlights
Softens dynamic lines Mostly Mentioned
- “Softened my deep forehead lines”
- “Noticed my 11s are less prominent”
- “Crow's feet look much smoother”
- “Forehead feels tighter and smoother”
Affordable price point Often Mentioned
- “Unbeatable price for peptides”
- “Great value for the results”
- “Cheap enough to use liberally”
- “Wallet-friendly anti-aging”
Lightweight watery texture Often Mentioned
- “Feels like water on the skin”
- “Absorbs instantly with no residue”
- “Layers perfectly under makeup”
- “Completely weightless and non-sticky”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Did not irritate my sensitive eyes”
- “No stinging or redness”
- “Gentle enough for daily use”
- “Great alternative to harsh actives”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “Did absolutely nothing for my lines”
- “Finished the bottle with no difference”
- “Just felt like putting water on my face”
- “Zero improvement after 3 months”
Too runny/watery Sometimes Noted
- “Runs right off my fingers”
- “Hard to control the drops”
- “Spills everywhere because it's so thin”
- “Too watery to apply precisely”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Cap doesn't screw on tight”
- “Dropper stopped working”
- “Bottle leaked in my bag”
- “Crusty residue around the rim”
Results take time Rarely Noted
- “Took 2 months to see a change”
- “Must use twice daily or it stops working”
- “Slow progress, requires patience”
- “Results fade immediately if you stop”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, theordinary.com, ulta.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is The Ordinary Argireline Solution a weak match for combination skin?
This treatment is a weak match for your combination skin because it only offers moderate plumping and lacks direct control for oily shine. A product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to regulate oiliness, enhance radiance, and provide balanced hydration without irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for combination skin?
This serum is a weak match because acetyl hexapeptide-8 only offers moderate plumping and does not manage oily shine. A treatment for combination skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to balance oiliness and provide hydration without excess oil.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
What does Argireline do for combination skin?
Argireline helps smooth out lines and keeps combination skin feeling soft when applied twice daily. This ingredient may reduce wrinkle depth and improve overall skin texture, though its absorption through the skin is quite low.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013
What does Propanediol do for combination skin?
Propanediol helps keep combination skin hydrated and smooth while balancing areas that tend to get oily. It draws moisture into the skin without feeling heavy and may help reduce excess oil and shine throughout the day.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation since it lacks harsh ingredients, but a product for this skin type needs extra components to help control oily shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol. The formula is safe for your skin, but combination skin needs a product of this type to include additional components for comprehensive oil control.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. A product of this type for combination skin needs extra oil control components alongside acetyl hexapeptide-8 to properly balance oily shine while supporting skin elasticity.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because its formula lacks heavy oils and harsh ingredients. To work best for this skin type, it needs extra ingredients to help balance oily shine.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.
Molecules, 2021Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.
European Journal of Neurology, 2013Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026Topical 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, 2017Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Oleuropein-rich gellan gum and sodium alginate hydrogel films acted as effective antioxidant and photoprotectant treatments against UVA-induced photoaging in normal human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2023Glycerol crosslinked vitamin E loaded xanthan gum and gellan gum nanoemulgels scavenged 88.5% of free radicals, reduced transepidermal water loss by up to 33.3%, and improved moisture content and skin structural characteristics in a murine dry skin model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2025Calcium hydroxylapatite diluted with normal saline combined with microfocused ultrasound with visualization improved age-related changes in the lower face, neck, and décolleté and stimulated collagen and elastin fibers in 20 subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2020Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical application of magnetized saline water serum improved skin hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, sebum content, melanin index, and erythema index, and activated autophagy by increasing Beclin-1 and decreasing mTOR in females wanting to enhance facial and neck skin appearance.
Cureus, 2023
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide 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, 2022A 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Gellan Gum, Sodium Chloride, Isoceteth-20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ethoxydiglycol
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
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