The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum for oily skin
Copper Tripeptide-1
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Sodium Hyaluronate
Lactococcus Lysate Ferment
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
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 benefits for your oily skin due to the presence of multiple peptides like Copper Tripeptide-1 and Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, which improve skin elasticity and reduce fine lines, while Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer provide essential hydration without being occlusive.
- While the humectant ingredients support oily skin by providing hydration, they do not directly address concerns about oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation 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 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 3.2k+ reviewsA notable number of reviews mention a metallic scent and some users report experiencing irritation or stickiness, particularly those with sensitive skin.
Highlights
Improves firmness Often Mentioned
- “Nature's botox”
- “snatched my skin”
- “bouncy and plump”
- “defined jawline”
- “restored elasticity”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “Sinks in immediately”
- “not greasy”
- “layers well”
- “watery texture”
- “no residue”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “Glass skin effect”
- “pores look smaller”
- “texture is gone”
- “smoother than usual”
- “softens rough patches”
Unpleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like vinegar”
- “metallic penny smell”
- “weird rusty scent”
- “stinks upon application”
- “chemical odor”
Accelerates healing Sometimes Noted
- “healed acne scars”
- “reduced redness”
- “repaired skin barrier”
Value for money Sometimes Noted
- “Cheaper than NIOD”
- “affordable copper peptide”
- “great price point”
- “worth every penny”
- “accessible anti-aging”
Initial stickiness Sometimes Noted
- “Tacky at first”
- “sticky finish”
- “feels like glue”
- “needs time to dry”
- “slightly tacky”
Product conflicts Sometimes Noted
- “Hard to layer”
- “pills with Vitamin C”
- “can't use with acids”
- “complicated routine”
- “oxidizes with other serums”
Pricey for brand Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for Ordinary”
- “small bottle size”
- “price went up”
- “priciest item they sell”
- “runs out fast”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “stung my face”
- “redness and burning”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
- “sensitized my skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, skinsort.com, lookfantastic.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + Copper Peptides 1% Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin because its peptides improve firmness and its hydrators provide moisture without feeling heavy, though it does not control oily shine. Oily skin works best with products that contain ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to manage excess oil and enlarged pores while keeping the skin balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate make this serum a good fit for oily skin by providing essential hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. To truly suit oily skin best, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or ferulic acid that actively control excess oil and shine.
What does Copper Tripeptide-1 do for oily skin?
Copper Tripeptide-1 helps calm oily skin while improving overall skin barrier conditions and reducing the appearance of fine lines. This ingredient supports skin repair and provides protective benefits that are well-suited for keeping balanced, smooth skin.
What does Argireline do for oily skin?
Argireline is generally safe for oily skin, but it is primarily used for anti-aging and smoothing wrinkles rather than controlling oil. To properly care for oily skin while targeting signs of aging, this type of product needs a lightweight, oil-free formula that hydrates without feeling heavy.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the routine simple and protects the skin around sun exposure. Oily skin also needs ingredients that help balance shine and control excess oil.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first in your evening routine, followed by your retinol. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but to truly fit oily skin it needs ingredients that also help control extra shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine. Oily skin works best with products that also control excess shine and balance oil production.
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 because it uses lightweight hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate that provide moisture without being heavy. However, since it does not target excess shine or oiliness, oily skin still needs ingredients that help balance oil production and keep pores clear.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Annals of Dermatology, 2019
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, 2017Argireline 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, 2013Treatment 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, 2019Topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin caused no significant reduction in erythema or objective improvement in wrinkles compared to controls, but significantly increased patient satisfaction regarding overall skin quality.
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006A novel regimen combining a hydroxy acid-based scrub and copper tripeptide serum significantly reduced adherent scalp flaking by 61.24%, increased hair density by 12.48%, increased hair thickness by 25.36%, and improved scalp skin hydration by 76.24% in adults with mild to moderate dandruff over 15 days.
Cureus, 2024The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026Acetyl 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, 2017Daily 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, 2013Argireline 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 multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical 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, 2019
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, Glycerin, Lactococcus Lysate Ferment, Copper Tripeptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium Pca, Pca, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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