The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% for dry sensitive skin
Ascorbyl Glucoside- Vitamin C Derivative
Propanediol
Xanthan Gum
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 brightening for your dry and sensitive skin due to Ascorbyl Glucoside, a stable vitamin C derivative that aids in evening skin tone, though it lacks specialized ingredients to fully address dryness or flakiness.
- Propanediol provides humectant action suitable for dry skin, but the formula could benefit from more emollient or occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this serum for brightening dull complexions and evening skin tone, noting its gentle formulation suitable for sensitive or oily skin. While its lightweight texture and stable formula are appreciated, many users report a sticky finish and that results require patience compared to more potent alternatives.
Highlights
Affordable Often Mentioned
- “Absolute steal”
- “Great price point”
- “Unbeatable value”
Brightens & evens tone Often Mentioned
- “Skin looked noticeably brighter”
- “Evens out complexion”
- “Restores radiance to dull skin”
Gentle & non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “No adverse reactions”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Less irritating than pure Vitamin C”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Lightweight water-based”
- “Non-greasy finish”
Sticky/tacky finish Often Mentioned
- “Feels a bit sticky”
- “Leaves a tacky film”
- “Sticky until moisturizer is applied”
Stable formula Sometimes Noted
- “Does not oxidize”
- “Stays clear longer”
- “Great shelf life”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “Takes a bit to see results”
- “Not as potent”
- “Plateaued quickly”
Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused whiteheads”
- “Skin broke out”
- “Did not help congestion”
Pilling Rarely Noted
- “Pills under makeup”
- “Balls up with sunscreen”
- “Hard to layer”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “Dead fish smell”
- “Strong metallic scent”
- “Smells off”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, beautybay.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution work for dry sensitive skin?
This product works moderately well for your dry sensitive skin by using Ascorbyl Glucoside to brighten skin tone while minimizing irritation risks. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to fully address dryness, and a product of this type needs richer moisturizing and nourishing components to properly hydrate and protect dry skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Ascorbyl Glucoside helps brighten your skin tone, while Propanediol increases skin hydration. A product of this type needs additional rich moisturizing and barrier-supporting ingredients to fully address dryness.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
What does Ascorbyl Glucoside do for dry sensitive skin?
Ascorbyl Glucoside helps brighten dark spots and protect dry sensitive skin from daily damage, while keeping it smooth and calm. Because this type of vitamin C is stable and gentle, it is unlikely to irritate sensitive skin while delivering steady antioxidant benefits.
What does Vitamin C do for dry sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dry sensitive skin while supporting a calmer and smoother feel. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used in gentle formulas, and it may improve skin elasticity and reduce redness.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. A product of this type works well for this skin when it includes richer softening and sealing ingredients that protect against dryness and flakiness.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the vitamin C treatment first and following with your retinol on alternate nights or times to minimize the risk of irritation. This type of skin needs extra rich, soothing hydrators and protective barrier creams to keep dry and sensitive areas comfortable.
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 dry sensitive skin needs extra rich or sealing ingredients and soothing hydrators to fully care for dryness and flakiness.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
Breakouts from this serum are unlikely, as it contains no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation or clog pores. However, a product of this type needs richer softening and sealing ingredients to properly care for dry skin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment with ascorbyl glucoside-arginine complex lotion significantly decreased pigmentation scores and melanin index while increasing lightness in solar lentigos of Japanese females compared to placebo over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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, 2024Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008A 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, 2021Sustainable 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, 2017Biodegradable wound dressings functionalized with silver nanoparticles showed >99% pathogen growth inhibition, bactericidal effects, free radical scavenging, reduced inflammatory response in macrophages, and accelerated wound healing in animals.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022A topical xanthan gum nanogel containing gamma-oryzanol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers and nanosized TiO2 and MBBT filters demonstrated high photoprotection with an SPF of 34 and no skin irritation or sensitization in a rat model.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023Dense chitosan-xanthan membranes associated with multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells accelerated wound healing in Wistar rats compared to untreated conditions, demonstrating safety and feasibility for dermo-epidermal wound treatment.
Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 2015
Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better
A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017Glycerol accelerates barrier repair and improves stratum corneum hydration compared to untreated and base-treated sites.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026
Ingredients
Water, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Triethanolamine, Isoceteth-20, Xanthan Gum, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ethoxydiglycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, 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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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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