Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% for dry sensitive skin
Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Zinc Chloride
Propylene GlycolLow
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry sensitive skin; the serums alongside 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 you due to Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside, which help even skin tone, but the Alcohol content may be drying for your dry and sensitive skin.
- Provides general hydration benefits for your dry or flaky skin with Sodium Hyaluronate, though it does not directly address your primary concerns.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with normal to oily skin report this high-potency serum provides a significant glow and brightens the complexion while improving skin texture. Many reviewers praise its effectiveness in fading hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and sun spots. Some users note it can be drying or irritating for sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Brightens complexion Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looks radiant”
- “gives an instant glow”
- “complexion is brighter”
- “skin looks vibrant”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “lightened my sun spots”
- “helped with hyperpigmentation”
- “acne scars are fading”
- “evened out skin tone”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “sinks right in”
- “not greasy at all”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “layers well under makeup”
Smoothes skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels softer”
- “texture is much smoother”
- “pores look smaller”
- “face feels like silk”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “cost is a downside”
Oxidizes quickly Sometimes Noted
- “turned orange fast”
- “arrived already yellow”
- “color changed in weeks”
- “unstable formula”
Reduces fine lines Rarely Noted
- “softened my wrinkles”
- “lines are less visible”
- “skin looks firmer”
- “plumps the skin”
Causes dryness/irritation Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “stung upon application”
- “caused peeling”
- “too strong for me”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “cap doesn't seal tight”
- “leaked in transit”
- “dropper is flimsy”
- “bottle design causes spills”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, obagi.com, walmart.com, oprahdaily.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Professional-C Serum 20% a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a weak match because, while the vitamin C brightens and sodium hyaluronate hydrates, the alcohol content may be drying for your dry and sensitive skin. Treatments that fit this skin well need gentle, highly nourishing ingredients that provide deep moisture and protect the skin barrier without any risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Periodontology, 2009
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a weak match for your dry and sensitive skin primarily because its alcohol content may be drying and irritating. A product for this skin needs gentle, highly suitable hydrating ingredients that boost moisture retention and strengthen the skin barrier without any risk of irritation.
What does Vitamin C do for dry sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten and smooth dry sensitive skin while reducing wrinkles and improving elasticity. It is generally well tolerated and unlikely to cause irritation when properly formulated, leaving the skin looking more radiant.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and a soothing toner, followed by a moisturizer. A product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing agents that calm irritation without drying alcohol.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum in your morning routine and retinol at night, keeping them separate to avoid irritation on dry and sensitive skin. This type of skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing formulas without alcohol to stay calm and comfortable.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is used in the evening once a week to start, because your dry and sensitive skin needs extra safety around active ingredients and alcohol content that may be drying. As a weak fit for your skin, this type of product needs gentle hydrating ingredients and alcohol-free formulas to keep dry skin calm and smooth.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, but the alcohol content may cause dryness and irritation. A product for this skin needs soothing and gentle hydrating ingredients to keep the skin calm and smooth without irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ascorbic 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 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, 2008Topical 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, 2019An aloe-alginate film dressing showed no statistical difference in wound contraction but demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity, stimulated angiogenesis, and increased collagen type I fibers while decreasing type III fibers compared to sterile gauze in rats with incisional skin wounds.
Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, 2020Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.
Cutis, 1988A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.
Veterinary Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Propylene Glycol, Water, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethoxydiglycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Zinc Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.