🇳🇱Netherlands

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Obagi Professional-C Serum 20%

Low

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak match for dry skin; the serums alongside fit it 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 brightening for your dry skin due to Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbyl Glucoside, which help even skin tone, but these ingredients provide limited hydration and antioxidant benefits rather than addressing dryness or flakiness directly.
  • The presence of alcohol may further dry out your skin, and while Sodium Hyaluronate offers some hydration, it is insufficient to counteract the drying effects for your dry skin type.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.9k+ reviews

Based 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 Obagi Professional-C Serum 20% a weak match for dry skin?

This serum is a weak match because its vitamin C brightens your skin but offers limited hydration, while alcohol may dry it out further. Dry skin needs a treatment that provides deep hydration and barrier support using soothing ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides.

Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry skin?

Alcohol and the high level of Ascorbic Acid make this serum a weak match, as they may dry out dry skin while providing limited hydration. A treatment for dry skin needs soothing, highly effective hydrating ingredients like propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, or peptides to nourish the skin barrier without irritation.

What does Vitamin C do for dry skin?

Vitamin C helps dry skin by boosting moisture and keeping the surface smooth and soft. It may also improve skin hydration and support the outer protective barrier over time.

Skin Research and Technology, 2008Experimental Dermatology, 2008

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?

Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Since this product is a weak match for dry skin and contains alcohol, it needs rich hydrating ingredients and soothing emollients to keep dry skin comfortable and soft.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol, but apply it in the morning and save your retinol for the evening routine to help prevent extra dryness on your dry skin. Because this product is a weak match that may dry you out further, dry skin needs products packed with rich hydrating ingredients and soothing oils rather than drying alcohols.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Because this product is a weak match for dry skin, a product of this type for your skin needs rich hydrating and nourishing ingredients like plant oils, ceramides, and heavy butters to keep skin soft and comfortable.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, though it may cause some dryness or irritation due to its alcohol content. A product for dry skin needs rich, gentle moisturizers and hydrating ingredients like ceramides or glycerin to soothe flaky areas without drying alcohol.

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, 2020

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • 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, 2024

  • Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022

  • Topical 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, 2003

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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

  • An 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, 2020

  • Treatment 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, 1988

  • A 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

Why other serums fit dry skin better

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 10 Oct 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the Netherlands.

How does it fit your skin?

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