The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% for oily skin
Ascorbyl Glucoside- Vitamin C Derivative
Propanediol
Xanthan Gum
Dimethyl Isosorbide
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
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 brightening for your oily skin due to the presence of Ascorbyl Glucoside, which provides antioxidant effects and supports oil control. Propanediol and Dimethyl Isosorbide further enhance hydration and absorption, complementing your skin's needs.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
- This product provides general skincare benefits that are supportive but not specifically targeted for managing oily shine.
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
★4.1Overall 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 12% work for oily skin?
The Ordinary Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12% works moderately well for oily skin, offering some brightening and antioxidant effects while remaining safe and gentle. However, because it does not specifically target oily shine, treatments for this skin need ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and soothing extracts to actively control excess oil, manage pores, and maintain a healthy glow.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Journal of Periodontology, 2009
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Ascorbyl Glucoside gives your oily skin moderate brightening and antioxidant effects, while propanediol and dimethyl isosorbide help boost hydration and absorption. To be a better fit for oily skin, a treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc to manage shine and control oil, along with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators for a comfortable, balanced feel.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024
What does Ascorbyl Glucoside do for oily skin?
Ascorbyl Glucoside helps brighten skin and fade dark spots, making it a good fit for oily skin when you want a more even complexion. It is unlikely to feel heavy or greasy, but oily skin also benefits from lightweight hydrators and gentle exfoliants to keep pores clear.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C is unlikely to change your skin's oil levels. Studies on humans show it helps increase skin moisture without causing any significant variations in sebum production.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Oily skin needs a product with strong oil-controlling ingredients and mattifying agents to properly manage shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the vitamin C serum first in your routine and following it with your retinol after it absorbs. This product is safe for your skin, but because it is only a moderate fit for oily skin, you need a routine with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to specifically target excess shine.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works well in your evening routine once a day for your oily skin, though other products fit it better. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs targeted oil-control ingredients and lightweight hydrators to manage shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum has a low likelihood of causing breakouts on oily skin, though some reviewers do mention this issue. To better manage oily shine and prevent clogged pores, oily skin needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide alongside lightweight hydrators.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2024Treatment 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, 2009Sustainable 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, 2017A 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, 2023Topical 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, 2021Biodegradable 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, 2022Dense 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, 2015Glycerol 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, 2025
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, 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
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