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The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil for oily skin

Warning

  • LowOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • WarningSafety

A poor match for oily skin; the products alongside 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 excellent moisturizing for your oily skin due to the high concentration of Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, which hydrates and smooths texture, but it may worsen oily shine by adding more oil.
  • The formula lacks specialized ingredients to address oily shine, making it unsuitable for your main goal.

People Say

★4.1Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

Users frequently praise this oil for its intense hydration, effectively relieving dry, flaky skin and taming frizzy hair by locking in moisture. Many also appreciate its great value and multi-purpose use. A very high number of reviews mention a strong, unpleasant scent, often compared to manure or a farmyard, which some find off-putting. A moderate number of users find the oil greasy or slow to absorb, and a low number report breakouts or issues with the packaging.

Highlights

  • Unpleasant scent Mostly Mentioned
    • “smells like manure”
    • “scent of goat cheese”
    • “smells like a farmyard”
    • “could not get past the smell”
  • Deep hydration Often Mentioned
    • “relieved my dry flaky patches”
    • “skin feels incredibly moisturized”
    • “locks in moisture overnight”
    • “cured my winter dryness”
  • Great value Often Mentioned
    • “unbeatable price for organic oil”
    • “affordable compared to other brands”
    • “huge bottle for the price”
    • “great quality for few dollars”
  • Softens & tames hair Often Mentioned
    • “makes hair soft and shiny”
    • “tames frizz without weighing down”
    • “great for dry ends”
    • “keeps curly hair tamed”
  • Multi-purpose use Sometimes Noted
    • “use it on face and hair”
    • “mixes well with moisturizer”
    • “great for cuticles and body”
    • “added to body lotion”
  • Greasy/Slow absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “sits on top of skin”
    • “too heavy for day use”
    • “left a greasy film”
    • “takes forever to sink in”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “too rich for acne-prone skin”
    • “broke me out immediately”
  • Messy packaging Rarely Noted
    • “bottle leaks easily”
    • “dropper is a bit messy”
    • “oil gets everywhere”
    • “cap doesn't seal perfectly”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, theordinary.com, influenster.com, makeup.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

Why does Lovi advise against The Ordinary Moroccan Argan Oil for oily skin?

Lovi advises against using this oil on oily skin because, while it hydrates and smooths texture, it may worsen oily shine by adding more oil. A product for oily skin needs effective hydrating and soothing ingredients, a lightweight texture without heavy oils, and the absence of pore-clogging oils to manage shine and maintain a healthy complexion.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014

Which ingredients make this oil a poor fit for oily skin?

Argan oil makes this a poor fit for your oily skin because it adds more oil and may worsen oily shine. An oil for this skin needs lightweight hydrators and peptides, no heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier while keeping shine in check.

What does Argan Oil do for oily skin?

Argan oil may be too heavy for oily skin, as it can trap excess oil and lead to breakouts. Oily skin needs lightweight, balancing ingredients like polyphenol-rich extracts that help control shine without clogging pores.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018

Where does this oil go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This oil is a poor match for oily skin because it may worsen oily shine by adding more oil, so it has no place in an oily skin routine. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that control excess oil without heavy oils.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

Lovi advises against using this oil on oily skin because it may worsen oily shine by adding more oil. To use it alongside retinol, your skin needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil instead of heavy oils.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this oil?

This oil is a poor match for oily skin because it may worsen oily shine by adding more oil. To manage oily skin, a product of this type needs oil-absorbing or balancing ingredients that help control shine.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This oil may cause breakouts or clog pores because it adds extra oil to oily skin. A product for this skin needs oil-balancing and lightweight hydrating ingredients to keep pores clear and control shine.

What the research says

Ingredients

Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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