The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution for dry skin
Bha Salicylic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water
Panthenol
Sodium Hyaluronate CrosspolymerAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other products 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 exfoliation for your dry skin due to the presence of glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which provide resurfacing benefits and help decongest pores.
- While the formula contains humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients to fully address your dryness.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week, increasing slowly to twice a week if your dry skin tolerates it well. Always remember to apply SPF every morning to protect your newly smoothed skin.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your rich moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute. Avoid rubbing to prevent any irritation on flaky areas.
- Apply the product directly to dry clean skin to ensure the best possible tolerance for your dry type. This helps address flaky patches without causing extra stress.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a quick patch test before your very first use. Do not mix this with other strong acids or retinoids on the same night.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 8.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily, acne-prone, and textured skin frequently praise this product for delivering "baby soft" smoothness and a visible glow after just one use. Reviews consistently warn that the potent formula causes stinging and is unsuitable for sensitive skin, with some users reporting irritation or chemical burns if left on too long.
Highlights
Smooths skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels baby butt smooth”
- “face is soft and smooth”
- “resets my pores”
- “slough off dry patches”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “great value for price”
- “can't beat the price”
- “very affordable & effective”
- “inexpensive skincare brand”
Fades acne marks Often Mentioned
- “scars lightened up quite a bit”
- “acne subsided quite a bit”
- “helps with blemishes”
- “hyperpigmentation reduced”
Not for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “irritated AF the next day”
- “do not use on sensitive skin”
- “too strong for newbies”
- “compromised barrier should avoid”
Stings or burns Often Mentioned
- “stings a little but worth it”
- “uncomfortable tingliness”
- “face felt like it was burning”
- “mild stinging sensation”
Instant glow/radiance Sometimes Noted
- “tight, bright and shiny”
- “nice glow customary of AHA”
- “skin looked brighter immediately”
- “wake up with glowy skin”
Messy application Sometimes Noted
- “looks like blood mask”
- “stains white bath mat”
- “super messy application”
- “red color looks dramatic”
Causes purging/breakouts Rarely Noted
- “pimples popped up quickly”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
- “broke me out”
- “purging phase was rough”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, byrdie.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Ordinary AHA 30% + BHA 2% Peeling Solution work for dry skin?
This exfoliant treatment works moderately well for dry skin, offering resurfacing benefits and helping clear pores with glycolic acid and salicylic acid, though it lacks enough softening ingredients to fully address dryness. An exfoliant for dry skin needs soothing and deeply hydrating ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, or peptides to nourish and support the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry skin?
This exfoliant works for dry skin because it contains glycolic acid and salicylic acid for resurfacing, along with panthenol and glycerin to help keep your skin moisturized. For this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients, ceramides, peptides, niacinamide, and rich hydrating agents that deeply nourish and protect the skin barrier.
What does Bha do for dry skin?
BHA helps dry, flaking skin by gently clearing away dead buildup while improving moisture levels when paired with soothing hydrators like ceramides. Salicylic acid may help smooth rough patches, though dry skin types need to watch for irritation and support their skin barrier.
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Water do for dry skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Water helps boost hydration in dry skin by increasing water content in the outer skin layer. It is unlikely to disrupt the skin barrier while providing these moisturizing benefits.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This exfoliant goes in the evening routine, starting at once a week after cleansing and before moisturizing. Because your dry skin needs extra moisture, an exfoliant of this type needs rich smoothing and softening ingredients like nourishing plant oils and rich butters.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this strong exfoliant and retinol in the same routine, as combining them may cause unwanted irritation on dry skin. Instead, alternate the nights you use them or use the exfoliant on a separate day entirely.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your dry skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This type of product needs extra rich, softening ingredients and skin-soothing hydrators to fully care for dry skin.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, though some users may experience mild purging. To best care for dry skin, products of this type need rich moisturizing and softening ingredients to keep the skin smooth and comfortable.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical 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, 2019
Why other products fit dry skin better
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, 2020Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Glycolic Acid, Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Daucus Carota Sativa Extract, Propanediol, Cocamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Salicylic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Citric Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Tasmannia Lanceolata Leaf Extract Fruit, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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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