The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum for acne-prone skin
Multi-Peptides
Sodium Hyaluronate
Lactococcus Lysate Ferment
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
High
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- This serum offers excellent plumping and firming for your combination skin due to multiple peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, which work synergistically with hydrating ingredients such as Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer to enhance skin's moisture barrier and provide a smoother appearance.
- While the formula provides general hydration and barrier support beneficial for combination skin, its primary focus is not on addressing your specific concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients like Allantoin and Glycerin, and lacks any harsh or prohibited substances that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry, mature, or dehydrated skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to plump the skin and smooth texture, often noting a reduction in fine dehydration lines. While many appreciate it as an affordable "all-in-one" anti-aging solution, a minority of users report breakouts or a lack of visible results regarding deeper wrinkles.
Highlights
Deeply hydrates Mostly Mentioned
- “Surprisingly hydrated my skin very well in the dry mountain air.”
- “My skin feels more hydrated, smooth, and plump.”
- “It’s so hydrating for the skin.”
- “Left my skin feeling very moisturizing.”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “Good quality and good price.”
- “Buying the 60ml is better value... good value for money.”
- “Proof you don't need to spend a fortune for good science.”
- “Affordable and will last you months.”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “It really improved the texture of my skin.”
- “Left my skin feeling so smooth.”
- “Noticeably smoother skin in 8 weeks.”
- “Improves skin smoothness and targets multiple signs of aging.”
Plumps and firms Sometimes Noted
- “Makes my skin feel so firm after use.”
- “Experience firmer, plumper, and more resilient skin.”
- “Improves the feel of skin elasticity.”
- “Skin feels tighter after.”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “I notice less of crows feet after.”
- “Fine lines around my eyes... look much less prominent.”
- “Targets dynamic lines and wrinkles.”
- “Helps significantly improve the appearance of crow's feet.”
Conflicts with actives Sometimes Noted
- “Avoid using direct acids, direct vitamin C... in the same routine.”
- “Can be complicated to use... peptides and Vitamin C don't play well.”
- “Hard to fit into my routine due to conflicts.”
- “Cannot use with my other acid toners.”
Unclear results Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't see exceptional results but good for a basic serum.”
- “Quite nice feeling but idk what it does honestly.”
- “Haven't noticed a huge difference in wrinkles yet.”
- “Good basic serum but don't expect miracles.”
Allergic reactions Rarely Noted
- “My eyes were swollen almost shut the morning after.”
- “Do not use if you have sensitive skin!!”
- “Caused a burning sensation immediately.”
- “Face turned red and itchy.”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Some people say Buffet has made their skin break out.”
- “Worried about this product causing acne.”
- “Caused small bumps on my forehead.”
- “My skin broke out after a few days.”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, deciemchatroom.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Multi-Peptide + HA Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because it has a very safe and gentle formula with soothing ingredients like allantoin and glycerin that are unlikely to cause irritation. It helps keep skin calm and hydrated, though it does not focus directly on treating breakouts.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a good fit because it includes soothing ingredients like Allantoin and Glycerin, which help calm the skin and are unlikely to cause irritation.
What do Peptides do for acne-prone skin?
Peptides help acne-prone skin by fighting acne-causing bacteria and calming redness and swelling. They may also support the skin barrier, which is often delicate when you deal with breakouts.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, as suggested for simplicity and extra safety. It is safe for your skin with soothing ingredients like allantoin and glycerin, though its primary focus is not on addressing acne or breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum alongside a retinol, applying the serum first to clean skin and following with your retinol once it absorbs. This approach helps keep your skin hydrated while you use retinol, and it is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula includes soothing ingredients like glycerin and allantoin.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is safe for daily use, helping to keep your skin hydrated and smooth while lowering the risk of irritation.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and lacks harsh substances that trigger irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from using this formula, and its safety profile suggests good suitability for keeping skin calm.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment 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, 2019Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016Topical 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, 2019Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.
European Journal of Neurology, 2013Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Lactococcus Lysate Ferment, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Pentapeptide-18, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Acetylarginyltryptophyl Diphenylglycine, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Trehalose, Fructose, Glucose, Maltose, Urea, Sodium Pca, Pca, Sodium Lactate, Citric Acid, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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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