🇬🇧United Kingdom

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

Caution

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • RiskySafety

A poor match for acne-prone skin; the products alongside fit it 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

  • Offers excellent moisturizing for your combination skin due to the high concentration of argania spinosa kernel oil, which hydrates and smooths texture, but lacks specialized ingredients to target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • While argania spinosa kernel oil provides emollient benefits, it may not offer sufficient sebum regulation for the oily areas of your combination skin.

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 caution with The Ordinary Moroccan Argan Oil for acne-prone skin?

Lovi advises caution because while this oil hydrates and smooths texture, it lacks specialized ingredients to target acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and may not offer sufficient sebum regulation for oily areas. A product of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients, soothing extracts, and peptides to help balance and care for acne-prone skin.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014

Which ingredients make this oil a poor fit for acne-prone skin?

Argania spinosa kernel oil is the main reason this oil is a poor fit because it lacks the oil control and specialized ingredients needed to help with breakouts and blemishes. A product for this skin needs ingredients that target acne, peptides, and soothing extracts for hydration without extra oil.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014

What does Argan Oil do for acne-prone skin?

Argan oil may not be the best fit for acne-prone skin because oils with certain fatty acid makeups can sometimes clog pores and trigger breakouts. An acne-prone routine works best with lightweight, balancing ingredients that clear pores and calm redness without adding heavy layers.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018

Where does this oil go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This oil is a poor match for your acne-prone skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to clear blemishes and breakouts, and it needs sebum-regulating ingredients to help manage oily areas. A product for this skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components to keep pores clear.

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

You should use caution when combining this oil with retinol on acne-prone skin, as it lacks ingredients to target breakouts and may not manage oil well. If you choose to use them together, apply the retinol first and follow with the oil to help lock in moisture. Acne-prone skin often needs lighter hydrators and targeted blemish-fighting ingredients instead of heavy oils.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use it?

This oil is a poor match for your acne-prone skin because it lacks ingredients to target breakouts and does not help balance oil. Acne-prone skin needs a product that targets blemishes and helps control oil using specialized ingredients.

Can this oil clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This oil may cause breakouts on acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil control. A product for this skin needs purifying ingredients and lightweight hydrators that clear pores without feeling greasy.

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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