The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Moroccan Argan Oil for dry sensitive skin
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other products fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 excellent moisturizing for your dry skin due to the high concentration of argania spinosa kernel oil, which provides emollient action to smooth texture and reduce water loss.
- This ingredient also offers general hydration benefits for dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers 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
How well does The Ordinary Moroccan Argan Oil work for dry sensitive skin?
This oil works well to soften dry skin and lock in moisture, though it is only an average fit because other products suit this skin better. Dry and sensitive skin needs products with deeply soothing ingredients, water-attracting humectants, and zero allergens to fully support the skin barrier without irritation.
Which ingredients make this oil a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Argan oil provides rich moisturizing action that helps smooth dry texture and keep water locked in the skin. Because your skin is sensitive, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients that calm irritation and provide deep nourishment along with moisture-locking agents and humectants.
What does Argan Oil do for dry sensitive skin?
Argan oil helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and hydrated by supporting the skin barrier and maintaining its water-holding capacity. Applying it is generally safe, though it is unlikely to repair damaged skin barriers as effectively as oils with higher linoleic acid levels.
Where does this oil go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This oil is a treatment for dry sensitive skin that goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. For this skin, a product of this type needs rich nourishing ingredients like plant oils or butters that lock in moisture and calm dryness.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this product with retinol, applying the retinol first and following it with this oil to help lock in moisture. This oil keeps your skin feeling soft and is safe for your sensitive skin, though drier skin types often fit best with a richer cream moisturizer containing ceramides and barrier-repairing ingredients.
How often should I use this oil?
You can use this oil daily as part of your regular routine to help keep your skin moisturized and soft. Argania spinosa kernel oil is safe for sensitive skin and helps smooth texture while reducing water loss, though dry and sensitive skin often benefits most from products that combine rich oils with targeted barrier-repair ingredients.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, though a few reviewers have experienced breakouts. To better care for dry and sensitive skin, a product of this type needs soothing and deeply hydrating ingredients that calm irritation while supporting the skin barrier.
What the research says
Topical application of an argan oil NLC-based hydrogel formulation increased skin hydration in healthy volunteers over a one-month period through a synergistic effect of NLC occlusion and argan oil hydration.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Incorporating allantoin into argan oil enriched liposomes improved its accumulation in the dermis (~8.7μg/cm(2)) and permeation through the skin (~33μg/cm(2)) compared to conventional liposomes, water dispersion, and a commercial gel.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016
Ingredients
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.
