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The Ordinary

Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution.

The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution

About this product

A lightweight hydrating serum combining 2% aloe extract and 2% NAG (N-Acetyl Glucosamine) designed to soothe, hydrate, and help fade hyperpigmentation.

Best for

Sensitive skinAcne-prone skin

The Guru Index verdict

73%

Approved

Approved · 73%
6Reviewers
5Approved
0Mixed
1Skip

What the gurus are saying

Gurus largely praise this as an affordable, versatile serum that delivers on hydration and calming benefits, with many reporting visible improvements in hyperpigmentation and post-acne marks over consistent use. The consensus strengths are its lightweight texture, seamless compatibility with other products, and suitability for all skin types. Skeptics note underwhelming results without existing pigmentation concerns and question whether NAG works as effectively without niacinamide, as most research pairs the two. The split hinges on whether you're targeting specific pigmentation or seeking general hydration and barrier support.
Synthesized from 6 expert reviews

Key actives & flags

AHAPeptidesFragrance-freeAlcohol-free

Full ingredients

Aqua (Water), Propanediol, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, N-Acetyl Glucosamine, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Biosaccharide Gum-2, Pentylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Isoceteth-20, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin

Every take, in full

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Approved only Skip only Mixed only Hide sponsored
Approved
"Their aloe serum is really nice too for soothing."
All 2 takes from No BS Beauty
Winner or Loser?!?! 🧐 The Ordinary Skincare New! Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution For Soothing & Dark Spots
"For using this for just over a month, I didn't really notice any crazy results, any benefits, any difference in dark spots or hyperpigmentation. However, some of these ingredients based on the studies that were done were based on eight weeks, so that's probably not a great judge of it. A lot of ingredients you need to use three, four, five, six, seven, eight months. Things like azelaic acid take three, four months, retinoids again three, four months. So it might not be the best judge. I guess it depends on what you're buying this for. If you're buying this as a soothing product because of the aloe, then eight weeks isn't a big deal, but if you're buying this for hyperpigmentation and dark spots, then that's a totally different reason to purchase it."
I've Tried Every Product From The Ordinary & These are the Skincare I'm Still Using Years Later
"Their aloe serum is really nice too for soothing."
Approved
"This is the Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution. This is fantastic, an allrounder. This is the one serum that I think everybody should have in their skincare routine. The NAG is pro collagen, so it's going to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and really add to an anti-aging skincare routine. That aloe is what's really doing the heavy lifting. It calms, it soothes, it reduces inflammation and irritation. And because they've actually used a super concentrated version of that aloe, you really get a supercharged set of results from it. This isn't the same as applying like aloe vera from your garden or from the health food store onto the skin. This is a supercharged version of it because it's so concentrated. One recent study actually showed that aloe, if applied consistently to the skin, can reduce premature aging by 9%. So, this is a great serum to reach for if you want to prevent against future aging, but you also want to calm, soothe, and hydrate. It kind of does it all. I use it morning and night. It pairs with everything. No matter what you have in your skincare routine, you can use this serum. And it really helps prevent irritation. So, if you're somebody that's using maybe tretinoin, a high potency retinoid, you exfoliate a lot and you want to reduce irritation, this will do it. Maybe you want some extra hydration for those cooler winter months, this will do it."
All 11 takes from Mad About Skin
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"Their aloe serum is phenomenal. I think a lot of their latest launchers really have hit the mark and people are really excited again for what's next when it comes to The Ordinary."
BEST DRUGSTORE SKINCARE 2024 - My Top Skincare 2024
"This is The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution launched last year and since it launched I've never, I don't think there's been a single day I haven't used this in my skincare routine. It hydrates and also that NAG is going to fade hyperpigmentation. If you're using a calming and soothing serum somewhere in your routine maybe switch out that one for this one, you'll get the same calming soothing hydration but you'll also get some extra skin brightening qualities, it'll fade hyperpigmentation and it's just an all around Holy Grail. It has the nicest texture you can imagine, it just glides onto the skin but it doesn't really, after you've applied it, wait like 30 seconds and it's just disappeared, just leaving behind hydration and you can use products on top of it without peeling. There isn't a single box that this drugstore favorite doesn't tick."
THE ORDINARY ARE BACK - Full New Products Review ( The Ordinary Review 2024 )
"The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution is such a beautiful product that deserves as much love as barrier supporting products get. The aloe calms and soothes, the NAG fades your hyperpigmentation, and it slots seamlessly into every skincare routine. You don't need to think about what it pairs with because it just goes with everything, and no matter what your skin type, tone, or level of sensitivity, this can work for you. Slot it in with the rest of your water-based serums after you've cleansed. I'm more on top of my hyperpigmentation game than I used to be. Any breakouts that I have fade so much quicker. My skin feels brighter and it's definitely hydrating. I absolutely adored it."
BEST NEW ANTI-AGING SKINCARE - 10 Products You Need To Know About!
"It's got that aloe which hydrates it, calms it, but it's also a specific extract taken from the aloe which is why it packs a greater punch than you might expect from that two percent. The NAG faces hyperpigmentation over time and I'm here to say that this, whether you're looking to prevent or to treat, is probably one of the best hyperpigmentation serums on the market, and for the price point it's just a no-brainer. It's so good and it feels beautiful on the skin. It's slightly thicker than some other serums which I enjoy because it's easier to apply. Just put a small layer on twice a day in your skincare routine. If you're the sort of person that likes to use a buffering serum before your vitamin C and before your peptides, this would be a great affordable option. It's so much better than some of the other staples."
THE ORDINARY SECRET SERUMS - 5 Serums Could Change Everything!
"This is the Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution. This is fantastic, an allrounder. This is the one serum that I think everybody should have in their skincare routine. The NAG is pro collagen, so it's going to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and really add to an anti-aging skincare routine. That aloe is what's really doing the heavy lifting. It calms, it soothes, it reduces inflammation and irritation. And because they've actually used a super concentrated version of that aloe, you really get a supercharged set of results from it. This isn't the same as applying like aloe vera from your garden or from the health food store onto the skin. This is a supercharged version of it because it's so concentrated. One recent study actually showed that aloe, if applied consistently to the skin, can reduce premature aging by 9%. So, this is a great serum to reach for if you want to prevent against future aging, but you also want to calm, soothe, and hydrate. It kind of does it all. I use it morning and night. It pairs with everything. No matter what you have in your skincare routine, you can use this serum. And it really helps prevent irritation. So, if you're somebody that's using maybe tretinoin, a high potency retinoid, you exfoliate a lot and you want to reduce irritation, this will do it. Maybe you want some extra hydration for those cooler winter months, this will do it."
TOP 10 SKINCARE 2023 - Skincare Awards Part 2
"This is The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution. I wasn't that complimentary when it first came out, but the results speak for themselves. It fights hyperpigmentation quicker than a lot of budget luxury products and it hydrates you to the gods. This is a sort of product that you can just slot into your skincare routine morning and evening, forget you've even applied it, and just know that it's working for you. It soothes, it hydrates, evens out your skin tone, does it all for a really affordable price point. It's a lovely serum, a little thicker than maybe you expect from serums, but glides onto the skin and just packs a punch. I'm on bottle six now. My skin just works, and it's great for hydrating and evening out the skin tone."
THE ORDINARY HIDDEN GEMS - Why Is Nobody Talking About These
"This is The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution and I named it my number one skincare product of 2023 and I'm standing by all of that. It hydrates, it calms, it soothes, and that NAG is going to help fade hyperpigmentation. Really you don't always need to buy an additional serum; you could swap an existing serum out for this one. If you've got a hyaluronic acid serum in your routine or a calming and soothing serum, just swap that product out for this. It'll probably cost you less because this is super affordable and you'll get some enhanced results. This calms, it soothes, the aloe deeply nourishes and hydrates, and the NAG will help give you more even skin tone. This will work for absolutely everyone no matter what your skin type or tone. This can slot into your routine and it's best friends with everyone."
BEST THE ORDINARY SERUMS FOR WRINKLES - Top 5 Anti-Aging Skincare
"It's a slightly viscous serum, it's not super watery. It glides onto the skin but it leaves behind no tackiness, no stickiness. It's just a really nice addition for some extra hydration, for some calming and soothing, and just keep any inflammation at bay. Definitely want to be used after your vitamin C just to balance everything out. If there's one product of all of this that you try, definitely make it this one. I think you'll be as impressed as I was, and I came from a position of being underwhelmed to come completely won over now."
BEST SKINCARE BRAND 2024 - Best Anti Aging Skincare Brand
"The Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution is great for hyperpigmentation if you're someone that is trying to work on your hyperpigmentation skin just coloration and not necessarily getting anywhere or you want a little boost. This works with every skin type, doesn't matter how sensitive your skin is, this will work for you, and it's just seamless to slip into your routine."
FADE DARK SPOTS FAST - Worlds Best Hyperpigmentation Skincare (3 Year Update)
"My holy grail when it comes to calming and soothing serums for hyperpigmentation is The Ordinary Aloe 2% + NAG 2% Solution. The reason I call this out is the aloe is calming, soothing and hydrating, and NAG will also suppress inflammation in the skin which is also great at eradicating hyperpigmentation. This is kind of like another way of being a bit more strategic with your calming and soothing serum, add the equilibrium back to your skin's life but do so in a way that's going to add some additional hyperpigmentation benefit. This is super affordable and I would say if you're someone that's new to pigmentation, you want somewhere to start, honestly the very, very best place is with this serum. Use this twice a day consistently and you know a very inexpensive, I think this is like £10 serum will already start to eat away at that excess pigment and give you some really great results."
THE ORDINARY 2024 - My Top 10 Serums
"The Aloe 2% + NAG 2% is best for fading hyperpigmentation. If your primary concern is hyperpigmentation, go for the aloe. I tend to use the aloe every single day, non-negotiable. Both are absolutely the best that the ordinary has to offer."
Approved
"This is a great skin treatment for pre or post acne skin, but I particularly appreciate how this addresses so many post acne visible appearance concerns. This reduces the appearance of post-inflammatory erythema, all those bright red marks that take forever usually to fade and are impossible to conceal in any natural looking way. But this also helps with post acne skin texture as well. While the NAG reduces the pigmentation post acne, they have also included a very special peptide which is non-irritating, it's gentle, it's non acid to resurface the appearance of the dents and pits that are usually left after acne. This also just generally helps strengthen the skin barrier for prevention. The texture of this is really light but it has that really nice aloe slipping to it so it applies fabulously. Also it sinks in and absorbs fast. This is very layerable, it just kind of disappears into your skin. This serum is actually perfect to pair with other acne treatments just to really boost results and because it is non-irritating but effective, it won't clash with other acne treatments that might be harsher."
Skip
"This particular product from the ordinary hasn't really been doing it for me, but if you have a lot of hyperpigmentation it may help."
All 3 takes from Dr Dray
Dermatologist reviews *NEW* SKINCARE FROM THE ORDINARY
"I really have not noticed much from this product. I was expecting to get a skin brightening effect, but I don't have any existing dark spots or existing red spots that I was expecting this product to target. I thought maybe this will improve skin texture and overall the clarity of my skin. Overall I'm very skeptical of this product, not because it's problematic or the ingredients I think are harmful per se, I just am not really sure it is offering the consumer that much above and beyond some of the other serums in The Ordinary's portfolio for which the ingredients are a lot more evidence-based. With this particular serum it's marketed around two percent NAG mostly, but the studies on this particular ingredient are usually paired with niacinamide and I find it interesting that they chose to leave out niacinamide. With this particular ingredient it seems as though the research that we do have seems to suggest that when paired with niacinamide that's when you get the results, so to what extent the ingredient by itself is offering much beyond improving hydration is unclear."
MORNING SKINCARE ROUTINE & SHOPPING FOR SKINCARE AT MARSHALLS
"I really don't feel like this does much if I'm being honest. I prefer the Timeless one because the formula is very moisturizing and has a nice emollient property to it that softens and smooths the skin. This is one of those where you have to have a lot of faith that it's doing something because I don't see any enhanced radiance with it and it kind of just feels like I'm putting water on my face."
Using A Clay Mask For Oily Skin
"This particular product from the ordinary hasn't really been doing it for me, but if you have a lot of hyperpigmentation it may help."
Approved
"Aloe plus NAG solution, which is a new launch from The Ordinary, the products are fabulous. Aloe also works as a tyrosine inhibitor and has fantastic properties for lightning and brightening the skin in the most gentle manner. This routine is going to work over a three to four month period depending on area pigmentation, and I promise you this will lighten and brighten your intimate areas in a gentle manner as you have never seen before."
Approved
"This serum is designed for those that are blemish prone that have post acne marks, so those red pinky dark areas that are left behind once the blemish has healed. But even if you don't have post-acne marks and you have uneven skin tone where you have a few dark spots and you also have some texture, this serum is still going to be beneficial for you. I'm telling you this serum works. You can use this as an all over or you can just spot treat your problem areas. It's a very gentle hydrating serum. It does have that 2% aloe, so perfect for all skin types including dry skin, but this also has that 2% NAG, and NAG stands for N-acetyl glucosamine, and this is the ingredient that will help to correct that uneven skin tone but also help with texture as well. Using this serum by itself and being consistent with it, you will see results because this really is a serum that works well and they did an excellent job formulating this one. It's not sticky, it's not tacky, it absorbs nicely, and it also sits great with other skincare products including sunscreen and makeup."
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All 2 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash
THE BEST ORDINARY PRODUCTS FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION, DARK SPOTS, REDNESS AND TEXTURED SKIN!
"This serum is designed for those that are blemish prone that have post acne marks, so those red pinky dark areas that are left behind once the blemish has healed. But even if you don't have post-acne marks and you have uneven skin tone where you have a few dark spots and you also have some texture, this serum is still going to be beneficial for you. I'm telling you this serum works. You can use this as an all over or you can just spot treat your problem areas. It's a very gentle hydrating serum. It does have that 2% aloe, so perfect for all skin types including dry skin, but this also has that 2% NAG, and NAG stands for N-acetyl glucosamine, and this is the ingredient that will help to correct that uneven skin tone but also help with texture as well. Using this serum by itself and being consistent with it, you will see results because this really is a serum that works well and they did an excellent job formulating this one. It's not sticky, it's not tacky, it absorbs nicely, and it also sits great with other skincare products including sunscreen and makeup."
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"This was designed as a serum suited for those that have discoloration and post-acne marks. I've been using this since I received it pretty consistently, and I will say that this really helps to reduce post-acne marks. It really does help to fade it a lot quicker and it really is a lovely serum to use if you have these skin concerns. There are some conflicts with this serum according to The Ordinary, so you don't want to be pairing this up with your direct acids like salicylic acid, glycolic, or lactic acid, any type of exfoliating ingredient. You don't want to use this with vitamin C like L-ascorbic acid, Resveratrol plus ferulic acid. These are types of ingredients that you do want to stay away from. If you use these, you can still continue to use them, just don't use them in the same skincare routine as this serum. This is a very soothing product, especially if you do have blemish-prone skin. To have that two percent aloe in here really does help to calm the skin and it really does help to reduce the redness of your blemish as well. I really like this. I feel like this is very unique."
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