Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Facial Serum for combination skin
Retinol
Niacinamide
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Glycerin
Retinyl Propionate
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 benefits for your combination skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil production and retinol aids in desquamation, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine. Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 and retinol work synergistically to improve skin texture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
- The serum provides general hydration and skin smoothing, which can indirectly help with oily shine by improving overall skin health.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for delivering significant anti-aging results like firmer skin and reduced fine lines, with a notable absence of typical retinol irritation. Its lightweight, hydrating, and fragrance-free formula is well-suited for sensitive skin, effectively improving texture and evening out skin tone over time.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels like silk”
- “woke up to soft skin”
- “texture is much smoother”
- “bumps are gone”
- “face feels baby soft”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no redness or peeling”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “zero irritation”
- “gentlest retinol I've used”
- “didn't dry me out”
Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often Mentioned
- “absorbs almost instantly”
- “not greasy at all”
- “lightweight milky texture”
- “sinks right in”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Brightens and evens tone Sometimes Noted
- “faded my dark spots”
- “complexion looks brighter”
- “helped with acne scars”
- “skin tone is more even”
- “glowy morning skin”
Hydrating and plumping Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks plumped”
- “very moisturizing”
- “hydrates well overnight”
- “no need for extra cream”
- “woke up glowing”
Poor dropper design Sometimes Noted
- “dropper is clunky”
- “hard to get product out”
- “button mechanism fails”
- “bottle design is frustrating”
- “dispenses inconsistently”
Slow visible results Sometimes Noted
- “took months to see difference”
- “no immediate miracle”
- “slow progress on deep wrinkles”
- “needs consistent use”
- “hard to tell difference at first”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused minor purging”
- “broke me out initially”
- “small whiteheads appeared”
- “clogged my pores”
- “reaction on chin”
Pilling or residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a white film”
- “pills under moisturizer”
- “feels slightly sticky”
- “residue on pillow”
- “doesn't layer well”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “prefer the cream version”
- “too watery for me”
- “wanted something thicker”
- “runs off hand easily”
- “cream feels more luxurious”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, byrdie.com, youtube.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Retinol 24 work for combination skin?
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps regulate oil production while retinol and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 improve skin texture and smooth fine lines. Glycerin provides general hydration to keep skin soft. Treatments that fit combination skin better need ingredients like zinc PCA or propolis to manage oily shine.
What does Retinol do for combination skin?
Retinol helps smooth fine lines, even out skin tone, and improve firmness in combination skin. It works by encouraging faster skin renewal and boosting collagen, though it may occasionally cause mild dryness or scaling while your skin adjusts.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Combination skin works best with products that balance oil and shine while delivering lightweight hydration.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying your vitamin C product in the morning and saving this treatment for your evening routine. Using them at separate times of day helps prevent potential irritation while letting your skin get the benefits of both ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
Apply this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. A product of this type needs specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine and balance combination skin.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause irritation for your combination skin, though reviewer complaints show that breakouts may occasionally happen. A product for this skin needs specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine alongside oil-regulating and smoothing ingredients.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide (pal-KTTKS) provided significant improvement versus placebo control in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines in Caucasian female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005A 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 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dmdm Hydantoin, Mica, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium Edta, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.