Perricone MD High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer for acne-prone skin

Retinol
Dmae
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Ceramide Np
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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 moderate moisturizing and treatment for your combination skin due to the presence of retinol and sodium hyaluronate, which help smooth texture and hydrate, but do not specifically target acne.
- Ingredients like glycerin and shea ethyl esters butter provide general skincare benefits, but are not specialized for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like sodium hyaluronate and ceramide NP.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
Questions and answers
How well does High Potency Retinol Recovery Overnight Moisturizer work for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it does not specifically target blemishes. It contains retinol and sodium hyaluronate, which help smooth texture and hydrate, while soothing agents like ceramide NP make it safe without risks of irritation. An acne-prone skin product works best when it contains specialized ingredients that target breakouts and blemishes while providing balanced hydration without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cream fits your acne-prone skin because it contains retinol and sodium hyaluronate, which help smooth texture and hydrate, though a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that directly target acne and blemishes while offering soothing benefits and hydration without irritation.
What does Retinol do for acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and clearing pores to reduce breakouts. It regulates skin growth and fights inflammation, though it may cause some mild peeling or stinging when you first start using it.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does DMAE do for acne-prone skin?
DMAE may help firm the skin and improve overall texture, but it does not treat acne or breakouts. Acne-prone skin needs ingredients that clear pores and calm redness, such as salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cream is used as an evening treatment in your routine. Acne-prone skin works best with products that contain targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to clear blemishes.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cream with vitamin C by applying your vitamin C serum in the morning and saving this retinol treatment for your evening routine. Using them at different times of day helps you avoid potential irritation while still getting the benefits of both ingredients. To properly care for acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this treatment cream in the evening as part of your routine. This product works for your skin, though an acne-prone skin type needs ingredients that target breakouts and blemishes to get the best results.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream works for your acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it does not specifically target acne. It helps smooth texture and hydrate, but an acne-prone skin needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents to prevent breakouts.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on the body and around the eyes, though skin thickness varies greatly across body regions. Because the skin around the eyes and on parts of the body can be quite thin, a moisturizing treatment used there needs to provide good tolerance alongside hydrating agents like hyaluronic acid and soothing ceramides to keep skin soft.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, geraniol, and eugenol). Cetearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2019A 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, 2017A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Topical 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, 2017Silicone 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 stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Daily application of 3% DMAE facial gel for 16 weeks safely and efficaciously mitigates forehead lines and periorbital fine wrinkles, improves lip shape and fullness and overall aging skin appearance, and increases skin firmness compared to placebo.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2005A gel containing 3% 2-dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) increased skin firmness, demonstrated by increased shear wave velocity in 30 volunteers compared to a formulation without DMAE.
Skin Research and Technology, 2002A DMAE-based formulation increased dermal and collagen fiber thickness in hairless mice and enhanced stratum corneum water content in human forearm skin compared to control formulations, without significantly modifying mechanical properties.
Die Pharmazie, 2009Topical 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A 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, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Propanediol, Shea Ethyl Esters Butter, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Behenyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Glycerides, Isoamyl Laurate, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Hydrogenated Oil, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Ceteareth-20, Glycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Polysilicone-11, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrogenated Olive Oil, Citric Acid, Dimethyl Mea, Petrolatum, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Ethylhexylglycerin, Retinol, Retinyl Linoleate, Xanthan Gum, Polysorbate 20, Parfum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Soybean Lipids, Maltodextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Palmitate, Laureth-23, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Sodium Glucuronate, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Np, Sodium Hydroxide, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Magnesium Sulfate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Phytosterols, Tocopherol, Copper Gluconate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Eugenol
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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