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True Botanicals Phyto-Retinol Sleep Serum for dry sensitive skin

High

  • SuperiorDry Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even 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

How to apply

  • Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
  • Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

Users find this serum to be a gentle and effective plant-based retinol alternative, frequently reporting smoothed fine lines and improved skin texture without irritation. Many reviewers mention waking up to glowing, hydrated skin, making it a popular choice for sensitive skin types. However, the high price point is a common concern, and a small number of users find the scent too strong or experience breakouts.

Highlights

  • Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
    • “no redness or peeling”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “zero irritation”
    • “gentle enough for nightly use”
  • Hydration & glow Often Mentioned
    • “woke up glowing”
    • “skin feels hydrated”
    • “bouncy and soft”
    • “radiant complexion”
  • Visible anti-aging Often Mentioned
    • “softened fine lines”
    • “skin looks plumper”
    • “smoother texture”
    • “wrinkles less visible”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “very expensive”
    • “pricey bottle”
    • “wish it was cheaper”
    • “luxury price tag”
  • Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “not greasy”
    • “lightweight but nourishing”
    • “silky texture”
  • Luxurious scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like a spa”
    • “relaxing herbal scent”
    • “lovely botanical smell”
    • “divine fragrance”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “caused breakouts”
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “skin reacted poorly”
    • “bumps appeared”
  • Slow results Rarely Noted
    • “didn't see much difference”
    • “results take time”
    • “expected more for the price”
  • Strong scent Rarely Noted
    • “smell is too strong”
    • “overpowering scent”
    • “too much fragrance”
    • “scent lingers”

Sources: lovi.care, qvc.com, amazon.com, cultbeauty.com, truebotanicals.com, nordstrom.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes True Botanicals Phyto-Retinol Sleep Serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?

This serum is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin because soothing ingredients like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice team up with Glycerin and Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil to bring you essential moisture and calm comfort. Ingredients like Astaxanthin Powder and Rosehip Seed Oil also help smooth flaky patches and protect your skin without causing any irritation.

Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2012

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice help soothe dry sensitive skin, while Glycerin and Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil provide essential hydration and softness. In addition, Astaxanthin Powder and Rosehip Seed Oil improve moisture and support skin regeneration.

Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2012

What does Bakuchiol do for dry sensitive skin?

Bakuchiol helps smooth, calm, and hydrate dry sensitive skin while improving firmness and reducing redness without the irritation often caused by traditional retinoids. It is generally well tolerated and may safely support a more youthful appearance by strengthening the skin barrier.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2025

What does Green Tea Extract do for dry sensitive skin?

Green tea extract helps calm dry sensitive skin while improving hydration and keeping the skin barrier strong. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against everyday environmental stress.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and avoids extra safety concerns around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?

You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night. Using them at separate times of day helps your dry sensitive skin get the brightening benefits of vitamin C without overloading your skin.

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment is best used in the evening as part of your routine. It is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin, offering soothing benefits and hydration while helping to improve dry or flaky skin without irritation.

Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, as it contains calming ingredients and lacks harsh components that typically trigger irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and its nourishing plant oils help keep skin smooth and clear.

Health Science Reports, 2025

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl salicylate, farnesol, linalool, and limonene).

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017
  • Combining oral and topical astaxanthin in 30 healthy females improved skin wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, texture, and moisture, while 6 mg daily oral supplementation in 36 healthy males improved crow's feet wrinkles, elasticity, and transepidermal water loss.

    Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2012
  • Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.

    Health Science Reports, 2025
  • 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, 2019
  • A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015
  • Bakuchiol functions as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression, producing significant improvements in lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and photo-damage after 12 weeks of twice-a-day facial application without usual retinol therapy-associated undesirable effects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014
  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical treatments containing rosehip extract may reduce the size and erythema of postsurgical scars through macrophage polarization and inflammatory cytokine inhibition, though current clinical evidence remains insufficient to recommend its routine use.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Sunflower and rosehip oil nanoemulsions prepared with a mix of phospholipids and synthetic emulsifiers permeated intact skin to the dermis and showed a more prominent healing effect in a human organotypic skin explant culture wound model compared to nanoemulsions prepared only with phospholipids.

    Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.

    Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • Treatment with 10 μg/mL Hippophae rhamnoides seed oil increased AQP3 mRNA and AQP3 and HAS2 protein levels in normal human epidermis keratinocytes and a reconstructed epidermis skin model compared to a negative control.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical nanoemulsion-loaded cream and gel formulations of Hippophae rhamnoides fruit oil showed superior wound contraction of 78.96% and 72.59% respectively on the 8th day compared to 62.29% for soframycin in female Sprague-Dawley rats, with no acute dermal toxicity.

    Indian Journal of Pharmacology, 2024
  • Sea buckthorn oil and p-methoxycinnamic acid bioconjugates formulated in oleogels achieved 45% of the sun protection factor of an equivalent octinoxate reference oleogel.

    Molecules, 2023
  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018
  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010

Ingredients

Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Primula Veris Flower Extract Primrose Flower Extract, Mauritia Flexuosa Oil Fruit, Hippophae Rhamnoides Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil Rosehip Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Astaxanthin Powder, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Avena Sativa Bran Extract Oat Bran Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Cananga Odorata Oil Flower Ylang Ylang Oil Flower, Boswellia Carterii Oil Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Phytate, Sclerotium Gum, Tocopherol, Algin, Water, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Farnesol, Linalool, Limonene

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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