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Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum for sensitive skin

High

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

One of the best moisturizers for sensitive skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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

  • Highly suitable for your normal skin with sensitivity, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide excellent humectant action while panthenol and oat kernel extract soothe and repair your skin barrier. The inclusion of lactic acid offers mild exfoliation to further support skin health.
  • This serum offers moderate benefits for redness and irritation by hydrating and calming the skin, though stronger concentrations of soothing agents could enhance these effects.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of beneficial components.

How to apply

  • Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
  • Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
  • You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
  • Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

Users with dehydrated and dry skin report this serum provides immediate, deep hydration, leaving skin plump and dewy with a lightweight texture suitable for layering. Some users with sensitive skin experienced breakouts, and others found the finish slightly tacky or the hydration insufficient for harsh winter dryness.

Highlights

  • Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels quenched immediately”
    • “bye bye dry patches”
    • “hydration lasts all day”
    • “healed my dry neck”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “not greasy at all”
    • “feels like water”
    • “lightweight and refreshing”
  • Layers well Sometimes Noted
    • “great under makeup”
    • “pairs well with moisturizer”
    • “no pilling with other products”
    • “smooth base for foundation”
  • Plumps and glows Sometimes Noted
    • “skin looks bouncy”
    • “gives a dewy glow”
    • “fine lines diminished”
    • “radiant and nourished”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “too expensive for size”
    • “pricey for a hyaluronic serum”
    • “not worth the money”
    • “bottle runs out fast”
  • Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves a tacky finish”
    • “feels sticky to touch”
    • “slightly oily consistency”
    • “takes time to dry down”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “woke up with pimples”
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “irritated my sensitive skin”
  • Insufficient for winter Rarely Noted
    • “not enough for winter”
    • “skin still felt dry”
    • “needed more moisture”
    • “good for summer only”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.ae, lovelyskin.com, ulta.com, dermalogica.com, beautifiedyou.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum a great fit for sensitive skin?

This moisturizing treatment is a great fit because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate draw in moisture, while panthenol and oat kernel extract help calm and repair the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation, and the mild lactic acid offers gentle exfoliation to support healthy skin.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002

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

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate your skin, while panthenol and oat kernel extract help soothe and calm your sensitive skin. Lactic acid also provides mild exfoliation to support overall skin health.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018

What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?

Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999

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

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and adds safety around sun exposure.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help keep your sensitive skin calm and hydrated before the retinol. This helps reduce the likelihood of dryness and irritation while supporting your skin barrier.

Cutis, 2006American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use this serum?

Apply this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps keep sensitive skin deeply hydrated and calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clogged pores on sensitive skin because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and soothing components help keep your skin calm.

Pharmaceutics, 2021

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because it is a great fit for sensitive skin and has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. Its soothing ingredients and hydrating agents help calm and nourish thin skin around the eyes as well as dry skin on the body.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).

What the research says

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
  • A multiple W/O/W emulsion containing Rosmarinus officinalis L., Avena sativa L., and Linum usitatissimum L. extracts showed no irritant, phototoxic, inflammatory, or allergenic potential in human skin models and patch tests, establishing its safety as a cosmetic base.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • 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
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • A repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018
  • Colloidal oat increased the growth rate, metabolism, and lactic acid production of Staphylococcus epidermidis compared to Staphylococcus aureus in vitro, matching clinical increases in lactic acid on dry skin after 6 weeks of lotion use.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021
  • A dermocosmetic product containing oat plantlet sap and Garcinia mangostana extract reduced retentional and inflammatory acne lesions by 21% and 35% respectively after 2 months in 54 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
  • A Dunaliella salina extract significantly reduced skin glycation scores, histamine sensitivity, wrinkle counts, and spots compared to placebo under intense solar exposure.

    Marine Drugs, 2022
  • Phytoene- and phytofluene-rich tomato and Dunaliella salina extracts show no significant cytotoxic, genotoxic, irritant, or sensitizing potential, supporting their safe human topical use.

    Journal of Toxicology, 2018
  • Curcumin-loaded polyglutamic acid and gum arabic electrospun nanofibers accelerated wound healing, increased TGF-beta1 and VEGF expression, reduced inflammatory factors, and enhanced re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration in a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
  • Polyglutamic acid and polylysine composite hydrogels promote wound repair and hemostasis through high water absorption, bioadhesion, calcium ion-mediated coagulation factor activation, and inherent antibacterial properties in a deep skin defect model.

    Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021

Ingredients

Water, Peg-8, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Ppg-24-Glycereth-24, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract Jasmine Flower Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract Kelp Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Cistus Ladaniferus Stem Extract Leaf, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Rosamarinus Officinalis Stem Extract Flower Leaf Rosemary Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Tagetes Minuta Oil Flower, Rosa Damascena Flower, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Pca, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Polyglutamic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Lactate, Pca, Glucose, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Silanetriol, Pantolactone, Glutamic Acid, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Amylopectin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool

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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