No7 Pure Retinol for oily acne-prone skin
Retinol
Shea Butter
Ceramide Np
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
BisabololAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 suitability for your oily skin as retinol and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 provide excellent wrinkle reduction and desquamation regulation, though it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to fully address oiliness.
- The presence of glycerin and bisabolol offers supportive hydration and soothing benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users report that this retinol line effectively refines skin texture and softens fine lines, with many appreciating its suitability for those new to retinoids due to gradual tolerance options. A significant number of users experience dryness and flaking, which is a common retinol side effect, suggesting a slow introduction is beneficial. Many users praise the resulting smoother complexion and radiant glow achieved with consistent use.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels velvety”
- “texture is much smoother”
- “face looks radiant and soft”
- “pores look smaller”
Non-greasy absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “not sticky or oily”
- “glides on easily”
- “lightweight formula”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “lines on forehead diminished”
- “crows feet look better”
- “wrinkles appear smoother”
- “softens facial lines”
Dryness and peeling Often Mentioned
- “caused flaky skin”
- “dried out my face”
- “skin peeled for weeks”
- “patches of dry skin”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “age spots nearly disappeared”
- “pigmentation looks reduced”
- “skin tone is more even”
- “acne scars vanished”
Gentle for beginners Sometimes Noted
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “no harsh reaction”
- “gentle introduction to retinol”
- “minimal irritation compared to others”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “burned my skin”
- “caused red patches”
- “stinging sensation”
- “made my face pink”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “hard to get product out”
- “dispenser is faulty”
- “awkward screw top”
Slow or no results Rarely Noted
- “saw no difference”
- “didn't work for deep wrinkles”
- “expensive for no results”
- “disappointed after 2 months”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, beautyheaven.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does No7 Pure Retinol work for oily acne-prone skin?
No7 Pure Retinol offers moderate suitability for your oily, acne-prone skin because retinol and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 help smooth lines and renew skin, though it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to fully manage shine. A treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or benzoyl peroxide to properly balance oil and tackle breakouts.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol and palmitoyl tripeptide-1 make this cream a good fit by providing effective wrinkle reduction and helping manage skin renewal, while glycerin and bisabolol offer supportive hydration and calming benefits for blemishes. Because this product only works moderately well for oiliness, a product of this type needs specific ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, Vitamin C, or benzoyl peroxide to properly control excess oil and target acne.
What does Retinol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps oily acne-prone skin by clearing up breakouts and smoothing the skin, though it may occasionally cause some mild scaling or stinging. This ingredient works by addressing the root causes of acne, making it a reliable choice for keeping pores clear and skin smooth.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2018
What does Shea Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?
Shea butter is generally too heavy for oily, acne-prone skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. Skin of this type needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators like green tea extract to keep it smooth and calm without extra oil.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer. An average fit for oily acne-prone skin, this product needs added oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage extra oiliness while delivering its retinol and soothing benefits.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside vitamin C by applying your vitamin C product in the morning and saving this treatment for your evening routine. This approach helps you get the smoothing benefits of retinol without overwhelming your skin with too many active ingredients at once.
How often should I use this cream?
Use this treatment in the evening as part of your nighttime routine. It is unlikely to irritate your oily skin, though an oily skin type also needs oil-controlling ingredients to fully manage oiliness.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
No7 No7 Pure Retinol may cause dryness and peeling as well as some skin irritation, but it is unlikely to directly clog pores for oily acne-prone skin. This treatment works for your skin, though an oily acne-prone skin type needs products with strong oil-controlling ingredients to fully manage oiliness.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Topical 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 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, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical benzoyl peroxide 5% gel treatment improved acne severity, sebum, stratum corneum hydration, and transepidermal water loss, while significantly reducing microbial diversity and the prevalence of Cutibacterium in 33 patients with acne vulgaris.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Niacinamide 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, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Steareth-2, Glyceryl Stearate, Polyacrylamide, Alcohol Denat, Butylene Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Phenoxyethanol, Panthenol, Caprylyl Glycol, Laureth-7, Sodium Benzoate, Bisabolol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Laurate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Retinol, Carbomer, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Sucrose Laurate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Ceramide Np, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ap, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Benzyl Alcohol, Ceramide Eop
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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