🇨🇦Canada

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum for sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum

Average

  • AverageNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

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

  • Offers moderate hydration for your normal skin, as sodium hyaluronate and Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment provide humectant and anti-inflammatory benefits respectively, addressing your redness and irritation.
  • The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While beneficial for general hydration and soothing, the product's impact on more specific concerns may be limited.

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

★4.3Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users frequently describe this serum as a "splurge" product that delivers deep, non-greasy hydration and a noticeable "plumping" effect that smooths fine lines and revitalizes dull complexions. While many praise its ability to calm sensitive or acne-prone skin without irritation, a significant portion of reviewers feel the exorbitant price tag is not justified by the results, often citing comparable effects from more affordable alternatives.

Highlights

  • Deep Instant Hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin drank it up”
    • “quenched dry patches”
    • “long-lasting moisture”
    • “relieved tightness”
  • Extremely Expensive Mostly Mentioned
    • “way too expensive”
    • “overpriced luxury”
    • “hard on wallet”
  • Lightweight Absorption Often Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately”
    • “non-greasy finish”
    • “water-like texture”
    • “weightless feel”
  • Plumps Fine Lines Often Mentioned
    • “lines less visible”
    • “bouncy texture”
    • “youthful fullness”
    • “smoother forehead”
  • Calms Sensitive Skin Sometimes Noted
    • “reduced redness”
    • “no breakouts”
    • “gentle on acne”
  • Glow and Radiance Sometimes Noted
    • “healthy glow”
    • “dewy look”
    • “revived dull skin”
    • “fresh appearance”
  • Cheaper Alternatives Sometimes Noted
    • “The Ordinary is better”
    • “found cheaper dupes”
    • “paying for brand”
    • “similar to drugstore”
  • Minimal Results Sometimes Noted
    • “did nothing”
    • “saw no difference”
    • “average performance”
    • “just basic hydration”
  • Sticky Residue Sometimes Noted
    • “tacky finish”
    • “feels sticky”
    • “left a film”
    • “tacky to touch”
  • Pilling Issues Rarely Noted
    • “pills under makeup”
    • “balls up”
    • “flakes off”
    • “doesn't layer well”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, bluemercury.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum work for sensitive skin?

Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum works moderately well for sensitive skin, offering safe hydration and calming redness without causing irritation, though other options may target specific concerns more effectively. To fit this skin best, a moisturizing treatment needs to be highly effective at soothing and hydrating with multiple types of hyaluronic acid and calming plant extracts like green tea, while completely avoiding allergens.

Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022

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

Sodium hyaluronate and Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin by providing moisture and calming redness. To work best for sensitive skin, a product of this type needs multiple types of hyaluronic acid, green tea extracts, and other soothing plant extracts for optimal moisture and calm.

Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022

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 Butylene Glycol do for sensitive skin?

Butylene glycol helps keep dry skin hydrated and smooth, but it may cause allergic reactions or irritation in sensitive skin. A product for sensitive skin needs soothing extracts and a very gentle, tested safety profile to avoid redness and discomfort.

Journal of Controlled Release, 2022The Journal of Dermatology, 2014

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. Sensitive skin works best with hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and calming plant extracts like Portulaca oleracea to keep the skin comfortable.

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 calm your skin before your retinol step. This product is safe for your sensitive skin, though a product of this type needs barrier-restoring ingredients like ceramides to give your skin the best fit.

How often should I use this serum?

This serum works well in your evening routine, where you can apply it once a day. Using it daily helps soothe redness and adds hydration, though sensitive skin requires a product packed with extra calming extracts and barrier-strengthening ingredients for a better fit.

Health Science Reports, 2021Dermatology, 2003

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

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin, as its formula contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that trigger irritation. However, a product for this skin needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydration that address specific concerns more deeply.

Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022

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

This serum is safe to use around the eyes and on the body, as it contains no harsh ingredients that may cause irritation to sensitive areas. However, because skin in these areas can be quite thin, a product of this type needs extra soothing and deeply hydrating ingredients to effectively address specific concerns without feeling too light.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.

    Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025

  • Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.

    Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022

  • 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

  • Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2023

  • Topical application of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea accelerates wound healing by decreasing wound surface area and increasing tensile strength in Mus musculus JVI-1, with the greatest contraction achieved at a single dose of 50mg compared to other dosages.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003

  • A polysaccharide fraction (VPOP3) from Portulaca oleracea L. reduced reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis, and downregulated melanogenic signaling pathway proteins in cells and zebrafish.

    Phytomedicine, 2023

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 13 Oct – 2 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

How does it fit your skin?

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