Drunk Elephant A-Gloei Maretinol Oil for dry skin
Retinol
Ceramides
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil
Tocopherol
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing and barrier repair for your dry skin, as Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil and Ceramide NP provide emollient and barrier-strengthening actions. Tocopherol and Retinol further support hydration and texture smoothing.
- The formula provides general skincare benefits, including hydration and soothing, which are relevant for dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers describe this oil as a gentle, hydrating retinol that smooths texture and boosts radiance without irritation, making it suitable for sensitive or dry skin types targeting fine lines and dullness. Some users with oily skin found the marula oil base too heavy, and a moderate number of reviews mentioned an unpleasant smell.
Highlights
Hydrating and moisturizing Mostly Mentioned
- “doused skin with moisture”
- “super hydrating”
- “leaves face soft”
- “good for dry winter skin”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “no flaking or redness”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “zero irritation”
- “gentle retinol”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels silky smooth”
- “woke up glowing”
- “smoother complexion”
- “restored bounce”
Good for beginners Sometimes Noted
- “perfect gateway retinol”
- “great introduction”
- “easy to tolerate”
- “best for newbies”
Greasy texture Sometimes Noted
- “sits on top of skin”
- “too oily”
- “thick and sticky”
- “doesn't absorb well”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “smells rancid”
- “stale cooking oil scent”
- “smells like food”
- “weird earthy odor”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “made me break out”
- “cystic acne flared”
- “clogged pores”
- “bad reaction”
High price Rarely Noted
- “too expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “not worth the money”
- “better cheaper alternatives”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, drunkelephant.com, kohls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does A-Gloei Maretinol Oil work for dry skin?
This oil works moderately well for dry skin by offering basic moisture and barrier support through marula oil and ceramides. It helps smooth texture and calm flakes, though drier skin types often need a richer blend of heavy moisturizing agents, humectants, and peptides to lock in hydration and improve elasticity.
Which ingredients make this moisturizing treatment a good fit for dry skin?
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil and Ceramide NP make this product a good fit by providing soothing moisture and helping repair your dry skin barrier. To fit dry skin even better, a moisturizing treatment needs a richer blend of deep hydrators, moisture-locking ingredients, and peptides.
What does Retinol do for dry skin?
Retinol is a poor fit for dry skin because it frequently causes scaling, stinging, and dryness. To care for dry skin properly, a product needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and keep the skin barrier calm and smooth.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What do Ceramides do for dry skin?
Ceramides help keep dry skin soft by strengthening the outer barrier and locking in hydration. This improvement in barrier integrity reduces dryness and protects against irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2022Dermatologic Therapy, 2019
Where does this moisturizing treatment go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A treatment of this type needs rich nourishing plant oils and barrier-repairing ceramides to properly soften and comfort dry skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015
Can I use this moisturizing treatment with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing treatment with vitamin C by applying your vitamin C in the morning and saving this treatment for your evening routine. Vitamin C works best on clean skin during the day, while this oil helps smooth and soften dry skin at night.
How often should I use this moisturizing treatment?
Use this moisturizing treatment in the evening as part of your nighttime routine, applying it after cleansing and before moisturizing. This helps keep things simple and safe around sun exposure while providing your skin with steady hydration and smoothing benefits.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this moisturizing treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This moisturizing treatment is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, as reviewers report this risk as low and the formula contains no harsh ingredients. However, dry skin often needs rich, deeply nourishing oils and barrier-repairing ceramides to stay smooth and hydrated without feeling heavy.
Can I use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes or on your body, as its gentle oils and ceramides are safe for delicate skin. However, because your dry skin needs a stronger fit, you should look for richer products with heavier moisturizing oils and high levels of barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry areas smooth and comfortable.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015
What the research says
Topical application of Sclerocarya birrea nut oil is non-irritant, exhibits significant moisturising and hydrating effects on lipid-dry skin, and shows occlusive properties on normal skin in healthy caucasian adult female volunteers.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015Application of Body Lotion for 5 weeks on cosmetic dry skin improved barrier properties, increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides, and long-chain fatty acids, increased beneficial skin bacteria, and enhanced microbiome functional potential compared to baseline.
Scientific Reports, 2022A 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, 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 application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Retinol, Tocopherol, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Np
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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