Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment for oily skin
Retinol
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 exfoliation and sebum regulation for your oily skin due to retinol, which helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while caffeine constricts blood vessels to reduce pore appearance.
- Shea butter and jojoba seed oil provide nourishment and hydration, supporting overall skin health without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good balance of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users report this retinol treatment effectively smooths skin texture and evens skin tone, often providing a radiant complexion without the typical retinol irritation. It is frequently praised for reducing fine lines and dullness. Some users with sensitive skin have noted experiencing purging or found the strong floral fragrance to be off-putting.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin felt instantly softer”
- “smooths texture”
- “soft to the touch”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight texture”
- “plays well with other products”
Even skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “Evens skin tone”
- “reducing dark spots”
- “complexion looked healthy”
Gentle and non-drying Sometimes Noted
- “Does not cause drying”
- “feels hydrating”
- “no peeling or stinging”
Reduced fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “Minimises appearance of fine lines”
- “wrinkles much less pronounced”
- “smoothed expression lines”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Pretty pricey”
- “expensive”
- “waste of money”
Strong floral scent Sometimes Noted
- “Heavy floral scent”
- “smells rancid”
- “fragrance is pretty apparent”
Breakouts and purging Rarely Noted
- “Caused a purge”
- “never stopped breaking out”
- “huge cysts”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump issues”
- “sealed but empty”
Slow or no results Rarely Noted
- “No visible difference”
- “disappointed”
- “aged me”
Sources: lovi.care, adorebeauty.com.au, lookfantastic.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, macys.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Estée Lauder Perfectionist Pro Rapid Renewal Retinol Treatment work for oily skin?
This treatment works well for oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation and oil control while keeping your skin comfortable. However, a product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to better manage excess oil and enlarged pores.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily skin?
Retinol and caffeine make this treatment a good fit for oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation, regulating oil, and helping to minimize pores. Shea butter and jojoba seed oil provide light hydration without making skin greasy. Treatments that rate higher for this skin type need ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to better control excess shine and balance oily skin.
What does Retinol do for oily skin?
Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and pore-clearing ingredients like retinol or niacinamide to manage oil and keep pores clear without feeling heavy.
Can I use this treatment with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C by applying your vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night, as using them together might cause irritation. Oily skin works best with lighter formulas that offer oil control and gentle exfoliation without heavy butters.
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment works well for your oily skin once a week to start, and you may slowly use it more often in your evening routine if your skin feels comfortable. This type of product needs light, oil-free hydrators and gentle exfoliants to smooth texture and keep pores clear without adding extra shine.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause major breakouts for oily skin, though mild purging may happen at first because of the retinol. To work best for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate along with oil-balancing ingredients like retinol to keep pores clear.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol, arachidyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
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, 2019Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Dermatological 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 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, 2017Silicone 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 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019A 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, 2025Topical 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Caprylyl Methicone, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Glycerin, Stearyl Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Peg-12 Dimethicone Ppg-20 Crosspolymer, Arachidyl Alcohol, Algae Extract, Cetearyl Olivate, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Retinol, Whey Lactis Proteine Du Petit-Lait Protein, Hypnea Musciformis Extract Algae Extract, Caffeine, Gelidiella Acerosa Extract, Cholesterol, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Sorbitan Oleate, Behenyl Alcohol, Octadecene, Yeast Faex Extrait De Levure Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Arachidyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tocopherol, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silica, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Parfum, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Bisulfite, Disodium Edta, Bht, Sorbic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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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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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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