Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream for sensitive skin
Average
- HighNormal 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 moisturizing and texture smoothing for normal skin due to niacinamide and retinol, which provide antioxidant activity and promote collagen synthesis.
- While the product offers general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, the inclusion of retinol and retinyl propionate may be potentially irritating for your sensitive skin and are not directly supportive of your main goal of addressing redness and irritation.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users report this night cream effectively smooths fine lines and improves skin texture without the harsh irritation often associated with retinol. Many praise its hydrating, lightweight formula for creating a plump and radiant complexion, though a subset of users with sensitive skin experienced dryness or breakouts.
Highlights
Gentle and hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “gentle enough to use every night”
- “doesn't dry out my skin”
- “no flake... skin looked soft”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “sinks in easily without leaving any residue”
- “creamy and light texture”
- “feels quite luxurious when you massage onto the skin”
Visible anti-aging Often Mentioned
- “diminished the fine lines and dark circles”
- “forehead wrinkles getting less noticeable”
- “skin looks soft, bouncy and happy”
Radiance and glow Sometimes Noted
- “skin will glow in the morning”
- “reduces uneven skin tone”
- “visibly reduces acne and clears skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “product is costly but worth every penny”
- “definitely not worth the price”
- “expensive... quantity is very less”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “get rid of the strong perfume”
- “fragrance is a little much for me”
- “good product, not a fan of fragrance”
Adverse reactions Rarely Noted
- “made my skin very dry”
- “works but dries out skin”
- “caused too much flaking and irritation”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump wasn't really working as well anymore”
- “hard to tell how much is left”
- “dispenser clearly doesn't work”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, kohls.com, dermstore.com, nykaa.com, sephora.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Night Cream work for sensitive skin?
This night cream works decently for sensitive skin, but it may cause irritation because it contains retinol. A product for this skin type needs calming ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica and cica ceramides to reduce redness and strengthen the moisture barrier without causing discomfort.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate help make this cream a fit for sensitive skin by providing soothing hydration, though the retinol inside may be irritating. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica, cica ceramide, and nourishing oils to calm redness and strengthen the skin barrier without overwhelming it.
What does Retinol do for sensitive skin?
Retinol is generally too harsh for sensitive skin and may cause stinging, scaling, and irritation. A product for this skin needs gentle ingredients that smooth and calm without causing redness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Toxicology Letters, 2003
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream goes in the evening routine as a treatment step, after cleansing and toning. It may be potentially irritating for sensitive skin, so a product for this skin needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators to calm redness and keep skin comfortable.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cream with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this cream at night, as using them together may be too harsh for sensitive skin. This product requires soothing ingredients like ceramides and gentle hydrators to calm irritation and keep skin comfortable.
How often should I use this cream?
This treatment is meant for evening use as part of your routine. Because it contains retinol, sensitive skin needs a product of this type that also includes soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to help keep skin calm and hydrated while smoothing texture.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, but the retinol inside may cause some initial peeling or irritation. To work well for this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to help keep skin calm and hydrated.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is generally too active for the thin skin around the eyes and may cause irritation on sensitive body areas. A product for these delicate regions needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydration without strong retinol.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citronellol and parfum). Cetyl alcohol and oleyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2019A combination of retinyl propionate and climbazole (RPC) resulted in significant improvement in aging attributes, including deep wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, with significantly less irritation compared to 0.1% retinol in 45 healthy Caucasian females with moderately photodamaged facial skin.
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, 2017Topical application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 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, 2019Topical moisturizers improved skin barrier function and surface moisture, while a postbiotic moisturizer with yeast extract uniquely supported microbiome balance and modulated biomarkers of skin barrier, structure, and inflammation in participants and ex vivo explants exposed to environmental aggressors.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023A maintenance therapy with a cosmeceutical formulation containing hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid, ellagic acid, yeast extract, and salicylic acid over 20 weeks significantly improved even skin tone, spot intensity, spot size, and overall hyperpigmentation in 33 healthy subjects with moderate facial dyspigmentation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015A methanol yeast extract increases proliferation and migration while decreasing entrance into senescence and apoptosis phases in 3T3 fibroblast cells.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014A 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, 2001
Why other moisturizers fit sensitive skin better
- Retinol in this moisturizer
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, 2019 A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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
Ingredients
Water, Isostearyl Hydroxystearate, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Hydrolyzed Yeast Extract, Isopropyl Palmitate, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Oleyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Hexyldecanol, Glycine Soja Extract Soybean Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Glycerin, Polyglucuronic Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Yam Root Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Algin, Caprylyl Glycol, Swertia Chirata Extract, Lecithin, Pullulan, Disodium Phosphate, Potassium Phosphate, Peg-75 Stearate, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Cetyl Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Picolinamide, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide, Hexylene Glycol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Red 4 Ci 14700, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, Parfum
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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