Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum for dry sensitive skin
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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
- Highly suitable for your dry and sensitive skin, this serum effectively addresses dryness and flaky skin with niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier.
- Glycerin further enhances moisturization, ensuring your skin feels smooth and comfortable.
- The formula is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsThis fragrance-free serum is widely praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers immediate hydration without greasiness, making it suitable for both oily and dry skin types. Users frequently report improvements in skin texture and brightness, though results regarding dark spots and pore size can vary, with a small minority experiencing breakouts. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks right in”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight texture”
- “watery consistency”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump”
- “boost of moisture”
- “hydrated all day”
- “fixes dry patches”
- “dewy glow”
Gentle & fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no strong smell”
- “didn't sting”
- “calms redness”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “softens roughness”
- “refines pores”
- “glass skin look”
- “less textured”
Evens skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “brighter complexion”
- “reduced redness”
- “fades acne marks”
- “glowy skin”
- “less dullness”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “average product”
- “no change in spots”
- “lackluster results”
- “waste of money”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “worst acne”
- “tiny bumps”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “bad reaction”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is terrible”
- “hard to dispense”
- “pump stopped working”
- “can't reach bottom”
- “messy bottle”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “tacky finish”
- “sticky on fingers”
- “leaves a film”
- “feels heavy”
- “pills under makeup”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.com, target.com, iherb.com, hometesterclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum is a great fit because its ingredients like niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate hydrate your skin and strengthen your skin barrier. Glycerin further boosts moisture to help leave your skin feeling smooth and comfortable without harsh or irritating ingredients.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for your dry and sensitive skin because it uses niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier. Glycerin further boosts moisture to help keep your skin feeling smooth and comfortable without harsh or irritating ingredients.
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. It is a great fit because niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate help hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier while glycerin keeps it smooth and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier before adding retinol. This gentle approach helps keep your dry and sensitive skin smooth and comfortable while lowering the likelihood of irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin, and you can use it in your evening routine. Daily application helps keep your skin smooth, comfortable, and well-hydrated.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as reviewers rarely report this issue. The formula features hydrating ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate that help keep skin smooth without heavy oils.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this serum around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula and hydrating ingredients are well-suited for thin and delicate skin areas. It helps boost hydration and leaves skin feeling smooth and comfortable without irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Amodimethicone
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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