Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum for dry skin
Ascorbic Acid
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Niacinamide
Lactic Acid
Glycerin
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few serums fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your dry skin as 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Lactic Acid work to brighten and refine texture, while Glycerin and Panthenol provide essential hydration for dry or flaky skin.
- Trehalose further supports barrier repair, enhancing overall skin health and comfort.
- The formulation is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dry, or uneven skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to visibly brighten the complexion and smooth skin texture. Many report hydrated and glowing skin within weeks, though results for fading deep dark spots and hyperpigmentation are mixed and often require consistent long-term use.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “no sticky residue”
- “works under makeup”
- “silky texture”
Brightens complexion Often Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter”
- “healthy glow”
- “radiant look”
- “less dullness”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like citrus”
- “refreshing scent”
- “light orange smell”
- “yummy fragrance”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “didn't break me out”
- “gentle vitamin C”
Hydrating Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels soft”
- “moisturizing”
- “plumps fine lines”
- “dewy finish”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “perfume is strong”
- “smells like hand soap”
- “scent lingers”
- “irritating fragrance”
Not cruelty-free Rarely Noted
- “tests on animals”
- “not cruelty-free”
- “wish it was vegan”
Packaging/value Rarely Noted
- “bottle runs out fast”
- “pump issues”
- “expensive for size”
- “hard to see amount left”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “no difference yet”
- “dark spots didn't fade”
- “took months to work”
- “average results”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “leaves sticky film”
- “tacky finish”
- “feels heavy”
- “slightly gooey”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, olay.com, skinsort.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum a great fit for dry skin?
This serum is a great fit because glycerin and panthenol provide essential hydration for dry or flaky skin, while 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and lactic acid brighten and refine texture. Trehalose further supports barrier repair, enhancing overall skin health and comfort without any risk of irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin, panthenol, and trehalose make this serum a great fit for dry skin by providing essential hydration and supporting the skin barrier. Panthenol acts as a moisturizer that improves skin hydration and barrier recovery.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Vitamin C do for dry skin?
Vitamin C helps dry skin by boosting moisture and keeping the surface smooth and soft. It may also improve skin hydration and support the outer protective barrier over time.
Skin Research and Technology, 2008Experimental Dermatology, 2008
What does Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 do for dry skin?
Palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles on dry skin and may improve the look of photoaged skin over time. When used on dry skin, this type of product needs extra hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing boosters to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Using it at night helps keep things simple and avoids extra sun sensitivity while brightening your dry skin.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first in your evening routine and following with your retinol, or by using them on alternating nights to keep dry skin calm. This formulation helps brighten and smooth texture while providing essential hydration, and it is unlikely to cause irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your dry skin and is meant for evening use in your routine. You can start using it once a week, and then carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. The formula provides essential hydration and supports barrier repair without using heavy oils that typically trigger breakouts.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Skin Research and Technology, 2024
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, 2005Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Panthenol, Trehalose, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate
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
How does it fit your skin?
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