Paula's Choice PRO Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment for dry skin
Retinaldehyde
Retinol
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
SqualaneHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry skin; a few serums fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
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 retinaldehyde and retinol promote skin renewal and hydration, while glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane provide essential humectant and emollient actions.
- Niacinamide and panthenol further support skin barrier function and offer soothing benefits, complementing the anti-aging effects for minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients and a wealth of soothing components like licorice root extract and chamomile extract.
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 300+ reviewsUsers with acne-prone and aging skin report significant improvements in skin clarity and texture, often describing the product as a "game changer" for stubborn breakouts and fine lines. While the dual-retinoid formula is praised for being surprisingly gentle and effective where other retinols failed, some users experienced an initial purging phase and noted the bright yellow formula can stain fabrics.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “staves off hormonal breakouts”
- “cleared my dark spots”
- “pores are less enlarged”
- “cystic breakout linger on my chin gone”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation or flaking”
- “no irritation despite sensitive skin”
- “layers well”
- “never harsh”
Smoothes texture Often Mentioned
- “softened my 11 lines”
- “skin looks more radiant”
- “smooth texture”
- “plumped up my skin”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight”
- “melted into skin”
- “sinks in fast”
- “pleasant feel”
Initial purging phase Sometimes Noted
- “rocky start”
- “tiny white head pimples”
- “purging period”
- “breakouts when I first began”
Stains fabric yellow Sometimes Noted
- “stains pillowcases yellow”
- “bright yellow color transfer”
- “stains don't come out easily”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey but worth it”
Slow to show results Rarely Noted
- “takes eight weeks”
- “too soon to tell”
- “minimal difference at first”
Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, sephora.co.uk, cultbeauty.co.uk, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes PRO Retinaldehyde Dual-Retinoid Treatment a great fit for dry skin?
This treatment is a great fit because retinaldehyde and retinol promote skin renewal, while glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane help keep dry skin hydrated and soft. Ingredients like niacinamide, panthenol, and soothing plant extracts also support your skin barrier and calm irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for dry skin?
This treatment is a great fit for your dry skin because retinaldehyde and retinol encourage skin renewal while keeping it hydrated. Ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and squalane help lock in moisture, and niacinamide and panthenol support your skin barrier while soothing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Retinal do for dry skin?
Retinal helps smooth dry skin and is unlikely to cause severe dryness when used properly, though it may occasionally lead to mild scaling or irritation as the skin adjusts. This ingredient works best when paired with gentle moisturizers to keep the face feeling soft and comfortable.
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
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this treatment with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night, as separating them helps prevent irritation on dry skin. Combining powerful ingredients safely relies on soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol to support your skin barrier.
How often should I use this treatment?
Apply this treatment in the evening, starting once a week and slowly increasing as your skin adjusts. It helps smooth fine lines while keeping your skin soft and hydrated, with a very low risk of irritation.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
Yes, you may experience an initial purging phase when starting this treatment, as reviewers moderately complain about it. However, it is unlikely to cause routine breakouts or clogged pores since it features soothing components and no harsh ingredients.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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 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 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, 2025Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999Topical 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 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 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Retinaldehyde, Retinol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Squalane, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Niacinamide, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Panthenol, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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