SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight for dry sensitive skin
Glycolic Acid
Phytic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
DimethiconeAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other products fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your dry and sensitive skin, as glycolic acid and phytic acid work to renew texture and smooth flakiness, while glycerin provides essential humectant action.
- The inclusion of salicylic acid offers additional gentle exfoliation, complementing the primary ingredients for overall skin renewal.
- The formula is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, containing no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with dryness. Start ⏳3 times a week only if your sensitive skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your favorite moisturizer .
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and avoid any rubbing. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before layering.
- Since your skin is reactive and sensitive, apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for better tolerance.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this nighttime glycolic acid treatment is widely praised for delivering a radiant glow and significantly smoothing skin texture. It is also frequently noted for helping to clear acne and minimize pores. However, a significant number of recent reviews indicate a disappointing change in formula, resulting in a watery consistency that makes application difficult and can lead to waste.
Highlights
Noticeable glow Mostly Mentioned
- “woke up with a glow”
- “skin looks radiant”
- “fresh from a facial look”
- “noticeably brighter”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “baby soft skin”
- “texture is much smoother”
- “bumps are gone”
- “glass-like finish”
Watery consistency Often Mentioned
- “pours out like water”
- “formula has changed”
- “too runny to apply”
- “liquid mess”
Acne and pores Sometimes Noted
- “keeps acne away”
- “pores look smaller”
- “cleared up my congestion”
- “helped with breakouts”
Gentle exfoliation Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation”
- “gentle but effective”
- “didn't dry me out”
- “great for sensitive skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for the amount”
- “not worth the price tag”
- “pricey for a runny product”
Dispensing issues Rarely Noted
- “leaks out of tube”
- “messy cap”
- “wasted product when opening”
Initial irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung upon application”
- “caused purging”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “redness at first”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, bluemercury.com, skinceuticals.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight work for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant treatment is an average fit for your dry sensitive skin because it helps smooth flakiness with glycolic and phytic acids while adding moisture with glycerin, though an exfoliant treatment for this skin needs more intense hydrating ingredients and barrier support to prevent irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid, phytic acid, and salicylic acid help smooth flakiness and renew texture, while glycerin provides essential moisture. Because your skin is dry and sensitive, an exfoliant of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients that deeply hydrate and support the skin barrier without causing irritation.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid can be too harsh for dry sensitive skin and may cause irritation, so this skin type needs gentle calming ingredients and deeply nourishing moisturizers to keep the skin barrier safe and smooth.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997
What does Phytic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Phytic acid helps improve skin barrier function, which may keep dry skin more comfortable. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, supporting a calm feel.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and a soothing toner, starting just once a week. Dry and sensitive skin of this type needs products containing gentle exfoliants paired with soothing, hydrating ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this exfoliant on the same night as a retinol to prevent irritation on your dry sensitive skin. Instead, alternate nights between them or use retinol in your routine and choose a product with gentle exfoliating acids and extra hydrating ingredients for this skin type.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this treatment just once a week in the evening, and if your dry and sensitive skin tolerates it well, you may carefully use it more often. A product for this skin needs gentle exfoliating acids paired with soothing, hydrating ingredients like glycerin to smooth flakiness without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry sensitive skin, but the glycolic acid may cause a little initial skin flaking as it renews your skin texture. To work well for dry sensitive skin, this type of product needs a formula that balances active smoothing ingredients with deep moisture.
Is it 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, 2017Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017L-ascorbic acid 10% plus phytic acid 2% serum significantly reduced the pigmentation index of solar lentigines compared to a vehicle control in 30 healthy subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019A topical facial emulsion containing 10% glycolic acid, 2% phytic acid, and a soothing complex significantly improved skin hyperpigmentation, texture, and tone homogeneity from week 4 through week 12 in American female volunteers with Fitzpatrick skin types II-VI.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The 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, 2012Wearing 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, 2024Treatment 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, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycolic Acid, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Sodium Hydroxide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Phytic Acid, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Nylon-12, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Magnesium Sulfate, Jojoba Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Helianthus Annuus Sunflower Wax Seed Cera, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Salicylic Acid, Acacia Decurrens Accia Decurrens Wax Flower Cera, Polyglycerin-3, Tocopherol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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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