Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum for oily skin
Retinol
Ferulic Acid
Caffeine
Centella Asiatica Extract
Glycolic AcidAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily skin; other eye cares fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 and hydration for your oily skin, with salicylic acid and glycerin providing mild pore-clearing and moisture balance, though it doesn't directly target oily shine as a primary concern.
- The inclusion of retinol and ferulic acid effectively addresses fine lines and wrinkles in the eye area, enhancing overall skin renewal.
- The product is generally safe for oily skin, with potential for mild irritation due to retinol, glycolic acid, and salicylic acid.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers report this serum effectively firms the eye area and smooths fine lines, with a lightweight gel texture that absorbs quickly and layers well under makeup. Many see visible improvements in crepey skin and puffiness. A minority of users with sensitive skin experienced irritation, dryness, or stinging due to the retinol content.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “spreads easily on the skin and sinks in quickly”
- “absorbs easily and quickly into the sensitive skin”
- “gel like texture... really cooling”
Reduces lines Often Mentioned
- “significantly helps with my dark circles, bags and hooded eyes”
- “really fine lines I felt have literally faded away”
- “improves my fine lines... they're definitely reduced”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “only downside, obviously, is the price”
- “good one, but pricey”
- “expensive for the amount”
Firms skin Sometimes Noted
- “tightens the area under my eye”
- “makes my skin firmer, more toned”
- “visibly lifts, smooths and hydrates”
Good under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “doubles as an eye primer”
- “perfect primer for makeup”
- “layers well under concealer”
Caused irritation Sometimes Noted
- “developed breakout after using this product”
- “tingled when I put it on”
- “too strong for me”
Not moisturizing Rarely Noted
- “not moisturising enough for me... especially during winter”
- “very drying”
- “need to layer additional moisturising eye cream”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump... clog up every once in a while”
- “hard to get the last bit out”
- “dispenses too much product”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, drdennisgross.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dr. Dennis Gross Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Triple Correction Eye Serum work for oily skin?
This eye serum works moderately well for oily skin, offering mild pore-clearing and moisture balance along with wrinkle-smoothing retinol, though it may cause mild irritation. Oily skin needs products with soothing and hydrating ingredients that pose no risk of irritation, effectively address hydration and elasticity, and contain targeted oil-controlling ingredients.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and glycerin make this serum work for oily skin by providing mild pore-clearing and moisture balance. To fit oily skin even better, products of this type need soothing and hydrating ingredients that manage oiliness and excess shine without clogging pores or causing irritation.
What does Retinol do for oily skin?
Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.
What does Ferulic Acid do for oily skin?
Ferulic acid helps protect oily skin from sun damage and environmental stress when used as part of a daytime antioxidant serum. It is often combined with vitamins C and E to boost overall defense and keep skin healthy.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. It offers moderate exfoliation and smoothing with salicylic acid and retinol, though an oily skin routine also needs oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or clay to properly manage excess shine.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this serum at night, because combining strong active ingredients all at once may cause irritation on oily skin. Oily skin works best with products that control extra shine and help balance oil production while keeping pores clear.
How often should I use this serum?
This eye serum works well for oily skin in the evening, though it may cause mild irritation. To help oily skin stay clear and smooth, products of this type also need ingredients that directly target excess shine and regulate oil.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This eye serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, though it may cause mild irritation. Oily skin often benefits from products that include salicylic acid and lightweight hydrators to keep pores clear and balanced.
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 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, 2019Twice 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, 2024Topical 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, 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, 2017Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Repeated 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, 2017
Why other eye cares fit oily skin better
- Retinol in this eye care
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 Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017Sodium ascorbyl phosphate provides effective antimicrobial action, prevents sebum oxidation, and demonstrates superior clinical efficacy compared to a standard acne treatment in patients with acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005
Ingredients
Water, Propylene Glycol, Ethoxydiglycol, Bakuchiol, Retinol, Nephelium Lappaceum Leaf Extract, Ferulic Acid, Ubiquinone, Quercetin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Centella Asiatica Extract, Caffeine, Willow Bark Extract, Salicylic Acid, Arctostaphylos Uva-Ursi Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Potassium Azeloyl Diglycinate, Glycolic Acid, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Disodium Lauriminodipropionate Tocopheryl Phosphates, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Mandelic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Pvm Ma Decadiene Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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