Vichy Normaderm Phytosolution for dry skin

Salicylic Acid
Bifida Lysate Ferment
Zinc Sulfate
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Sodium Hyaluronate
Caution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the serums alongside fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for dry or flaky skin due to the presence of salicylic acid, which can be drying and is more beneficial for oily skin types.
- The inclusion of kaolin further contributes to a drying effect, making it less suitable for your dry skin concerns.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers with oily and acne-prone skin widely praise this moisturizer for its ability to reduce breakouts and control sebum without drying out the face. The lightweight, water-based texture is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, leaving skin feeling fresh and hydrated, though the strong herbal scent is a polarizing aspect for some.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs in a heartbeat”
- “feels like thick water”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “perfect makeup base”
Effective acne control Often Mentioned
- “pimples vanished in two days”
- “cleared my maskne”
- “skin looks smoother”
- “reduces redness”
Hydrating without grease Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “hydrated but not shiny”
- “plump feel”
- “controls oil all day”
Refreshing scent Sometimes Noted
- “fresh herbal scent”
- “smells like spa”
- “cooling sensation”
- “minty aroma”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smells like toothpaste”
- “too much perfume”
- “scent lingers too long”
- “irritating for sensitive noses”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “need another cream on top”
- “cheeks felt dry”
- “not enough for winter”
- “skin felt tight”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung my face”
- “caused redness”
- “burning sensation”
- “broke me out”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a sticky layer”
- “feels tacky to touch”
- “pilling under makeup”
- “slimy texture”
Sources: lovi.care, lookfantastic.com, walmart.com, boots.com, reddit.com, vichy.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Vichy Normaderm Phytosolution for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because this treatment contains salicylic acid and kaolin, which can dry out your skin further. Instead, a dry skin routine needs soothing, hydrating ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides to nourish and support the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this treatment a poor fit for dry skin?
Salicylic acid and kaolin make this treatment a poor fit because they offer moderate exfoliation and have a drying effect that is more suitable for oily skin types. A product for dry skin needs soothing ingredients that provide significant hydration, barrier support, and nourishment like propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, and peptides without any risk of irritation.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?
Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
What does Bifida Ferment Lysate do for dry skin?
Bifida Ferment Lysate helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier and keeping it well hydrated. It also helps calm irritation and protects against everyday stress.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Scientific Reports, 2023
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment is used in the evening routine after cleansing, but it may be too drying for dry skin and requires caution. A product for this skin needs gentle exfoliating acids paired with rich hydrators and nourishing ingredients to keep the skin soft and smooth.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
This treatment is unlikely to be a good match for dry skin because salicylic acid and kaolin can be drying, so a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and extra moisture for this skin type.
How often should I use this treatment?
This product is a poor match for dry skin because salicylic acid and kaolin can make dryness and flaking worse. A product of this type for dry skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing moisturizers instead to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores, but the salicylic acid and kaolin inside may dry out dry skin and potentially cause flaky irritation. A product for this skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing moisturizers instead.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cryotherapy 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, 2024Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Topical 10% zinc sulphate solution achieved an 85.7% full response rate in plane warts compared to 42.8% for 5% zinc sulphate and 10% for distilled water, while showing no significant efficacy in common warts.
Saudi Medical Journal, 2007Topical zinc sulfate augmentation significantly increased the cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity response to Candida antigen in subjects with normal plasma zinc concentrations compared to Aquaphor alone.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1985A hydrogel containing pomegranate rind extract and zinc sulphate delivered punicalagin and zinc across porcine epidermal, buccal, and vaginal membranes while achieving a 2.5 log reduction against HSV-1 and a 64% reduction in COX-2 expression in ex vivo skin.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017Topical 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 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Salicylic Acid, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Kaolin, Zinc Sulfate, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Algin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
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
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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