No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream for oily skin
Retinol
Ceramide Np
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other eye cares fit it better.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 wrinkle reduction for your oily skin due to retinol and acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester, which help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, though it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to fully address excess oil.
- While ingredients like Dimethicone provide emollient action suitable for oily skin, the inclusion of Shea Butter and Glycerin offers general hydration that is irrelevant for your main goal of controlling oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Bisabolol.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this fragrance-free eye cream is highly regarded for its gentle, non-irritating formula, making it suitable for sensitive skin and effectively hydrating the delicate eye area. Users frequently report significant improvements in fine lines and skin texture, with many also noting a reduction in puffiness. A moderate number of reviewers, however, did not observe changes in deeper wrinkles or dark circles.
Highlights
Gentle and non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “zero irritation”
- “didn't leave my under eyes with that tingly, burning sensation”
- “non-irritating for my under eye area”
- “wonderful for mature skin around eyes”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “leaves my eye area soft and wrinkle free”
- “skin looks firmer, brighter”
- “wrinkles appear smoother”
- “significantly reduced my fine lines”
Lightweight and hydrating Often Mentioned
- “leaves the skin feeling hydrated and comfortable”
- “glides onto the skin and is easily absorbed”
- “silky smooth feel”
- “light, white, scentless cream”
Reduces puffiness Sometimes Noted
- “helped reduce puffiness”
- “minimizes puffiness”
- “eyes looking super awake”
- “puffiness look reduced”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “seen no difference whatsoever”
- “expensive for no visible results”
- “dark under eyes don't seem to budge”
- “did not see any difference”
Application texture Rarely Noted
- “needs to be rubbed in”
- “took a while to sink into the skin”
- “feels like it shouldn't go under the eyes”
Minor sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “period of a little sensitivity / redness”
- “tingly sensation”
- “caused slight redness”
Packaging and size Rarely Noted
- “instructions were in larger font”
- “tube is small”
- “hard to read”
- “tiny amount”
Sources: lovi.care, no7beauty.com, ulta.com, boots.com, target.com, marieclaire.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does No7 Pure Retinol Eye Cream work for oily skin?
This eye cream works moderately well for oily skin by helping reduce fine lines and wrinkles, though it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to fully manage excess shine. An eye care product for oily skin needs ingredients that help balance oil while providing gentle moisture and soothing support without feeling heavy.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Retinol and acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester make this cream a fit by helping minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Oily skin also needs oil-controlling and balancing ingredients to manage excess shine.
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 do Ceramides do for oily skin?
Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and locking in moisture without feeling heavy. They are unlikely to clog pores and may help calm irritation, making them a good fit if your skin is both oily and prone to breakouts.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This eye cream goes into the treatment step of your evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. It is safe for your oily skin and helps smooth fine lines, but an eye product for this skin type also needs oil-controlling ingredients to manage excess shine.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this retinol cream at night. This routine lets both active ingredients work effectively without overwhelming your skin. An oily skin routine like this also needs ingredients that help balance oil and shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this eye cream daily to help smooth fine lines and wrinkles on your oily skin, though an eye product of this type works best when it also includes ingredients that control excess oil.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This eye cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has a safe formula with soothing agents that help keep irritation low. However, because it is an average fit for oily skin, an ideal product for this skin type also needs oil-controlling ingredients to manage excess shine.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Topical 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, 2017A 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, 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, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
Why other eye cares fit oily skin better
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, Glycerin, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Alcohol Denat, Butylene Glycol, Polyacrylamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Laureth-7, Ethylparaben, Bisabolol, Polysorbate 20, Retinol, Tetrasodium Edta, Sorbitan Laurate, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Carbomer, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sucrose Laurate, Behentrimonium Chloride, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Ceramide Np, Phytosphingosine, Ceramide Ap, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide Eop
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.