Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream for dry sensitive skin
Retinol
Xanthophylls
Niacinamide
Ceramide Np
Triple Peptide BlendCaution
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the serums alongside 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 skin treatment for your dry and sensitive skin due to the presence of retinol and niacinamide, which promote skin renewal and improve skin tone, but the retinol poses a risk of direct worsening for your dry and sensitive skin.
- The inclusion of humectants like glycerin and emollients such as coconut alkanes provides hydration, but the formula lacks sufficient occlusive ingredients for optimal moisture retention on dry skin.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this 1% retinol cream is highly effective for improving skin texture and clarity, significantly reducing fine lines, acne marks, and dullness. Many users experience dramatic results, reporting smoother and clearer skin. However, a very high number of users note that this potent formula can cause significant irritation, peeling, and dryness, especially when first introduced, requiring careful application and ample moisturization. The packaging is also frequently criticized for its tendency to crack and leak.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “baby soft”
- “glass-like skin”
Severe irritation Mostly Mentioned
- “burning”
- “flaking”
- “compromised skin barriers”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “lightening acne scars”
- “hyperpigmentation”
- “sun damage”
High potency Often Mentioned
- “powerhouse”
- “one of the strongest non-prescription retinols”
Poor packaging Often Mentioned
- “metal tube often cracks”
- “leaks”
- “oozes product uncontrollably”
Little goes long way Sometimes Noted
- “pea-sized amount is sufficient”
- “tube last for several months”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “diminished forehead lines”
- “plumper skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “cost steep compared to other retinol options”
Not for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “too harsh for those with reactive or sensitive skin types”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “earthy”
- “plastic”
- “yeasty smell”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.sg, kohls.com, influenster.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream for dry sensitive skin?
Lovi advises caution because retinol may cause scaling and stinging on dry and sensitive skin. To suit this skin type, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients that lock in moisture and support the skin barrier without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Retinol makes this cream a poor fit because it poses a risk of direct worsening, scaling, and stinging on dry and sensitive skin. For this skin type, a treatment needs soothing, highly hydrating, and nourishing ingredients like ceramides and rich moisturizers that protect the skin barrier without causing irritation.
What does Retinol do for dry sensitive skin?
Retinol is often too strong for dry sensitive skin because it may cause scaling and stinging, so a product of this type needs gentle soothing ingredients and extra moisture to keep the skin calm and smooth.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Toxicology Letters, 2003
What do Xanthophylls do for dry sensitive skin?
Xanthophylls help hydrate dry, sensitive skin and calm irritation while offering protection against sun damage. They support the skin barrier to keep it soft and smooth.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Because this skin type is prone to irritation from retinol, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides along with rich sealing ingredients to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.
Can I use this cream with AHA, and in what order?
You should exercise caution when combining this cream with AHA because using multiple strong treatments may increase the likelihood of stinging and irritation on dry, sensitive skin. If you do use both, apply the AHA first, wait for it to absorb, and then apply this cream, or alternate nights to keep your skin calm and smooth.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for your dry sensitive skin, as the retinol may directly worsen dryness and irritation. If you still choose to use it, a treatment of this type needs richer occlusive ingredients and soothing hydrators to protect dry skin.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores, but the retinol inside may cause skin purging and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs soothing hydrators, calming ingredients, and heavier barrier-protecting sealants to keep this skin soft and comfortable.
Is this cream 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
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, 2019Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A 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, 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, 2017Combined oral and topical administration of lutein and zeaxanthin provides the highest degree of antioxidant protection in human skin compared to individual routes.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2007Solid lipid nanoparticles, nanostructured lipid carriers, and nanoemulsions successfully delivered lutein dermally with minimal systemic absorption while protecting the active against UV degradation compared to lutein powder.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2011Lutein reduced skin inflammatory responses including IL-6 from LPS-treated macrophages, COX-2 from IFN-gamma/TNF-alpha-treated HaCaT cells, and MMP-9 in UV-irradiated keratinocytes by inhibiting the AP-1 pathway through suppression of p38 and JNK activation.
Mediators of Inflammation, 2013Topical 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, 2005A 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, 2026Grafting cell-surface binding motifs RGD and sOtx2 onto tripeptide-1 (GHK) to form RGD-GHK and sOtx2-GHK enhanced anti-oxidative, anti-apoptotic, and anti-aging efficacy compared to the non-targeting peptide GHK in cells and skin models.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Coco-Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Coconut Alkanes, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Retinol, Jojoba Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Brassica Oleracea Italica Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Chrysin, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Ceramide Np, Xanthophylls, Phytosphingosine, Phytosterols, Jojoba Esters, Physalis Pubescens Fruit Juice, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Rice Extract Rice Bran Extract, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Cetyl Palmitate, Trehalose, Lauric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Glucosamine Hcl, Tocopheryl Acetate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Pisum Sativum Extract, Tocopherol, Bambusa Vulgaris Stem Extract Leaf, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Laureth-23, Steareth-20, Propanediol, Chlorhexidine Digluconate, Polysorbate 20, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.