Olay Super Serum for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Peptide
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 benefits for your normal skin, as niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant action and barrier repair, supporting your redness and irritation without directly targeting them.
- Glycerin and panthenol offer general skincare benefits like hydration, which is supportive for your skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 9.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this serum for its ability to deliver an immediate "lit-from-within" glow and a velvety-soft finish that works exceptionally well as a makeup primer. Many reviewers with dull or uneven skin texture report smoother, brighter skin after consistent use, though some with very dry skin note that it requires an additional moisturizer.
Highlights
Fast absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in quickly”
- “no residue”
- “layers well”
- “dries fast”
Instant radiance Often Mentioned
- “iridescent glow”
- “brightens complexion”
- “dewy look”
- “healthy shine”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “silky feel”
- “velvety finish”
- “non-greasy”
- “lightweight”
Poor dropper design Often Mentioned
- “hard to dispense”
- “doesn't reach bottom”
- “messy application”
- “product waste”
Makeup compatibility Sometimes Noted
- “acts as primer”
- “prevents pilling”
- “smooth base”
- “grips makeup”
Skin smoothing Sometimes Noted
- “softer skin”
- “improved texture”
- “reduces roughness”
- “minimizes pores”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for drugstore”
- “small bottle”
- “pricey per ounce”
- “not good value”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “floral scent”
- “overpowering smell”
- “lingering perfume”
- “irritates nose”
Hydration limits Rarely Noted
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “needs lotion”
- “dry patches persist”
- “tight feeling”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “breakouts”
- “allergic reaction”
- “burning sensation”
- “redness”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, target.com, olay.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Super Serum work for sensitive skin?
Olay Super Serum works moderately well for sensitive skin, as ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin help keep skin hydrated and support your skin barrier while avoiding harsh irritants. However, a product for sensitive skin needs a richer blend of targeted soothing ingredients and deep hydration to better calm redness and irritation without imbalance.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and panthenol make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin by offering hydration and helping to calm redness and irritation. This product needs to contain extra soothing ingredients and targeted agents to address sensitive skin even better.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid do for sensitive skin?
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid helps brighten dark spots and even out skin tone while remaining gentle enough to keep sensitive skin calm and smooth. This vitamin C derivative is unlikely to cause irritation when used in a daily routine.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps it simple and lowers the risk of irritation from sun exposure, and this type of product for sensitive skin needs calming ingredients and gentle hydrators to support the skin barrier.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine before your moisturizer, but apply it carefully since your sensitive skin needs extra barrier support. To fit this skin well, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like ceramides and centella asiatica to calm irritation and redness directly.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is safe for sensitive skin because it avoids harsh ingredients, but a product of this type needs extra soothing and redness-calming ingredients to be a great fit for your skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on sensitive skin because it lacks heavy, pore-clogging ingredients and harsh additives. It features glycerin and panthenol to help keep skin calm and hydrated without heavy buildup.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around the eyes, as it is safe for sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients. However, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide, glycerin, panthenol, and sodium hyaluronate to properly calm and hydrate thin or delicate areas.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical 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 dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical 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, 2017A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Topical 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, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other moisturizers fit sensitive skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Benzoate
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?
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