Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Retinaldehyde
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Niacinamide
Glutathione
Ellagic Acid
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 suitability for your oily skin as Niacinamide helps regulate oil production and Retinal aids in desquamation, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
- The formula provides excellent hydration and anti-aging benefits with sodium hyaluronate and multiple peptides, supporting your goals for acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Niacinamide and Lavendin Oil.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this night cream to be a holy grail for sensitive skin, effectively clearing acne and smoothing fine lines without irritation. The formula is frequently described as hydrating and transformative, leading to brighter, clearer, and plumper skin by morning.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Best retinol for sensitive skin”
- “No morning-after redness”
- “Doesn't irritate my skin at all”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “Dramatic impact on acne”
- “Skin feels so clear”
- “Hyperpigmentation disappearing faster”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Woke up looking well-rested”
- “Smoother and firmer”
- “Leaves skin glowing and supple”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Extremely pricey”
- “Too expensive”
- “Would purchase less expensive alternatives”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Sinks in perfectly”
- “Really moisturizing”
- “Absorbs fast and nourishes”
Initial purging Rarely Noted
- “Skin may be in purging stage”
- “Pushed impurities out”
- “Minor breakouts at start”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “Nothing significant”
- “Don't get the hype”
- “Takes longer to see wrinkle changes”
Sources: lovi.care, allies.shop, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, sephora.sg, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as Niacinamide helps control oil and Retinal aids in clearing pores, though it lacks enough ingredients for ideal oil management. To work best for oily skin, a moisturizing treatment of this type needs powerful hydrating and repairing ingredients, a lightweight texture that does not clog pores, and effective oil-control components without heavy oils or greasiness.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, Retinaldehyde, and sodium hyaluronate make this cream a good fit by helping regulate oil, clearing pores, and providing hydration without extra grease. A product for oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-clogging hydrators like low molecular weight hyaluronic acid and ceramides, alongside powerful blemish-clearing and oil-controlling ingredients.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
What does Retinal do for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinal helps clear clogged pores, reduces bumps and pimples, and helps balance oil production for oily, acne-prone skin. It is generally well tolerated when used regularly as part of an acne skincare routine.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1999European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2014
What does Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 do for oily acne-prone skin?
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. Products for oily acne-prone skin also need ingredients that actively manage excess oil and shine for a better overall fit.
Can I use this cream with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this cream in your evening routine after applying your AHA treatment. To work best for your oily skin, this type of product also needs extra oil-balancing and clarifying ingredients.
How often should I use it?
Use this moisturizing treatment in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Oily skin of this type needs stronger oil control ingredients and lighter balancing elements to get the best results.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation for your oily skin, though initial purging may rarely happen as retinal helps with cell renewal. A product for this skin needs lighter hydrators and stronger oil-controlling ingredients to keep pores clear.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment can be used around the eyes or on your body, as its formula offers very good skin tolerance and safety. Because the skin around the eyes is much thinner than on other areas, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients and soothing components to prevent irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (geraniol, limonene, and linalool).
What the research says
Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999A 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, 2015Palmitoyl 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, 2026Topical 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, 2005Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025A novel formulation of hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid, ellagic acid, yeast extract, and salicylic acid demonstrated parity in improving pigmentation, skin tone, spot intensity, and spot size compared to standard prescription 4% hydroquinone and 0.025% tretinoin in 82 subjects, with superior tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013A topical product containing 0.5% ellagic acid and 0.1% salicylic acid demonstrated comparable tolerance and efficacy in reducing hyperpigmentation and dark spots in fifty-four multiethnic subjects over 12 weeks when compared against a benchmark prescription 4% hydroquinone product.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Platycarya strobilacea fruit extract and its isolated ellagic acid derivatives demonstrated anti-wrinkle and antiaging potential by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting elastase, reducing MMP-1, and increasing type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblast cells, with clinical testing showing significant improvements compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Galactoarabinan, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Cassia Angustifolia Polysaccharide Seed, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil Arctic Cranberry Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Berry Seed Oil Cloud Berry Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Retinal Retinaldehyde, Pterostilbene, Ellagic Acid, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone Spin Trap, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Mirabilis Jalapa Stem Extract Flower Leaf, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil Lavendin Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-20, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
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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