Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum for dry sensitive skin
Retinol
Niacinamide
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Low
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak 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 anti-aging benefits for your dry and sensitive skin, as retinol and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 work to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.
- Glycerin and dimethicone provide general hydration, but the formula lacks sufficient occlusive ingredients to fully address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum for its gentle, non-drying formula that leaves skin feeling silky and hydrated, making it an excellent choice for retinol beginners. While many report noticeably smoother texture and a brighter complexion, some users note that deep wrinkle reduction takes significant time and the product can pill if layered incorrectly.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “virtually no irritation”
- “no redness or peeling”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels soft and smooth”
- “improved skin texture”
- “leaves face silky”
Hydrating formula Often Mentioned
- “hydrates for 24 hours”
- “non-drying”
- “leaves skin plump”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight texture”
- “no sticky residue”
Brightening effect Sometimes Noted
- “lovely glow”
- “brighter complexion”
- “woke up radiant”
Product pilling Sometimes Noted
- “pilling really bad”
- “rolls off in chunks”
- “clumps under moisturizer”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “no immediate results”
- “hard to see drastic difference”
- “takes months to work”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is unpredictable”
- “hard to dispense”
- “don't like the bottle”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “price is steep”
- “expensive for drugstore”
- “wait for a sale”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “slightly sticky finish”
- “felt a film”
- “tacky after application”
Sources: lovi.care, chemistwarehouse.com.au, sayso.com.au, byrdie.com, walmart.com, target.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum is a weak match because, while it provides moderate anti-aging benefits and general hydration, it lacks sufficient heavy sealing ingredients to fully address dry or flaky skin. A product of this type needs rich hydrating and nourishing components, ceramides, and multiple forms of vitamin C to lock in moisture and support the skin barrier without irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a weak match for your skin because its retinol and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 help smooth fine lines, but it lacks enough heavy sealing ingredients to fully address dry or flaky skin. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing components and protective barrier support ingredients to properly care for dry skin.
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 does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your soothing toner and before your moisturizer. A product of this type needs rich, sealing ingredients that lock in moisture to properly comfort and protect dry skin.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this retinol serum at night, as mixing them at the same time may cause irritation. Because this formula lacks sufficient rich sealing ingredients for dry and sensitive skin, it needs heavy hydrating creams and nourishing barrier-protecting oils to lock in moisture and prevent flaking.
How often should I use it?
This treatment is used in the evening routine. A product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs rich nourishing hydrators and heavier sealing ingredients to fully lock in moisture and comfort dry or flaky areas.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clogged pores, though the retinol may cause mild skin peeling or purging as your skin adjusts. A product of this type needs richer sealing ingredients and extra hydrators to fully comfort and protect dry skin.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide (pal-KTTKS) provided significant improvement versus placebo control in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines in Caucasian female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Topical 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, 2019A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2005The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better
Tocopherol succinate-loaded ethosomal gel increased skin deposition, stability, moisture, and mechanical properties in 13 human subjects compared to a control gel over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026Hydrogels containing vitamin E-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers exhibited better occlusive properties and long-lasting effects, while vitamin E-loaded nanoemulsions performed a faster skin hydration effect and were selected as more attractive for skin application.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Retinyl Propionate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Retinol, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Bht, Butylene Glycol, Dimethiconol, Niacinamide, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium Edta, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Peg-100 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide, Mica, Tin Oxide, C13-14 Alkane, Dmdm Hydantoin, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Benzyl Alcohol
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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