Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum for sensitive skin
Microencapsulated Retinol
Vitamins C
Squalane
Bisabolol
Cyclopentasiloxane
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other serums 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 treatment for minimizing fine lines and wrinkles due to the presence of retinol, which promotes skin renewal for your normal skin.
- Bisabolol provides soothing benefits that are supportive for your redness and irritation, though it does not directly address these concerns.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with sensitivity, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 4.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this retinol serum is highly regarded for its anti-aging effects, including smoothing fine lines and improving skin texture, with most users experiencing a radiant and refined complexion without irritation. Some users reported a lack of visible results or found the thin consistency and premium price point to be drawbacks.
Highlights
Non-irritating formula Mostly Mentioned
- “Zero irritation”
- “gentle but effective”
- “no peeling or flaking”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “Smile lines fading”
- “fine lines disappeared”
- “wrinkles nearly gone”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin is softer”
- “smoother complexion”
- “refined skin texture”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “Soaks in quickly”
- “dries quickly”
- “silky smooth application”
Radiant complexion Sometimes Noted
- “Face is brighter”
- “skin is radiant”
- “luminous appearance”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Not worth it”
- “very pricey”
- “expensive for the results”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “No visible changes”
- “did absolutely nothing”
- “no change in skin”
Oily feel Rarely Noted
- “Feels oily”
- “greasy application”
- “leaves residue”
Thin consistency Rarely Noted
- “Very, very watery”
- “feels like dry oil”
- “too thin”
Sources: lovi.care, peterthomasroth.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, macys.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum work for sensitive skin?
This serum works moderately well for sensitive skin, helping smooth fine lines while bisabolol provides gentle soothing benefits. However, a treatment for this skin needs stronger calming ingredients like niacinamide and snail secretion filtrate along with rich hydrators to keep the face comfortable and calm.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Squalane and bisabolol help soothe and keep sensitive skin comfortable while retinol works on fine lines, though a treatment for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and snail secretion filtrate to better calm redness and irritation.
What does Microencapsulated Retinol do for sensitive skin?
Microencapsulated retinol helps smooth and renew sensitive skin while lowering the likelihood of irritation compared to standard retinol. This delivery method helps maintain its strength over time and is generally well tolerated.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Vitamin C do for sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps improve overall skin quality, fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, and dark spots in sensitive skin when used as part of a multi-step routine. It has a very safe profile and is well-tolerated.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Because this is an average fit for sensitive skin, a treatment for this skin needs soothing ingredients like bisabolol alongside gentle renewal to keep the skin calm and smooth.
Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this serum with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this retinol treatment. This combination helps smooth fine lines while keeping your skin calm, though sensitive skin may need to start slowly to avoid stinging.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works for sensitive skin when used once a week as part of your evening routine, as a slow start helps prevent irritation while your skin gets used to the retinol. Products of this type for sensitive skin need gentle soothing ingredients and slow introduction to keep skin calm and smooth.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it lacks heavy or pore-clogging ingredients. Retinol may cause some mild initial purging or peeling as it speeds up skin renewal.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
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, 2019Topical 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, 2017Cyclomethicone and specific chain length cyclic siloxanes (n = 4-7) are safe in present practices of use and concentration, showing minimal percutaneous absorption, no skin irritation or sensitization, and unlikely significant systemic exposure from cosmetics.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2011Silicone 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 application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995Topical 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, 2022Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Water, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Potassium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate-20, 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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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