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Vivant DERM-A-GEL for sensitive skin

Low

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak match for sensitive skin; the serums alongside 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 exfoliation for redness and irritation due to the presence of retinyl propionate and lactic acid, which can potentially worsen sensitivity for your normal skin with sensitivity.
  • Retinyl propionate and niacinamide offer good antioxidant activity and barrier repair, though the concentrations of exfoliating agents may be too high for your current concerns.

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

★4.9Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

This retinoid serum is highly praised for its ability to significantly improve skin texture, reduce acne, and diminish fine lines, with most users experiencing a clearer complexion quickly. Some users report a mild adjustment period with dryness or purging. The data is based on approximately 175 reviews.

Highlights

  • Clears acne breakouts Mostly Mentioned
    • “Helps with clearing acne”
    • “less breakouts”
    • “targets active acne”
  • Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
    • “Gentle yet powerful”
    • “even on sensitive skin”
    • “didn't cause major side effects”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “Skin is smoother”
    • “refine skin texture”
    • “smoother surface”
  • Promotes glowing skin Sometimes Noted
    • “My face is glowing”
    • “restored youthful glow”
    • “rosy glow”
  • Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
    • “Reduced lines and pores”
    • “softens fine lines”
    • “anti-aging”
  • Initial skin purging Sometimes Noted
    • “Did induce purging”
    • “purging can occur”
    • “expect initial purging”
  • Mild dryness/peeling Sometimes Noted
    • “Mild peeling around mouth”
    • “feeling of drier skin”
    • “mild dryness”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Scent is rather strong”
    • “kinda unpleasant”
    • “least favorite thing”

Sources: lovi.care, vivantskincare.com, judge.me, theskincareculture.com, lazskincare.com, sarahford.co, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Vivant DERM-A-GEL Serum a weak match for sensitive skin?

Vivant DERM-A-GEL is a weak match for sensitive skin because it provides moderate exfoliation through retinyl propionate and lactic acid, which may worsen redness and irritation. Treatments that fit sensitive skin better need soothing and hydrating ingredients that support skin health without the risk of irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for sensitive skin?

Retinyl propionate and lactic acid make this serum a poor fit because they offer moderate exfoliation that may worsen redness and irritation on sensitive skin. A treatment for sensitive skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that support skin health without the risk of irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

What does Retinyl Propionate do for sensitive skin?

Retinyl propionate helps smooth out wrinkles and improve dark spots on sensitive skin while causing significantly less irritation than stronger retinoids. It works gradually to renew the look of photoaged skin with a very high level of comfort.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

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.

Cutis, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing and soothing toner, and before your moisturizer. Because this product offers moderate exfoliation that can worsen sensitivity, this skin type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and barrier-repairing components instead.

Can I use this serum with glycolic acid, and in what order?

This product is a weak match for your sensitive skin because its exfoliating ingredients may worsen redness and irritation. To safely care for sensitive skin, a treatment of this type needs soothing ingredients, gentle hydrators, and lower amounts of exfoliants.

How often should I use this serum?

Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and only use it more often if your skin tolerates it well without extra redness or irritation. This type of product needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators to keep sensitive skin calm and comfortable.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

Yes, this treatment may cause initial breakouts or purging for sensitive skin because it contains strong exfoliating ingredients like retinyl propionate and lactic acid. To work well for sensitive skin without causing irritation, a product of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients alongside lower amounts of exfoliants.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
  • A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
  • A combination of retinyl propionate and climbazole (RPC) resulted in significant improvement in aging attributes, including deep wrinkles and hyperpigmentation, with significantly less irritation compared to 0.1% retinol in 45 healthy Caucasian females with moderately photodamaged facial skin.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
  • Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Topical retinyl propionate cream produced no statistically significant differences compared to placebo for any clinical, histological, or profilometric parameters of skin photoageing in 80 subjects.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998
  • A vitamin A palmitate and antioxidant-containing oil-based moisturizer improved fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, tone, texture, dryness, firmness, and clarity across various body sites compared to a no-treatment group over 12 weeks.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • A topical formulation containing kojic acid, emblica extract, and glycolic acid demonstrated efficacy parity compared with hydroquinone 4% in multiethnic participants with mild to moderate facial dyschromia.

    Cutis, 2010
  • A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.

    Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • Topical application of iron chelators kojic acid and deferiprone significantly accelerated wound healing in rats compared to control groups, with deferiprone showing superior efficacy due to higher antioxidant and iron chelation abilities.

    International Wound Journal, 2013
  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004
  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992
  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Glycereth-26, Sorbitan Sesquioleate, Retinyl Propionate, Ethylhexyl Dimethyl Paba, Carbomer, Kojic Acid, Bht, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Pca, Glycine, Fructose, Urea, Niacinamide, Inositol, Sodium Benzoate, Lactic Acid, Disodium Edta, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

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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