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Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum for dry sensitive skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other products 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

How to apply

  • Use your exfoliant PM once a week to help with dryness. Start ⏳3 times a week only if your sensitive skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but always before your favorite moisturizer .
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and avoid any rubbing. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before layering.
  • Since your skin is reactive and sensitive, apply the exfoliant on completely dry skin for better tolerance.
  • Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area .

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 4.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this potent chemical exfoliant is widely praised for its ability to dramatically smooth skin texture and clear congestion, often described as a 'magic potion' for dullness and acne. Many users report waking up with a radiant glow, though a significant number caution that the strong formula can cause stinging or purging and that the high price point is a major barrier.

Highlights

  • Smoothes skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin felt like a baby's butt after just one use”
    • “resurfaces dull congested skin”
    • “bumps on my face were either gone or reduced”
  • Expensive price tag Mostly Mentioned
    • “price is painful”
    • “way too expensive”
  • Clears acne Often Mentioned
    • “holy grail for acne marks”
    • “dissolving blackheads”
    • “pores are diminished”
  • Improves radiance Often Mentioned
    • “waking up with doll like skin”
    • “restored to a healthy and radiant glow”
    • “complexion from lifeless to luminous”
  • Effective packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “twist-up mechanism allows for hygienic use”
    • “pump makes it easy to dispense”
    • “airless pump bottle”
  • Little goes long way Sometimes Noted
    • “spreads easily”
    • “one pump to cover my entire face”
    • “bottle will last a while”
  • Stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
    • “stung a tiny bit upon application”
    • “can be a bit tingly at first”
    • “slight stinging sensation initially”
  • Initial purging Rarely Noted
    • “increase blemishes for the first few days”
    • “skin broke out horribly”
    • “caused little red bumps”
  • Sticky texture Rarely Noted
    • “leaving my skin just the tiniest bit sticky”
    • “feels very heavy weight”
    • “leave my skin feeling sticky”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.sg, amazon.com, ulta.com, spacenk.com, refinery29.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum work for dry sensitive skin?

This exfoliant treatment works moderately well for dry sensitive skin, offering good smoothing benefits with gentle soothing ingredients while providing some hydration, though it lacks enough rich moisturizing ingredients to fully address dryness. Products of this type that fit dry skin best need a rich blend of hydrating components, nourishing oils, or skin-protecting agents to deeply soften the skin and support its barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer, aloe leaf juice, and green tea extract make this serum a good fit by hydrating and soothing dry and sensitive skin. Glycolic and salicylic acids also help smooth your skin texture safely. However, because this is an average fit, a product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs more rich softening and moisturizing ingredients to fully address dryness and support the skin barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Glycolic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Glycolic acid can be too harsh for dry sensitive skin and may cause irritation, so this skin type needs gentle calming ingredients and deeply nourishing moisturizers to keep the skin barrier safe and smooth.

Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997

What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.

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

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. A product of this type works best for dry skin when it includes plenty of rich, softening ingredients to prevent dryness while acids smooth the texture.

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

It is best not to use this strong exfoliating serum in the same routine as retinol, as combining them may easily irritate dry and sensitive skin. Instead, you can alternate nights or use retinol on another evening to keep your skin smooth without causing discomfort.

How often should I use this serum?

Start using this serum once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable, you may carefully use it more often. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing and soothing ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable while it exfoliates.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

This serum may cause initial purging as it exfoliates and renews skin texture, though this is unlikely to be severe. To properly care for dry sensitive skin, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients to prevent dryness alongside soothing agents to keep skin calm.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009

  • Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.

    International Journal of Dermatology, 2000

  • Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2017

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Topical raspberry ketone increased dermal IGF-I production through sensory neuron activation, promoting hair growth and increasing skin elasticity in mice and humans.

    Growth Hormone & IGF Research, 2008

  • A liposoluble extract of Rubus idaeus cell cultures induced genes for skin hydration, stimulated ceramide production, increased extracellular matrix synthesis in cultured fibroblasts, and showed skin-hydrating capacity in vivo.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015

  • 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

  • Topical application of a 3% horse chestnut extract gel significantly decreased wrinkle scores at the corners of the eye and lower eyelid skin compared with controls in 40 healthy female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2006

  • Topical horse chestnut extract increases wound tensile strength and collagen organization in rats without inducing fibroblast to myofibroblast conversion in vitro, though it induces fibronectin-rich extracellular matrix formation.

    Molecules, 2020

Why other products 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, 2022

  • In 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, 2026

  • Hydrogels 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, Glycolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Vitis Vinifera Juice Extract Grape Juice Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Extract, Aesculus Hippocastanum Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Raspberry Fruit Extract, Yeast Extract, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Allantoin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Galactoarabinan, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Xanthan Gum, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play