Olay Super Serum Night Repair for dry sensitive skin

Niacinamide
Lactic Acid
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your dry and sensitive skin, this serum effectively brightens and evens skin tone with niacinamide and 3-0-ethyl ascorbic acid, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential humectant action for hydration and panthenol aids in barrier repair.
- Lactic acid and salicylic acid offer moderate exfoliation and hydration benefits, addressing dryness and flakiness without compromising your skin's barrier.
- The product is generally safe for your skin, with minimal risk of irritation from the included acids.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly rated for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated. It is frequently praised for its fragrance-free formula, which is beneficial for sensitive and acne-prone skin, leading to noticeable improvements in smoothness, fine lines, and skin tone over time. Some users find the bottle design inconvenient and the price point high, while a smaller number report it not being moisturizing enough for dry skin or experiencing slow results.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “no sticky residue”
- “lightweight formula”
Smoother, softer skin Mostly Mentioned
- “velvety soft skin”
- “reduced texture”
- “smoother feel”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “no scent”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “fragrance-free”
Hydrating & plumping Sometimes Noted
- “plump skin”
- “deep moisture”
- “looks hydrated”
Improves skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “faded dark spots”
- “brighter complexion”
- “more even tone”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey for size”
- “value is disheartening”
Poor bottle design Sometimes Noted
- “dropper is frustrating”
- “can't reach bottom”
- “product gets wasted”
Not enough for dry skin Rarely Noted
- “needs moisturizer over it”
- “not rich enough”
- “slightly drying”
Potential sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “tingling”
- “slight burn”
- “purging”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “takes time to work”
- “saw no change”
- “was underwhelming”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, olay.com, cosmopolitan.com, supersavvyme.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Olay Super Serum Night Repair a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Olay Super Serum Night Repair is a great fit because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration while panthenol aids in barrier repair, and niacinamide helps brighten and even skin tone. Lactic acid and salicylic acid gently address dryness and flakiness without irritating your skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate bring essential moisture to dry skin, while panthenol helps repair the skin barrier. Niacinamide and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid brighten tone, and gentle acids smooth away flakiness without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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
What does Lactic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Lactic acid helps hydrate dry skin, but for sensitive skin it may cause stinging and irritation unless it is formulated with soothing ingredients like colloidal oat or tangerine fruit extract to calm discomfort.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. Treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure, and this formula helps brighten skin and smooth dryness without causing irritation.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it on different nights or spacing them out, since combining them directly may increase the likelihood of dryness and irritation on sensitive skin. When using both, ensure your routine includes soothing ingredients and good moisturizers to keep your skin calm and comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin feels comfortable, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps prevent irritation while brightening your skin tone and keeping dryness at bay.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for your dry sensitive skin, and it is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. The included acids offer gentle exfoliation that helps clear away flakiness with minimal risk of irritation.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A 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, 2017Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Topical 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, 2005Application 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, 2004Topical 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, 1992A 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, 2020Topical 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, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-7, Rice Bran Extract, 3-0-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Trehalose, Salicylic Acid, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Mica, Titanium Dioxide
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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