StriVectin Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum for dry sensitive skin
Ascorbic Acid
Retinol
Nia-114 Technology
Sodium Hyaluronate
Acerola Cherry ExtractLow
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
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 suitability for your dry and sensitive skin as Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerin provide humectant action, but the presence of Retinol and Ascorbic Acid may cause irritation and worsen dryness or flakiness.
- While the serum aims to brighten and smooth skin texture with Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbyl Glucoside, it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal hydration for your dry skin.
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 2.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise this serum for its lightweight, non-sticky texture and its ability to visibly brighten dull skin and smooth fine lines without causing irritation. A significant number of reviewers criticize the strong floral-citrus fragrance and report that the product tends to oxidize relatively quickly.
Highlights
Brightens & evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looks radiant”
- “gave me a glow”
- “helped with dullness”
- “complexion looks clearer”
Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “no sticky residue”
- “layers well under makeup”
- “lightweight feel”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “texture is smoother”
- “bumps disappeared”
- “refined my pores”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “smell is overwhelming”
- “strong floral perfume”
- “scent lingers too long”
- “smells like sour oranges”
Gentle & non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging or redness”
- “gentle for a retinol”
- “didn't break me out”
- “no peeling experienced”
Plumping effect Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels juicy”
- “plump and hydrated”
- “restored elasticity”
- “looks well-rested”
High price tag Sometimes Noted
- “too expensive”
- “pricey for the amount”
- “not worth full price”
- “waiting for a sale”
Oxidation issues Sometimes Noted
- “turned dark orange”
- “oxidized halfway through”
- “went bad quickly”
- “color changed to brown”
Ineffective on dark spots Rarely Noted
- “didn't fade sun spots”
- “no change in melasma”
- “dark spots remained”
- “expected more correction”
Packaging complaints Rarely Noted
- “dropper is messy”
- “hard to get last drops”
- “pump stopped working”
- “bottle leaked”
Sources: lovi.care, strivectin.com, ulta.com, kohls.com, walmart.com, beautybrands.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Super-C Retinol Brighten & Correct Vitamin C Serum a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because retinol and ascorbic acid may cause irritation and worsen dryness or flakiness. While it offers some moisture from sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, a product for this skin type needs rich moisturizing and nourishing ingredients that keep the skin barrier strong and protected without any risk of irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is a weak match for your dry and sensitive skin because it contains retinol and ascorbic acid, which may cause irritation and worsen dryness or flakiness. A product of this type needs effective moisturizing ingredients that provide excellent hydration and texture improvement without any associated risks of irritation, along with nourishing components that ensure optimal moisture retention and skin barrier support.
What does Vitamin C do for dry sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten and smooth dry sensitive skin while reducing wrinkles and improving elasticity. It is generally well tolerated and unlikely to cause irritation when properly formulated, leaving the skin looking more radiant.
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
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after toner and before moisturizer. Because it contains strong active ingredients that may cause irritation and worsen dryness, this skin type needs a product with rich soothing oils and gentle hydrating ingredients instead.
Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this serum with AHAs, as combining potent active ingredients like retinol, vitamin C, and acids is likely to cause irritation, redness, and worsen dryness on sensitive skin. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients, gentle hydrators, and rich emollients to protect your skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a weak match for your dry and sensitive skin, as strong active ingredients may cause irritation and worsen dryness. A product of this type needs soothing hydrators and rich softening ingredients to keep dry skin comfortable and protected.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, but the retinol and ascorbic acid may cause irritation, flakiness, and stinging on dry sensitive skin. A product of this type needs plenty of soothing and softening ingredients to keep this skin calm and comfortable.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral, and citronellol).
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, 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, 2017Treatment with ascorbyl glucoside-arginine complex lotion significantly decreased pigmentation scores and melanin index while increasing lightness in solar lentigos of Japanese females compared to placebo over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Ascorbic 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 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, 2003Topical 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 treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2019Topical ascorbic acid application resulted in a statistically significant improvement in Ra and shadows north-south facial axis values as well as clinical, photographic, and patient self-appraisal scores compared with vehicle control in nineteen patients with mild to moderately photodamaged facial skin.
Archives of Otolaryngology--head & Neck Surgery, 1999Application of a 3% ascorbic acid oil-in-water emulsion significantly reduced oxidative stress, increased dermal papillae, and reduced fine lines and wrinkles in human skin compared to placebo and a vitamin C derivative.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2004Topical ascorbic acid application promoted dermal redensification and significantly increased total skin and dermal echogenicity in 25 healthy female participants after 30 days compared to a placebo formulation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better
- Retinol in this serum
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, 2019 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, 2026
Ingredients
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Glycereth-7 Triacetate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ascorbic Acid, Acerola Fruit Juice, Retinol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Myristyl Nicotinate, Tamarindus Indica Polysaccharide Seed, Orobanche Rapum Extract, Pyrus Malus Extract Cell Fruit Culture, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Bacillus Sea Salt Ferment Filtrate, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Anhydroxylitol, Adenosine, Xylitol, Glucose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propanediol, Maltodextrin, Rhizobian Gum, Mica, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Citronellol, Benzyl Benzoate, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Bht, Bha, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ci 77491 Iron Oxides, Ci 77891 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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