Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream for dry skin
Retinaldehyde
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Niacinamide
Glutathione
Ellagic Acid
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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
- This product offers moderate benefits for your dry skin, with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate providing essential hydration and emollient actions from argania spinosa kernel oil to support dry or flaky skin. While retinaldehyde aids in smoothing texture, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly target the core concern of dryness.
- The inclusion of multiple peptides and antioxidants like pterostilbene and ellagic acid offers general skincare benefits, but their impact on severe dryness is limited.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this night cream to be a holy grail for sensitive skin, effectively clearing acne and smoothing fine lines without irritation. The formula is frequently described as hydrating and transformative, leading to brighter, clearer, and plumper skin by morning.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Best retinol for sensitive skin”
- “No morning-after redness”
- “Doesn't irritate my skin at all”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “Dramatic impact on acne”
- “Skin feels so clear”
- “Hyperpigmentation disappearing faster”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Woke up looking well-rested”
- “Smoother and firmer”
- “Leaves skin glowing and supple”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Extremely pricey”
- “Too expensive”
- “Would purchase less expensive alternatives”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Sinks in perfectly”
- “Really moisturizing”
- “Absorbs fast and nourishes”
Initial purging Rarely Noted
- “Skin may be in purging stage”
- “Pushed impurities out”
- “Minor breakouts at start”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “Nothing significant”
- “Don't get the hype”
- “Takes longer to see wrinkle changes”
Sources: lovi.care, allies.shop, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, sephora.sg, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream work for dry skin?
Allies of Skin Retinal & Peptides Repair Night Cream works moderately well for dry skin, providing essential hydration and smoothing texture while carrying no risk of irritation. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target severe dryness, this skin type needs a product rich in moisture-locking emollients and heavy occlusives to support the skin barrier and ensure optimal hydration.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?
This cream works for your dry skin thanks to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate providing essential hydration and argania spinosa kernel oil supporting dry or flaky skin. To give a better fit for dry skin, a product of this type needs a richer formulation of moisturizing ingredients and emollients that specifically target the needs of dry skin, ensuring adequate moisture retention and skin barrier support.
What does Retinal do for dry skin?
Retinal helps smooth dry skin and is unlikely to cause severe dryness when used properly, though it may occasionally lead to mild scaling or irritation as the skin adjusts. This ingredient works best when paired with gentle moisturizers to keep the face feeling soft and comfortable.
What does Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7 do for dry skin?
Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 helps boost collagen levels in the skin to support a firm and smooth feel. It works to improve skin resilience and may reduce the look of fine lines.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It has an excellent safety profile and is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry skin, though a product for this skin needs richer hydrators and barrier-repairing ingredients to fully target dryness.
Can I use this cream with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this cream in your routine, but apply your AHA product first and let it absorb before applying this cream. Because this cream contains active ingredients like retinaldehyde, using it alongside an AHA may increase the likelihood of irritation on dry skin.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment in your evening routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation on dry skin due to its soothing ingredients.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for dry skin, though it may occasionally lead to a very low chance of initial purging as your skin adjusts. The formula is generally safe and free of harsh ingredients, but because it is only an average fit for dry skin, it needs richer hydrators and oils to deeply nourish and soften dry areas.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment is unlikely to irritate the thin skin around the eyes or on the body due to its very safe formula. However, a product for dry skin in these areas needs extra nourishing oils and heavier moisture-locking ingredients to truly comfort and protect the skin.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (geraniol, limonene, and linalool).
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, 2017Topical application of an argan oil NLC-based hydrogel formulation increased skin hydration in healthy volunteers over a one-month period through a synergistic effect of NLC occlusion and argan oil hydration.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014A 0.4% formulation of natural pterostilbene reduced markers of aging, wrinkles, and fine lines while improving skin hydration and elasticity in healthy volunteers over 8 weeks.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical 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, 2005Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025A novel formulation of hydroxyphenoxy propionic acid, ellagic acid, yeast extract, and salicylic acid demonstrated parity in improving pigmentation, skin tone, spot intensity, and spot size compared to standard prescription 4% hydroquinone and 0.025% tretinoin in 82 subjects, with superior tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013A topical product containing 0.5% ellagic acid and 0.1% salicylic acid demonstrated comparable tolerance and efficacy in reducing hyperpigmentation and dark spots in fifty-four multiethnic subjects over 12 weeks when compared against a benchmark prescription 4% hydroquinone product.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Platycarya strobilacea fruit extract and its isolated ellagic acid derivatives demonstrated anti-wrinkle and antiaging potential by scavenging free radicals, inhibiting elastase, reducing MMP-1, and increasing type I collagen synthesis in human fibroblast cells, with clinical testing showing significant improvements compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
Why other moisturizers fit dry skin better
Combining oral and topical astaxanthin in 30 healthy females improved skin wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, texture, and moisture, while 6 mg daily oral supplementation in 36 healthy males improved crow's feet wrinkles, elasticity, and transepidermal water loss.
Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2012Adenosine-loaded dissolving microneedle patches showed similar or better efficacy on skin wrinkles, dermal density, elasticity, and hydration compared to adenosine cream in 22 female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Galactoarabinan, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Cassia Angustifolia Polysaccharide Seed, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil Arctic Cranberry Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Berry Seed Oil Cloud Berry Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Retinal Retinaldehyde, Pterostilbene, Ellagic Acid, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone Spin Trap, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Mirabilis Jalapa Stem Extract Flower Leaf, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Glutamylamidoethyl Imidazole, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil Lavendin Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Steareth-20, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool
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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