🇳🇱Netherlands

BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil for combination skin

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

BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, as squalane and tocopherol provide emollient and antioxidant benefits, while hydroxypinacolone retinoate offers retinoid effects to help manage oily shine.
  • The presence of bisabolol and magnolia officinalis bark extract contributes to soothing your skin, ensuring a comfortable experience.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of calming components.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

This lightweight oil is praised as an excellent retinol for sensitive skin, with users frequently reporting softer, brighter, and smoother complexions without irritation. Most users find it absorbs quickly and hydrates well, though a moderate number of users with oily skin experience absorption issues and a low number find it too gentle for dramatic results.

Highlights

  • Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
    • “no irritation at all”
    • “didn't experience any flaky skin”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “skin felt calmer”
  • Improves texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin was soft the next morning”
    • “texture greatly improved”
    • “visibly improving skin's tone”
    • “complexion looked brighter”
  • Lightweight, absorbs fast Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “felt practically weightless”
    • “non-greasy”
    • “sinking into skin”
  • Hydrating, barrier support Sometimes Noted
    • “hydrates while delivering benefits”
    • “nourish the skin barrier”
    • “hydrated as can be”
    • “reduces moisture loss”
  • Absorption issues Sometimes Noted
    • “sat over my skin like a glaze”
    • “would not absorb”
    • “tacky residue”
    • “lingering stickiness”
  • Adverse reactions Rarely Noted
    • “made my wrinkles worse”
    • “hated every minute”
    • “caused breakouts”
    • “clogged pores”
  • Packaging complaints Rarely Noted
    • “packaging feels a little cheap”
    • “hard to read directions”
    • “impossible to read the bottle”
  • Subtle results Rarely Noted
    • “didn't notice much difference”
    • “too gentle”
    • “weak for experienced users”
    • “ok but not a favourite”

Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, spacenk.com, ulta.com, independent.co.uk, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

How well does BYOMA Sensitive Retinol Oil work for combination skin?

This oil works moderately well for your combination skin because squalane and vitamin A help manage oily shine while keeping your skin calm and comfortable. To fit this skin type even better, a product needs effective hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides, or niacinamide to keep moisture balanced without causing extra oiliness.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this oil a good fit for combination skin?

Squalane and tocopherol make this oil a good fit by softening your skin and providing antioxidant protection, while hydroxypinacolone retinoate helps manage oily shine. To work even better for combination skin, a product of this type needs richer hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and niacinamide to keep moisture balanced.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What do Barrier Lipids do for combination skin?

Barrier Lipids help keep combination skin balanced by supporting the skin barrier and managing moisture across dry and oily areas. This type of product needs ingredients like ceramides and natural moisturizing factors to strengthen the skin barrier without feeling heavy.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

What does Vitamin A do for combination skin?

Vitamin A helps clear breakouts and smooth out rough patches on combination skin, but it may cause dryness or irritation at first. To work well for this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and lightweight moisture to keep the skin calm and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020Drugs & Aging, 1995

Where does this oil go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This oil fits into your evening routine as a treatment after cleansing and before moisturizing. Combination skin needs a balancing product that provides soothing plant extracts and gentle retinoids to manage oily shine without causing irritation.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this oil with vitamin C, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this product at night, as this routine gives your combination skin the right mix of daytime brightening and nighttime calming benefits. Combination skin works best with lightweight vitamin C serums followed by a gentle, soothing oil that provides barrier lipids and squalane without clogging pores.

How often should I use this oil?

This oil works well when used in your evening routine as a treatment step. Combination skin of this type needs a moisturizing treatment that provides barrier lipids, squalane, and soothing ingredients like bisabolol to keep skin soft and calm while helping manage oily shine.

Can this oil clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause adverse reactions on combination skin, as it has a very low risk of irritation and uses calming ingredients to keep skin comfortable. Combination skin still needs a product of this type that balances oily shine with lightweight moisture without feeling heavy.

Can I use this oil around the eyes or on my body?

This oil is unlikely to irritate thin skin like the area around the eyes or on the body, as it contains calming components and lacks harsh ingredients. However, combination skin needs a product that balances dry and oily areas with lightweight hydrating ingredients and gentle exfoliants.

Is this oil fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Combined probiotic supplementation and topical azelaic acid with hydroxypinacolone retinoate reduced non-inflammatory lesions from 11.5 to 7.3 and decreased microscopic acne features measured by reflectance confocal microscopy and dynamic optical coherence tomography in 20 patients over 12 weeks.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023

  • Hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinyl propionate at a 5:9 weight ratio synergistically enhanced antiaging gene expressions in vitro and improved skin wrinkles, smoothness, transepidermal water loss, and elasticity in 42 Chinese urban women over an 8-week period without adverse reactions compared to retinol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

  • A topical serum containing hydroxypinacolone retinoate and peptides used twice daily for 16 weeks achieved parity or statistically significantly better improvement in facial aging parameters compared to a single fractional CO2 laser treatment in women with moderate global photodamage.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

  • Magnolia ovovata extract and its active component magnolol prevented skin photoaging via inhibition of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and dependent transcription in mice skin and cells.

    European Journal of Pharmacology, 2007

  • 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

  • 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

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

  • Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010

  • The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • A new topical gel formulation reduced total acne lesions by 80% and GAGS scores by 78% after 8 weeks in 22 female patients with mild facial acne without impairing skin barrier function or causing side effects.

    Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020

  • A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.

    Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

  • A 12-month maintenance treatment with a combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate and retinol glycospheres resulted in a relapse rate of 15.38% in 39 patients with moderate facial acne following oral isotretinoin therapy.

    Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2017

Ingredients

Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Squalane, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil Carrot Seed Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Bisabolol, Magnolia Officinalis Bark Extract, Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil

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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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the Netherlands.

How does it fit your skin?

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