Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum for dry skin
Retinol Alternative
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Collagen Amino Acids
Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
Stevia Rebaudiana Stem Extract Leaf
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for dry skin; other serums 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
- Offers moderate suitability for your dry skin, as glycerin and Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract provide hydration and support barrier resilience, though it lacks sufficient emollients to fully address dryness.
- The inclusion of Porphyridium Cruentum Extract aids in skin renewal and texture smoothing, offering general skincare benefits that are supportive for dry or flaky skin.
- The product is generally safe for your dry skin, but the presence of fragrance and alcohol may pose a slight risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis serum is highly praised for its ability to deliver retinol-like anti-aging results—such as reduced fine lines, improved firmness, and refined skin texture—without causing the irritation, redness, or dryness common in more aggressive treatments. It is particularly favored by those with sensitive or dry skin who seek a hydrating, lightweight formula that integrates easily into daily routines to promote a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “No stinging, no redness”
- “Gentle for sensitive skin”
- “No irritation”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Keeps my face super moisturized”
- “Skin feels hydrated”
- “Supports moisture levels”
Retinol-like results Often Mentioned
- “Retinol-like benefits without irritation”
- “Helped my fine lines”
- “Skin feels renewed”
Improves skin firmness Sometimes Noted
- “Skin looks a bit firmer”
- “Helps skin feel firm”
- “Improved skin elasticity”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs so quickly”
- “Not sticky”
- “Lightweight water-like serum”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Wish it came in a bigger bottle at a smaller price”
- “Worth the price tag”
Not for everyone Rarely Noted
- “No match for retinol”
- “Bakuchiol can be too much during a flare”
Product longevity Rarely Noted
- “5 pumps 2 times daily doesn't last”
- “Wish it came in a bigger bottle”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Quite strong scent”
- “Contains fragrance”
- “May sting on reactive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum work for dry skin?
This serum works moderately well for dry skin, as ingredients like glycerin and Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract provide hydration and support your skin barrier, but it lacks enough rich moisturizers to fully care for dryness. A product for dry skin needs deep hydration, rich soothing emollients, and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, or peptides to nourish the skin and prevent irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract help make this serum a fit for dry skin by providing hydration and supporting barrier resilience, though this skin type needs extra rich rich moisturizing ingredients, ceramides, or niacinamide to fully lock in moisture and prevent irritation.
What does Bakuchiol do for dry skin?
Bakuchiol helps smooth dry skin and keeps moisture levels up while being gentle enough to avoid irritation. It helps improve overall skin appearance and texture without the dryness often caused by stronger ingredients.
What does Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract do for dry skin?
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract helps dry skin by supporting faster healing, easing irritation, and boosting collagen to make skin feel softer and smoother. This extract is unlikely to cause issues and works well to restore normal skin feel.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A product of this type needs rich moisturizers and heavy creams with plenty of nourishing oils and butters to properly comfort and protect dry skin.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying your vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night. Because this product lacks sufficient heavy moisturizers and contains fragrance and alcohol, dry skin needs an extra rich cream afterward to prevent tightness and irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well when used in the evening, but dry skin needs a product that includes richer softening ingredients to fully tackle dryness.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, though the retinol alternative it contains may cause mild skin renewal or light flaking at first. Because dry skin needs richer ingredients, this type of product works best when paired with a heavy cream to lock in moisture and smooth rough patches.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, citronellol, and geraniol).
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 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 dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.
Health Science Reports, 2025Cichorium intybus extract leads to smooth skin and positive excitement in treated subjects, evokes positive emotions in a person caressing them, and induces Staphylococcus epidermidis to secrete bioactive post-biotics that promote neurotransmitter release.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Spirulina, Palmaria palmata, Cichorium intybus, and Medicago sativa extracts alone or combined present no in vitro toxicity or irritant potential, and provoke no skin barrier alteration or irritation in twenty human subjects.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2019A topical mixture of tocopherol acetate, L-menthol, and stevioside promoted hair growth more effectively than tocopherol acetate or L-menthol alone in C57BL/6 mice.
Pharmaceutics, 2020
Why other serums fit dry skin better
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, 2020Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lysine Aspartate, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Maris Aqua Sea Water Eau De Mer, Stevia Rebaudiana Stem Extract Leaf, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Linalool, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Sodium Benzoate
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
How does it fit your skin?
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