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Murad Targeted Pore Corrector for dry sensitive skin

Average

  • SuperiorDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other serums 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 exfoliation and excellent hydration for your dry skin, with lactic acid and hyaluronic acid addressing texture and moisture retention, while squalane provides emollient benefits. The inclusion of taurine and betaine further supports skin barrier function and hydration, complementing your dry skin needs.
  • The product provides general skincare benefits like cleansing and soothing, which are supportive but not specialized for your dry or flaky skin and sensitivity.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like hyaluronic acid and glycerin.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

Users report this product effectively blurs pores and smooths skin texture immediately, acting as a primer for a flawless makeup base and mattifying the T-zone. While many appreciate its instant cosmetic effects, some note that the pore-minimizing benefits are temporary and not a long-term solution.

Highlights

  • Instant pore blurring Mostly Mentioned
    • “blurs the pores”
    • “pore reduction instantly”
    • “open pore blending in”
  • Smooth texture Often Mentioned
    • “lightweight formula”
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “satin-cream texture”
  • Expensive for size Often Mentioned
    • “expensive”
    • “pricey”
    • “tiny tube”
  • Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
    • “lays well under makeup”
    • “improves wear of makeup”
    • “smooth base”
  • Precise applicator Sometimes Noted
    • “loved the applicator”
    • “easy application”
    • “smooth applicator”
  • Temporary results Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't notice huge changes”
    • “results didn't last all day”
    • “temporary fix”
  • Not effective for all Rarely Noted
    • “didn't work”
    • “no difference”
    • “little iffy about results”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “strong smell”
    • “smell is the only thing I don't like”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, murad.com, spacenk.com, johnlewis.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Murad Targeted Pore Corrector work for dry sensitive skin?

Murad Targeted Pore Corrector works for dry sensitive skin as an average fit, offering moderate exfoliation and great moisture retention from lactic acid, hyaluronic acid, and squalane while remaining safe from irritation. However, because it lacks specialized soothing and heavy nourishing benefits for flakiness, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides, powerful antioxidants, and multiple forms of vitamin C to fully protect and comfort this skin type.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment works for dry sensitive skin because lactic acid and hyaluronic acid smooth texture and hold moisture, while squalane, glycerin, taurine, and betaine soften the skin and support its protective barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021

What does Squalane do for dry sensitive skin?

Squalane helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture and calming irritation without causing flare-ups. It is unlikely to cause redness or discomfort, making it a gentle choice that supports the skin barrier. This type of skin needs ingredients that deeply hydrate and soothe, such as plant oils and antioxidants.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Molecules, 2009

Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week to see how your skin feels. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry and sensitive skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.

Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?

It is unlikely to irritate your dry and sensitive skin when used alongside retinol, though other products fit your skin better. Apply retinol first, let it absorb, and then follow with this treatment to help smooth texture while keeping your skin calm and hydrated. To best care for this skin type, a product needs gentle smoothing ingredients combined with rich, soothing hydrators.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

How often should I use this treatment?

Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your dry, sensitive skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. A product of this type needs rich moisturizers and gentle soothing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.

Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like hyaluronic acid and glycerin. It may bring some moderate exfoliation with lactic acid, but it lacks harsh elements that typically trigger irritation or breakouts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.

    Molecules, 2024
  • Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2003
  • 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, 2017
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • 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
  • Topical application of curcumin or turmeric treats various skin conditions by leveraging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023
  • Topical formulations of curcumin target oxidative damage and inflammation to improve wound healing in animal models.

    Drug Discovery Today, 2017
  • A curcumin-loaded spanlastic anti-aging gel utilizing formula F5 incorporated into 2% HPMC E50 demonstrated sustained release action, compatibility, and the ability to penetrate skin layers to a depth of about 112.5 um without signs of irritation.

    Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024
  • Application 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, 2004
  • Topical 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, 1992
  • A 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, 2020
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001
  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

Ingredients

Water, Polysilicone-11, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Curcuma Kwangsiensis Extract, Curcuma Wenyujin Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine Soja Extract, Soybean Extract, Germ Extract, Lysine, Proline, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Lactic Acid, Mannose, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Mannose Phosphate, Laureth-12, Barium Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Carbonate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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