Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Acetyl Glucosamine
DimethiconeAverage
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 benefits for your normal skin, as niacinamide and glycerin provide antioxidant activity and hydration to support your skin's needs. These ingredients also help soothe redness and irritation, aligning with your main goal.
- The serum's formulation is highly suitable for normal skin, with niacinamide and glycerin working to hydrate and smooth texture.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and prohibited substances, minimizing the risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsThis fragrance-free serum is widely praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers immediate hydration without greasiness, making it suitable for both oily and dry skin types. Users frequently report improvements in skin texture and brightness, though results regarding dark spots and pore size can vary, with a small minority experiencing breakouts. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks right in”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight texture”
- “watery consistency”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump”
- “boost of moisture”
- “hydrated all day”
- “fixes dry patches”
- “dewy glow”
Gentle & fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no strong smell”
- “didn't sting”
- “calms redness”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “softens roughness”
- “refines pores”
- “glass skin look”
- “less textured”
Evens skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “brighter complexion”
- “reduced redness”
- “fades acne marks”
- “glowy skin”
- “less dullness”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “average product”
- “no change in spots”
- “lackluster results”
- “waste of money”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “worst acne”
- “tiny bumps”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “bad reaction”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is terrible”
- “hard to dispense”
- “pump stopped working”
- “can't reach bottom”
- “messy bottle”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “tacky finish”
- “sticky on fingers”
- “leaves a film”
- “feels heavy”
- “pills under makeup”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.com, target.com, iherb.com, hometesterclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum work for sensitive skin?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost+ Niacinamide Serum works moderately well for sensitive skin, as it contains safe hydrating ingredients that help soothe redness and irritation without harsh additives. To fit this skin type better, a moisturizing treatment needs to be highly effective at soothing and hydrating with multiple types of hyaluronic acid and calming plant extracts.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide and glycerin make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin by providing hydration and soothing redness and irritation. To fit sensitive skin even better, a moisturizing treatment of this type needs extra soothing plant extracts and multiple types of hyaluronic acid.
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine before your moisturizer. It is safe for sensitive skin as it lacks harsh ingredients, but a product of this type needs extra soothing and hydrating ingredients to fit this skin type even better.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and calm the skin, followed by your retinol once the serum absorbs. This approach helps reduce potential irritation while allowing your retinol to work effectively.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, where you can apply it once a day. Sensitive skin benefits most from a soothing and hydrating treatment containing calming ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to support the skin barrier while keeping irritation unlikely.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and reviewers rarely report this issue. However, a product for this skin needs gentle, soothing ingredients and lightweight hydration to keep pores clear and skin calm.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this serum on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body because it lacks harsh ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to keep delicate areas smooth and comfortable.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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 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, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical 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 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Topical 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Acetyl Glucosamine, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Amodimethicone
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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