Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Serum for dry sensitive skin
Glycolic Acid Complex
Time-Released Microencapsulated Retinol
Niacinamide
Squalane
Ascorbic AcidAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 texture improvement for your dry and sensitive skin due to glycolic acid and retinol, which help minimize fine lines and wrinkles. Humectants like Propanediol and barrier-repairing ingredients such as Squalane and Ceramide NP provide some hydration and support, but the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive agents to fully address dryness.
- The serum provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, which you would notice, but these are mostly supportive 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 prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers report this serum effectively resurfaces skin, leading to smoother texture and reduced fine lines. Many praise its hydrating qualities and ability to even skin tone. A minority of users experienced stickiness upon application or purging breakouts.
Highlights
Smoothes skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Texture is improving and smoothing”
- “Made my skin smooth and felt amazing”
- “Rough texture improved significantly”
- “Skin feels so soft”
Evens skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “Evened out my skin tone overall”
- “Dark spots are getting lighter”
- “Skin looked renewed and less dull”
- “Helped with post-hyperpigmentation”
Non-drying and gentle Sometimes Noted
- “Skin finally feels hydrated and plump”
- “Doesn't sting like other retinols”
- “Did not feel tight or dry”
- “Softness lasts all day”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “Reducing appearance of lines”
- “Smile lines are not as visible”
- “Crows feet and expression wrinkles are better”
- “Diminished look of forehead crinkles”
Sticky after application Sometimes Noted
- “Product felt a little sticky”
- “Leaves a tacky film on skin”
- “Sticky right after using”
- “Takes a while to dry down”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Got some deep pimples”
- “Led to breakouts initially”
- “Experienced purging”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “Haven't seen a difference”
- “Waiting to see any changes”
- “Did not work for my skin”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “Smells like paint”
- “Has a strong chemical odor”
- “Scent is unpleasant”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, macys.com, lovely.com, qvc.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Serum work for dry sensitive skin?
This serum works moderately well for dry and sensitive skin, providing some hydration and texture improvement while carrying a very low risk of irritation. However, because it lacks sufficient rich softening and sealing agents, a product of this type needs added heavy moisturizers, barrier-supporting lipids, and soothing ingredients to fully lock in moisture and protect dry skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Propanediol, squalane, and ceramide NP help make this serum a fit for dry sensitive skin by providing hydration and supporting the skin barrier. A treatment of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and heavy soothing oils to fully comfort and protect dry skin.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid can be too harsh for dry sensitive skin because it speeds up skin shedding and may increase water loss. Skin of this type needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing agents to keep it smooth and calm without irritation.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997
What does Retinol do for dry sensitive skin?
Retinol is typically too harsh for dry sensitive skin because it easily triggers irritation and redness. Skin of this type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, along with soothing agents, to strengthen the skin barrier while smoothing lines.
Toxicology Letters, 2003Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. A product of this type for dry sensitive skin needs rich nourishing ingredients and barrier-protecting oils and butters to lock in hydration and prevent dryness.
Can I use this serum with BHA, and in what order?
You can use this serum with BHA, but because both ingredients exfoliate, using them together may easily cause irritation on dry and sensitive skin. To stay safe, use them on alternate nights or apply the BHA first, let it absorb completely, and follow with a rich moisturizer containing heavy softening and barrier-protecting ingredients to lock in hydration.
How often should I use this serum?
Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your dry and sensitive skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. A product of this type needs rich moisturizing oils and heavy protective barriers to fully comfort and soften this skin type.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts, as reviewers report such issues in very few cases and the product has a very safe profile. However, it may cause mild purging when you first start using it because it contains exfoliating ingredients like glycolic acid and retinol.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 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, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 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, 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, 2005Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-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, 2025Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better
A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017Glycerol accelerates barrier repair and improves stratum corneum hydration compared to untreated and base-treated sites.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Ingredients
Water, Glycolic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Jojoba Seed Oil, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Polyglyceryl-2 Distearate, C9-12 Alkane, Arachidyl Alcohol, Zea Mays Starch, Glyceryl Stearate, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Adansonia Digitata Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Retinol, Collagen, Adenosine, Squalane, Allantoin, Ascorbic Acid, Panthenol, Lecithin, Ceramide Np, Volcanic Soil, Pullulan, Sodium Phytate, Arachidyl Glucoside, Amylopectin, Polysorbate 20, 1,2-Hexanediol, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Potassium Sorbate, Sclerotium Gum, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Sodium Benzoate, Xanthan Gum, Lysolecithin, Pentylene Glycol, Potassium Phosphate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Behenyl Alcohol, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Mica Ci 77019
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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