Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum for dry skin
Microencapsulated Retinol
Vitamins C
Squalane
Bisabolol
Cyclopentasiloxane
Low
- LowDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the serums alongside 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 hydration for your dry or flaky skin due to squalane, but the inclusion of retinol poses a major risk of worsening dryness and flakiness.
- The presence of alcohol can also be drying for your dry skin, with limited emollient ingredients to counteract this effect.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 4.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this retinol serum is highly regarded for its anti-aging effects, including smoothing fine lines and improving skin texture, with most users experiencing a radiant and refined complexion without irritation. Some users reported a lack of visible results or found the thin consistency and premium price point to be drawbacks.
Highlights
Non-irritating formula Mostly Mentioned
- “Zero irritation”
- “gentle but effective”
- “no peeling or flaking”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “Smile lines fading”
- “fine lines disappeared”
- “wrinkles nearly gone”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin is softer”
- “smoother complexion”
- “refined skin texture”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “Soaks in quickly”
- “dries quickly”
- “silky smooth application”
Radiant complexion Sometimes Noted
- “Face is brighter”
- “skin is radiant”
- “luminous appearance”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Not worth it”
- “very pricey”
- “expensive for the results”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “No visible changes”
- “did absolutely nothing”
- “no change in skin”
Oily feel Rarely Noted
- “Feels oily”
- “greasy application”
- “leaves residue”
Thin consistency Rarely Noted
- “Very, very watery”
- “feels like dry oil”
- “too thin”
Sources: lovi.care, peterthomasroth.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, macys.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum a weak match for dry skin?
This serum is a weak match because retinol and alcohol may worsen your dryness and flakiness. A treatment for dry skin needs soothing and nourishing ingredients that provide significant hydration and support skin barrier health without irritation, such as ceramides, niacinamide, peptides, propolis, or bifida fermentation.
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry skin?
Retinol and alcohol make this serum a poor fit because they may worsen dryness and flakiness on dry skin. To fit dry skin well, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients, ceramides, and peptides that provide significant hydration and support skin barrier health.
What does Microencapsulated Retinol do for dry skin?
Microencapsulated retinol helps make dry skin feel much softer and smoother while boosting hydration. It provides steady, gentle care that reduces dryness and improves overall comfort without causing irritation.
What does Vitamin C do for dry skin?
Vitamin C helps dry skin by keeping moisture locked in and improving overall hydration. It supports the skin barrier so it feels much softer and smoother over time.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Skin Research and Technology, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though it is a weak match for dry skin. Retinol and alcohol pose a major risk of worsening dryness and flakiness, so dry skin needs a treatment with plenty of hydrating and soothing ingredients.
Can I use it with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this serum with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first to help keep your skin calm and moisturized before adding this treatment. Because this product contains alcohol and retinol, it may worsen dryness and flakiness on dry skin. To work well for this skin type, a product like this needs rich moisture-locking ingredients and gentle soothing agents to prevent irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum may be used in the evening, but it is a weak match for your dry skin because it may worsen dryness and flakiness. A product of this type for dry skin needs rich, gentle hydrators and barrier-protecting ingredients to keep skin soft and comfortable.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, but it may cause scaling and peeling since retinol often makes dry skin flakier. A product for this skin needs rich, gentle oils and soothing hydrators to prevent dryness.
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 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 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, 2022Squalane 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, 2025Application 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, 2010The 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
Why other serums fit dry skin better
- Retinol in this serum
Topical 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, 2019
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Water, Retinol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Bisabolol, Lecithin, Potassium Phosphate, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate-20, Alcohol
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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