La Mer The Concentrate for dry sensitive skin
Cyclopentasiloxane
Algae Extract
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Tocopheryl Succinate
Average
- HighDry 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 benefits for dry skin due to the presence of glycerin and algae extract, which provide hydration and support the skin barrier, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly address sensitivity.
- Laminaria ochroleuca extract and alteromonas ferment enhance barrier resilience, offering good support for dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin, as it contains no harsh or prohibited 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 4.5k+ reviewsUsers frequently turn to this serum for its rapid soothing and calming effects on redness and irritation, particularly for compromised skin barriers. However, a notable number of reviews question if the subtle, long-term benefits justify the very high price point, especially when compared to other barrier repair options. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Soothing & Calming Mostly Mentioned
- “calms facial redness immediately”
- “instantly soothing on application”
- “redness disappeared like magic”
- “best for compromised skin”
Exorbitant Price Mostly Mentioned
- “steep price tag”
- “not worth the money”
- “results subtle for price”
- “insanely expensive”
Barrier Repair & Healing Often Mentioned
- “strengthens skin barrier”
- “healed traces of dryness”
- “recovery after laser treatment”
- “helped skin resilience”
Luxurious Texture Often Mentioned
- “velvety smooth feel”
- “silky and cushiony”
- “glides on easily”
- “leaves skin feeling satin soft”
Poor Packaging Often Mentioned
- “hate the wand applicator”
- “hard to get product out”
- “needs a pump dispenser”
- “wasteful packaging”
Hydration Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin plump”
- “deeply hydrated feel”
- “soft and supple skin”
- “great under makeup”
Silicone-Heavy Feel Sometimes Noted
- “feels like straight silicone”
- “just cosmetic fluff”
- “slippery texture”
- “sits on top of skin”
Breakouts & Irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused huge painful zits”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged my pores”
- “irritated my acne-prone skin”
Polarizing Scent Rarely Noted
- “strong medicinal smell”
- “scent is too herbal”
- “smells like lavender/basil”
- “fragrance is overpowering”
Sources: lovi.care, cremedelamer.com, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, influenster.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Mer The Concentrate work for dry sensitive skin?
La Mer The Concentrate is an average fit for dry sensitive skin because it provides some hydration and barrier support through glycerin and algae extract, but lacks specialized ingredients to directly calm sensitivity. To truly thrive, dry sensitive skin needs formulas packed with soothing botanical extracts and rich moisturizers that relieve tightness and deeply nourish without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin, algae extract, and various plant oils help hydrate dry skin, while the formula is unlikely to irritate sensitive skin. A product of this type needs richer moisturizing agents and specialized soothing ingredients to fully address the needs of dry sensitive skin.
What does Cyclopentasiloxane do for dry sensitive skin?
Cyclopentasiloxane acts as a lightweight base that spreads smoothly without causing irritation or stinging on sensitive skin. It is very unlikely to cause any skin reaction, making it gentle enough for dry and reactive skin types.
What does Algae Extract do for dry sensitive skin?
Algae extract helps calm dry and sensitive skin while reducing water loss and defending against irritation. It is unlikely to cause issues and may help keep the skin barrier strong and comfortable.
Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 2012International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021
Where does it 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 needs soothing and calming ingredients to comfort dry and sensitive skin.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying the treatment in your evening routine after your toner and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your dry, sensitive skin as it has a safe profile, but this skin type needs extra soothing and barrier-repairing ingredients to fully address sensitivity.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your nightly routine. While it is safe for your skin, dry and sensitive skin works best with products that also include specialized soothing ingredients to directly calm irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This treatment is unlikely to cause breakouts or irritation on dry sensitive skin, as it has a very low likelihood of such complaints. To fit this skin better, a product of this type needs specialized soothing ingredients to calm sensitivity alongside hydrating components like glycerin and algae extract.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (eugenol, limonene, and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2017Cyclomethicone and specific chain length cyclic siloxanes (n = 4-7) are safe in present practices of use and concentration, showing minimal percutaneous absorption, no skin irritation or sensitization, and unlikely significant systemic exposure from cosmetics.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2011Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.
Marine Drugs, 2022The 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, 2012Wearing 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, 2007Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other serums fit dry sensitive skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
Ingredients
Cyclopentasiloxane, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Polysilicone-11, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal Seed, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Water, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Helichrysum Italicum Extract, Laminaria Ochroleuca Extract, Wheat Flour Lipids Flour, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Alteromonas Extract Ferment, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Yeast Faex Extrait De Levure Extract, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Tetraacetylphytosphingosine, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Dipropylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Citrate, Eugenol, Limonene, Linalool, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, 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.
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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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