MEDIHEAL Retinol Collagen Lifting Pad for combination skin
Retinol
Collagen
Beta-Glucan
Ceramide NpAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, as retinol helps regulate desquamation and beta-glucan supports barrier repair, though the concentrations of retinol and hydrolyzed collagen provide general skincare rather than targeting oily shine.
- The inclusion of lavender oil and chamomile oil offers soothing properties, which is beneficial for combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers consistently praise these pads for delivering immediate hydration and a "glass skin" glow, with many noting that the unique, stretchable fabric allows for a customized fit on targeted areas like cheeks and forehead. While the lifting effects are often described as subtle or requiring long-term consistency, the product is widely appreciated as a gentle, non-irritating introduction to retinol that plumps fine lines and improves skin texture.
Highlights
Customizable stretch fit Mostly Mentioned
- “stretch beautifully”
- “covers wide area”
- “spider web shape”
- “fits facial contours”
Gentle for daily use Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “gentle retinol”
- “daily morning/night”
Intense hydration glow Often Mentioned
- “skin felt bouncy”
- “healthy dewy glow”
- “glass skin effect”
- “instant moisture boost”
Convenient packaging Sometimes Noted
- “tweezers included”
- “hygienic storage”
- “generous essence amount”
- “easy quick mask”
Subtle lifting results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't notice lifting”
- “takes time”
- “low retinol percentage”
- “more hydrating than firming”
Adherence issues Rarely Noted
- “slides down”
- “falls off easily”
- “dries out quickly”
- “doesn't stick well”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “slight tingling”
- “minor redness”
- “caused breakouts”
- “sensitizing for some”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “slightly sticky”
- “tacky residue”
- “oily finish”
- “heavy for day”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, sokoglam.com, stylevana.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Mediheal Retinol Collagen Lifting Pad work for combination skin?
Mediheal Retinol Collagen Lifting Pad works okay for combination skin, offering gentle soothing and general care rather than targeting oily shine. A treatment for this skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to regulate oiliness and enhance radiance without causing imbalance.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Which ingredients make this pad a good fit for combination skin?
Retinol and beta-glucan make this pad a reasonable fit by helping balance skin renewal and supporting the skin barrier, while soothing oils keep it gentle. However, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to truly thrive on combination skin by actively managing oily shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
What does Retinol do for combination skin?
Retinol helps smooth fine lines, even out skin tone, and improve firmness in combination skin. It works by encouraging faster skin renewal and boosting collagen, though it may occasionally cause mild dryness or scaling while your skin adjusts.
Archives of Dermatology, 2007The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
What does Collagen do for combination skin?
Collagen helps keep combination skin smooth and hydrated by improving moisture and supporting elasticity. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may help reduce the appearance of fine lines while keeping the skin barrier balanced.
Dermatology Practical & Conceptual, 2022Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2024
Where does this pad go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment pad goes in your evening routine, used once a week to start, as combination skin benefits from products that help balance oil and support the skin barrier. To work best for this skin type, this kind of product needs ingredients that gently smooth the surface while managing oily shine and keeping skin calm.
Can I use this pad with vitamin C, and in what order?
This pad is unlikely to irritate your combination skin, but combining retinol with vitamin C may cause dryness or discomfort, so it is best to use them on different days or separate your vitamin C for the morning and this pad for the evening routine. A product of this type for combination skin needs targeted ingredients that help balance oily shine while supporting skin renewal and barrier strength.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
How often should I use this pad?
Use this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and looks good, you may carefully use it more often. Combination skin needs ingredients like oil-absorbing agents or targeted mattifying actives to properly manage oily shine.
Can this pad clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This pad is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin, as it is made without harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. For combination skin to get the best results, a product of this type needs ingredients that help balance oily shine while supporting hydration.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
Is this pad fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical 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, 2017Emulsions 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, 2008Topical 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 application of TAC/Collagen postbiotics gel improved skin moisture score and inflammation index, and reduced porphyrins and brown spots in 20 volunteers with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical collagen tripeptide application improved skin wrinkles, elasticity, and density while reducing advanced glycated end products in 22 Asian women over 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Marine collagen extracted from Greenland halibut skin showed a non-cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cells and provided a slight skin hydration effect when incorporated into cosmetic hydrogel formulations at dosages of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% in 23 healthy volunteers.
Marine Drugs, 2023Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022Topical application of oat beta-glucan ameliorates epidermal hyperplasia and accelerates epidermal barrier recovery by promoting keratinocyte differentiation through dectin-1-mediated ERK and p38 signaling pathways that upregulate CaSR expression.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycereth-26, Betaine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Triethylhexanoin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Octyldodeceth-16, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sphingomonas Extract Ferment, Adenosine, Disodium Edta, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Phytosterols, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower, Retinol, Beta-Glucan, Ceramide Np
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.