No.7 Pure Retinol 0.3% Night Concentrate for dry skin
Retinol
Collagen Peptide Technology
Bisabolol
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Low
- AverageDry 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 treatment for minimizing fine lines and wrinkles due to the presence of retinol and acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester, but these benefits are not enough for your dry or flaky skin, hence poses major risks of worsening them directly or indirectly.
- While glycerin provides some humectant action for your dry skin, the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients to fully address dryness.
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
★3.9Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this concentrate as an excellent entry-level retinol that effectively smooths skin texture and minimizes pores without the harsh irritation often associated with retinoids. While many see visible improvements in radiance and fine lines, results require patience and consistent use, with some users experiencing a temporary "purge" or dryness during the initial adjustment period.
Highlights
Gentle for beginners Mostly Mentioned
- “no redness or peeling”
- “great starter retinol”
- “very gentle formula”
- “minimal irritation”
- “good tolerance”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “smoother complexion”
- “pores look smaller”
- “reduced bumpiness”
- “refined skin surface”
Pleasant application Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight texture”
- “non-greasy”
- “fragrance-free”
- “easy to layer”
Visible anti-aging effects Sometimes Noted
- “fine lines softened”
- “wrinkles less noticeable”
- “skin looks fresher”
- “youthful glow”
- “firmer appearance”
Initial adjustment period Sometimes Noted
- “caused dry patches”
- “skin purging”
- “mild flaking”
- “stinging sensation”
- “breakouts at first”
Slow to show results Sometimes Noted
- “takes months to work”
- “no instant difference”
- “requires patience”
- “subtle changes only”
- “hard to see progress”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “hard to get product out”
- “wasteful packaging”
- “tube feels empty”
- “dispenser broke”
Price vs. Value Rarely Noted
- “expensive for amount”
- “small bottle”
- “pricey without offer”
- “finished too quickly”
- “better value alternatives”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, target.com, beauty blogs, no7beauty.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is No.7 Pure Retinol 0.3% Night Concentrate a weak match for dry skin?
This treatment is a weak match because, while it offers some smoothing benefits with retinol, it lacks enough softening and sealing ingredients to fully address dryness and may worsen flaky skin. Dry skin needs formulas rich in soothing, deeply hydrating ingredients like ceramides, niacinamide, and propolis that support the skin barrier without causing irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this treatment a poor fit for dry skin?
Retinol is a weak match for your dry skin because it poses major risks of worsening flakiness. A product for this skin needs rich hydrating and soothing ingredients, ceramides, and skin barrier support.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Retinol do for dry skin?
Retinol is a poor fit for dry skin because it frequently causes scaling, stinging, and dryness. To care for dry skin properly, a product needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like ceramides, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and keep the skin barrier calm and smooth.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What do Collagen Peptides do for dry skin?
Collagen peptides help improve dry skin by boosting hydration and keeping skin soft and smooth over time. Taking them daily helps lock in moisture and supports your skin barrier so it holds onto water better.
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, but it is a weak match because dry skin needs rich, softening, and sealing ingredients to prevent flaking.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C, but because this product is a weak match for your dry skin, it may worsen dryness or flaking. To help your skin handle these active ingredients, a product of this type needs rich softening and sealing ingredients to lock in moisture.
How often should I use this treatment?
This product is a weak match for your dry skin and poses major risks of worsening flakiness directly or indirectly. A product for this skin needs rich softening and sealing ingredients to lock in moisture along with gentle hydrators.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This product may cause purging and dryness for dry skin, as retinol and peptides speed up cell renewal while the formula lacks rich softening and sealing ingredients to lock in moisture and comfort dry patches.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2019A 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 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, 2017Silicone 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, 2017A liquid formulation containing hydrolyzed collagen demonstrated structural stability, peptide mass distribution between 0.5 and 19.5 kDa, and faded forehead wrinkles in five volunteers while proving to be non-irritating and hypoallergenic.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Exposure to collagen peptides increased the expression of COL1A1, ELN, and VCAN genes and collagen protein levels in cultured human dermal fibroblasts compared to untreated controls.
Frontiers in Medicine, 2024Salmo salar and Tilapia nilotica skin collagen peptides accelerate wound healing in a rat murine wound model by reducing proinflammatory cytokines, upregulating BD14, NOD2, IL-10, VEGF, and beta-FGF, and favorably altering wound microflora colonization compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2020Application 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, 2024A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
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 A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysorbate 20, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Retinol, Bisabolol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Edta, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sucrose Laurate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Benzoic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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
How does it fit your skin?
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