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Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Serum for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Serum

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry skin; other serums 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 suitability for dry skin as humectants like Propanediol and Squalane provide some hydration, but the inclusion of glycolic acid and retinol in concentrations geared towards resurfacing may not fully address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
  • While ingredients like Jojoba Seed Oil and Pumpkin Seed Oil offer nourishment, the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive properties to provide comprehensive moisturization for dry skin.
  • The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like niacinamide and allantoin.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviews

Users 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 skin?

This serum works moderately well for dry skin, as ingredients like squalane and propanediol offer some hydration, but its resurfacing components may not fully address dryness or flakiness. A product for this skin needs rich, deeply nourishing ingredients that target hydration and strengthen the skin barrier with soothing components, ceramides, and peptides.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Scientific Reports, 2020

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?

Humectants like propanediol and squalane help keep dry skin hydrated, while jojoba seed oil and pumpkin seed oil provide nourishment. However, a product of this type needs richer softening and sealing ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and barrier-supporting components to fully address dry skin needs.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Scientific Reports, 2020

What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?

Glycolic acid can make dry skin smooth by helping shed dead surface flakes, but because it tends to dry out the skin further, it needs to be paired with rich hydrating and soothing ingredients.

Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995Archives of Dermatological Research, 1997

What does Retinol do for dry skin?

Retinol is generally best avoided on dry skin because it tends to cause irritation and increase moisture loss. This type of skin needs soothing ingredients like ceramides and rich hydrators such as glycerin or hyaluronic acid to repair the barrier and keep it soft and comfortable.

Dermatology, 1999Toxicology Letters, 2003

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. A product of this type needs rich, nourishing ingredients that soften and lock in moisture to properly care for dry skin.

Can I use this serum with BHA, and in what order?

You can use this serum with BHA, but alternate them or use BHA in the morning and this serum at night to avoid overwhelming your skin. Because this serum combines exfoliating acids and retinol, it is best to pair it with rich, deeply nourishing moisturizers containing ceramides and rich butters to keep dry skin soft and smooth.

How often should I use this serum?

Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. A product of this type for dry skin needs rich oils, butters, and heavy sealing ingredients to deeply soften and lock in moisture.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

Peter Thomas Roth Even Smoother Glycolic Retinol Resurfacing Serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, though reviews show a low chance of breakouts. This product of this type needs rich nourishing ingredients and heavy sealing properties to keep dry skin feeling soft and smooth without causing congestion.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).

What the research says

  • Topical 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, 2024

  • Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.

    Scientific Reports, 2020

  • 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

  • Repeated 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, 2000

  • Serial 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, 2017

  • 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, 2017

  • Silicone 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, 2018

  • Topical 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, 2017

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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, 2005

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-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, 2025

  • Topical 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, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical 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 skin better

  • Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.

    Annals of Dermatology, 2019

  • Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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