Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum for acne-prone skin
Microencapsulated Retinol
Vitamins C
Squalane
Bisabolol
Cyclopentasiloxane
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this serum utilizes retinol to regulate desquamation and bisabolol for anti-inflammatory action, addressing your concerns with acne and blemishes by promoting cell turnover.
- The inclusion of squalane and tocopheryl acetate further supports skin renewal and provides antioxidant benefits, contributing to a smoother complexion.
- The product is safe for your 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 and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- 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
What makes Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because retinol helps clear blemishes by speeding up cell turnover, while bisabolol calms redness. It also keeps your skin smooth and protected with squalane and vitamins without clogging your pores.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it uses retinol to help clear pores by speeding up cell turnover, along with bisabolol to calm the skin. Squalane and tocopheryl acetate also help smooth the skin while keeping it comfortable.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
What does Microencapsulated Retinol do for acne-prone skin?
Microencapsulated Retinol is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it helps clear blemishes and smooth uneven texture while being gentle on the skin. This type of product delivers steady results with a lower chance of irritation and redness.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2020Journal of Controlled Release, 2018
What does Vitamin C do for acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps protect acne-prone skin and calm redness while working to fade dark spots left behind by breakouts. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin tone when used consistently in your routine.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2014Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it at night helps avoid extra sun sensitivity while clearing blemishes and smoothing the skin.
Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this treatment. Using them together helps clear blemishes and keep skin calm, as the soothing components in this serum keep irritation unlikely.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012
How often should I use this serum?
Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM Night Serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and is used in the evening as part of your nightly routine. This timing keeps your skin safe around sun exposure, and the soothing ingredients help prevent irritation while clearing blemishes.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. It uses retinol to help clear blemishes by speeding up cell turnover, though you may notice some initial purging as your skin adjusts.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021International Journal of Toxicology, 2011
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, 2017Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Topical 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, 2020Dermatological 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, 2021Cyclomethicone 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, 2011Topical 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 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
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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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