La Roche-Posay Redermic R for dry skin
Retinol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Adenosine
Capryloyl Salicylic AcidLow
- 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 retinol and retinyl linoleate, which promote skin renewal, but these ingredients pose major risks of worsening dryness and flakiness for your dry skin due to their potential for irritation without sufficient complementary moisturizing agents.
- Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate offer some hydration benefits for dry or flaky skin, but the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal hydration.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers find this product to be an effective starter retinol, particularly for sensitive skin, with many reporting improvements in skin texture and fine lines without irritation. Some users note that it may be too mild for deeper wrinkles and requires consistent long-term use for significant results.
Highlights
Smoothes texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin feels softer”
- “resurfaced texture”
- “bumps smoothed out”
- “velvety finish”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “No irritation experienced”
- “great starter retinol”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “zero redness or peeling”
Reduces lines Often Mentioned
- “Forehead lines diminished”
- “softened crow's feet”
- “fine lines less visible”
- “plumper appearance”
Lightweight formula Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs instantly”
- “lightweight fluid”
- “not sticky or oily”
- “wears well under makeup”
Mild/Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “No huge difference”
- “Took months to work”
- “Too weak for deep wrinkles”
- “Subtle changes only”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Strong floral smell”
- “Medicinal odor”
- “Scent is overpowering”
- “Fragrance is too strong”
Helps acne/marks Rarely Noted
- “Faded acne scars”
- “reduced breakouts”
- “cleared congestion”
- “helped with pigmentation”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “Dried out cheeks”
- “Need heavy moisturizer”
- “Caused flaky patches”
- “Skin felt tight”
Small packaging Rarely Noted
- “Tube is tiny”
- “Finished too quickly”
- “Expensive for amount”
- “Wish it was larger”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, lookfantastic.com, adorebeauty.com.au, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is La Roche-Posay Redermic R a weak match for dry skin?
La Roche-Posay Redermic R is a weak match for dry skin because its retinol and retinyl linoleate promote skin renewal to help smooth fine lines, but they may easily worsen your dryness and flakiness without enough heavy moisturizing and sealing ingredients. A product of this type needs soothing, deeply nourishing ingredients that target hydration and strengthen the skin barrier, such as propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, vitamin C, bifida fermentation, and peptides.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for dry skin?
This cream is a weak match for your dry skin because retinol and retinyl linoleate promote skin renewal to smooth fine lines, but they may cause irritation and worsen dryness and flakiness. A treatment for dry skin needs rich hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients like propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, vitamin C, bifida fermentation, and peptides without any risk of irritation.
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 does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
La Roche-Posay Redermic R goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, but it is a weak match because it may worsen dryness and flakiness on dry skin. To work well for this skin, a product of this type needs extra rich moisturizing ingredients that lock in hydration and soothe irritation.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in your morning routine and this treatment at night, as using them together may cause too much irritation on dry skin. To properly care for dry skin, this type of product needs rich moisturizing ingredients like petrolatum, shea butter, or ceramides to lock in moisture and prevent flakiness.
How often should I use it?
This treatment is best used in the evening, starting just once a week so your skin can adjust to the active ingredients. Because this product may cause dryness and flakiness on dry skin, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing and soothing ingredients to lock in hydration and keep skin smooth.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This product may cause flaking and worsening dryness for your dry skin because it lacks enough rich, sealing ingredients to balance out the retinol. A product for this skin needs heavy moisturizing ingredients and nourishing oils to keep it soft and smooth while smoothing fine lines.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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 hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical 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, 2017Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019The 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, 2012Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012
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 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
Ingredients
Water, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Glycerin, Octyldodecanol, Propylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glycine Soja Oil, Soybean Oil, Triethanolamine, Isohexadecane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Retinyl Linoleate, Adenosine, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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
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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
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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