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No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate for acne-prone skin

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 concentrate utilizes retinol and niacinamide to regulate desquamation and sebum production, effectively addressing your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The inclusion of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 further supports skin renewal, working synergistically with retinol to minimize fine lines and wrinkles.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and carries no risk of irritation.

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

★4.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviews

This potent 1% retinol concentrate is highly regarded by experienced users for effectively smoothing skin texture, reducing the appearance of deep wrinkles, and fading dark spots. While it delivers transformative results, it is a strong formula that requires careful introduction to avoid dryness and irritation.

Highlights

  • Effective anti-aging Mostly Mentioned
    • “Softened fine lines”
    • “reduced deep wrinkles”
    • “skin looks younger”
    • “transformed my skin”
  • Improves texture Often Mentioned
    • “Skin looks smoother”
    • “visibly improved texture”
    • “fresher, plumper appearance”
  • Causes dryness Often Mentioned
    • “Can be drying”
    • “very drying”
    • “needs a cream over the top”
  • Good value Sometimes Noted
    • “Best value retinol”
    • “brilliant price point”
    • “quality retinol”
  • Reduces dark spots Sometimes Noted
    • “Lightened sun spots”
    • “pigmentation look reduced”
    • “evened out skin tone”
  • Potential irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “Slight sensitivity and peeling”
    • “burning sensation”
    • “not for sensitive skin”
  • Requires care Sometimes Noted
    • “Not for beginners”
    • “must follow directions”
    • “faff to use two products”

Sources: lovi.care, no7beauty.com, ulta.com, getthegloss.com, beautyheaven.com.au, theaestheticsdoctors.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

What makes No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate a great fit for acne-prone skin?

This concentrate is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it uses retinol and niacinamide to help control oil and clear breakouts. It also includes soothing ingredients that make it safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019

Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Retinol and niacinamide make this treatment a great fit by helping to regulate skin shedding and oil production to keep acne-prone skin clear. Niacinamide and centella asiatica leaf extract also help keep skin calm, while panthenol adds moisture.

What does Retinol do for acne-prone skin?

Retinol helps acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and clearing pores to reduce breakouts. It regulates skin growth and fights inflammation, though it may cause some mild peeling or stinging when you first start using it.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

What do Collagen Peptides do for acne-prone skin?

Collagen peptides are generally safe for acne-prone skin, though they do not directly treat active breakouts. Instead, this type of product focuses on improving skin hydration and elasticity, so acne-prone skin needs added ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help clear blemishes and control oil.

Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this treatment 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 at separate times helps avoid skin irritation. This product is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it regulates oil production and helps clear breakouts without harsh ingredients.

American Family Physician, 2012

How often should I use this treatment?

Apply this treatment in the evening as part of your nighttime routine. It is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it uses retinol and niacinamide to help balance oil and keep pores clear with a very low risk of irritation.

Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014

Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This treatment is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it uses retinol and niacinamide to help regulate oil and clear out pores, reducing breakouts. It may cause some dryness or temporary purging as your skin gets used to it, but it contains no harsh ingredients to cause undue irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019

Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

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

What the research says

  • Chronomodulated 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, 2026
  • 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
  • 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
  • A 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, 2021
  • Exposure 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, 2024
  • Salmo 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, 2020
  • 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
  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
  • A 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, 2017
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dimethicone, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Niacinamide, Retinol, Phenoxyethanol, Inulin Lauryl Carbamate, Panthenol, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dimethiconol, Bisabolol, Caprylyl Glycol, Behentrimonium Chloride, Sucrose Laurate, Sorbitan Laurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Tetrasodium Edta, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Benzoic Acid, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Benzyl 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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