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No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate for sensitive skin

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

No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate

Average

  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for sensitive skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 palmitoyl tripeptide-1, which are beneficial for your normal skin type by providing antioxidant activity and barrier repair.
  • While glycerin and panthenol offer general hydration and soothing benefits, they are not the primary focus for addressing your specific concerns of redness and irritation.
  • The product is safe for your sensitive skin as it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Bisabolol and Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract.

How to apply

  • Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
  • Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
  • Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .

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

How well does No7 Pure Retinol work for sensitive skin?

No7 Pure Retinol 1% Night Concentrate works moderately well for sensitive skin, helping smooth fine lines with retinol while keeping irritation low with soothing ingredients like centella asiatica and bisabolol. Because it does not focus heavily on calming redness, a treatment for sensitive skin needs soothing helpers like niacinamide and gentle hydrators to keep the skin calm and comfortable.

Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for sensitive skin?

Bisabolol and Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract help make this treatment safe for sensitive skin by soothing it, while retinol helps smooth fine lines. A product for this skin needs ingredients that directly target redness and irritation with no risk of upset.

What does Retinol do for sensitive skin?

Retinol is generally too harsh for sensitive skin and may cause stinging, scaling, and irritation. A product for this skin needs gentle ingredients that smooth and calm without causing redness.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Toxicology Letters, 2003

What do Collagen Peptides do for sensitive skin?

Collagen peptides help improve hydration, elasticity, and barrier strength for sensitive skin. They may also support a calm, smooth feel by keeping the skin well-moisturized and reducing dryness.

Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2021Journal of Medicinal Food, 2022

Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing and toning steps, and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your sensitive skin since it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract and Bisabolol. However, this skin type needs a product focused primarily on calming redness and irritation rather than moderate line-smoothing.

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 apart helps prevent irritation on sensitive skin. To make this product work best for sensitive skin, it needs soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica and panthenol, alongside gentle hydration.

How often should I use this treatment?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting slowly once or twice a week to see how your sensitive skin responds. This product of this type needs calming ingredients and extra hydration to keep sensitive skin comfortable while using strong actives.

Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?

This treatment may cause dryness and irritation on sensitive skin, and retinol can cause temporary breakouts or purging as it speeds up skin renewal. To work well for sensitive skin, a product of this type needs extra soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators to calm redness while smoothing the skin.

Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl 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, 2017

  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023

  • 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

  • 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

Why other serums fit sensitive skin better

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.

  • 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

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play