🇬🇧United Kingdom

Allies of Skin 1A Retinal & Peptides Overnight Mask for combination skin

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other nourishing masks fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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

  • This formulation offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, with retinal and niacinamide providing benefits like desquamation regulation and seboregulation, though it may lack sufficient lightweight humectants for optimal hydration of drier areas.
  • The product provides excellent skin nourishment due to glycerin and argan kernel oil, which offer significant moisturizing benefits, but these are general skincare benefits that do not specifically target your oily shine.
  • The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing ingredients like argan kernel oil and honeysuckle flower extract.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using your creamy mask 3x a week and work up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • Apply your creamy mask after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer to lock in benefits. This step fits nicely right in the middle of your daily routine.
  • Smooth an even layer of the creamy mask gently over your face, avoiding any unnecessary heavy rubbing. Let it sit for a few minutes ⏱ so your skin can drink it in.
  • Apply the creamy mask on clean and dry skin to help manage oily shine effectively. This ensures the product works best for your combination skin type.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a simple patch test before your very first use to make sure your skin is happy.

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently describe this mask as a "game-changer" for acne-prone and aging skin, praising its ability to deliver potent retinal results without the typical dryness or irritation associated with retinoids. The formula is frequently highlighted for simultaneously smoothing texture, reducing breakouts, and deeply hydrating the skin overnight, leaving a "glass skin" effect by morning.

Highlights

  • Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin felt so much smoother by morning”
    • “visibly plumper and polished”
    • “texture improved instantly”
  • Non-drying hydration Often Mentioned
    • “no flaking or dryness”
    • “skin feels nourished not stripped”
    • “intense hydration for a retinal”
  • Reduces acne Often Mentioned
    • “angriness in breakouts reduced”
    • “cleared up my hormonal acne”
    • “reduced acne lesions significantly”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “very expensive for the amount”
    • “pricey but worth it”
    • “wish it was more affordable”
  • Brightening radiance Sometimes Noted
    • “woke up with glowing skin”
    • “skin looked brighter and even”
    • “removed dullness overnight”
  • Yellow staining Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves yellow residue on pillowcases”
    • “bright yellow color stains”
    • “face looks yellow until washed”
  • Potential irritation Rarely Noted
    • “caused a purging phase”
    • “strong for sensitive skin”
    • “tingled and caused redness initially”
  • Rich texture Rarely Noted
    • “a tad too rich for daily use”
    • “felt slightly sticky”
    • “heavy for very oily skin”

Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, allies.shop, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Allies of Skin 1A Retinal & Peptides Overnight Mask work for combination skin?

This mask works reasonably well for combination skin, helping balance oil while keeping the skin soft and nourished without causing irritation. However, a product of this type needs lighter hydrators and targeted ingredients that address both the dry and oily areas effectively to truly thrive on this skin type.

Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for combination skin?

Retinal and niacinamide help this mask fit your combination skin by regulating oil and smoothing the surface. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients, effective oil control, and balanced hydrators that target both dry and oily areas without causing irritation.

What does Retinal do for combination skin?

Retinal helps smooth the skin and reduces signs of aging or breakouts when used regularly. It is unlikely to cause severe irritation when introduced gradually, keeping combination skin feeling calm and smooth.

European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011

What do Peptides do for combination skin?

Peptides help combination skin by keeping it smooth, supporting firmness, and boosting hydration. They also help reduce the appearance of lines and encourage skin repair, though absorption depends on the formula.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Food & Function, 2019

Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This nourishing mask fits into the evening routine as a treatment step after cleansing and toning. Combination skin of this type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate to keep drier areas balanced without feeling heavy.

Can I use this mask with AHA, and in what order?

This mask works for your combination skin, though other products fit it better because it may lack sufficient lightweight humectants for optimal hydration of drier areas while managing your oily shine. To use it with an AHA, apply your AHA first on clean skin, wait for it to absorb, and then follow with this mask. This type of skin needs lightweight humectants to keep drier areas hydrated and balanced alongside ingredients that regulate oil.

How often should I use this mask?

Use this mask in the evening as a nourishing treatment, starting slowly to see how your skin adjusts. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators to keep drier areas balanced without making your oily zones too shiny.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a good safety profile with no harsh or irritating ingredients. Retinal may cause some initial purging or flaking as it speeds up skin renewal, but soothing ingredients help keep irritation low.

Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (geraniol, limonene, and linalool).

What the research says

  • 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
  • Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
  • Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.

    Dermatology, 2002
  • Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.

    Dermatology, 1999
  • 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 0.1% 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • A 0.4% formulation of natural pterostilbene reduced markers of aging, wrinkles, and fine lines while improving skin hydration and elasticity in healthy volunteers over 8 weeks.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2020
  • Pterostilbene at 20 μM protected HaCaT keratinocytes from particulate matter-induced damage by reducing intracellular ROS, inhibiting AHR nuclear translocation, suppressing inflammation and aging protein cascades, and rescuing moisturizing protein expression.

    Antioxidants, 2021
  • Topical pterostilbene is equally or more potent than resveratrol in inhibiting TPA-induced AP-1, NF-kappaB, COX-2, and iNOS activation in mouse epidermis.

    Molecular Nutrition & Food Research, 2008

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil Argan Kernel Oil, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Callus Culture Extract, Retinal, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Candida Saitoana Extract, Albizia Julibrissin Bark Extract, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Galactoarabinan, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Cassia Angustifolia Polysaccharide Seed Alexandrian Senna Seed Polysaccharide Seed, Sodium Hyaluronate, Oxycoccus Palustris Seed Oil Cranberry Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Berry Seed Oil Cloud Berry Seed Oil, Niacinamide, Pterostilbene, Ellagic Acid, Phenyl T-Butylnitrone Spin Trap, Ergothioneine, Glutathione, Mirabilis Jalapa Extract, N-Hydroxysuccinimide, Chrysin, Glutamyl Amidoethyl Imidazole, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Lavandula Hybrida Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cyclodextrin, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dextran, Acetyl Tributyl Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool

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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Prices checked 3 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the United Kingdom.

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