celimax RETINAL SHOT for dry skin
Retinal
Panthenol
Matrixyl 3000Caution
- LowDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor 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 anti-aging benefits for your dry skin, as retinal and matrixyl 3000 work to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, though the retinal may cause some dryness.
- The presence of panthenol offers some hydration, but its concentration may not be sufficient to fully counteract the potential drying effects of retinal for dry skin.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this booster treatment is highly praised for its ability to rapidly smooth skin texture and refine pores. Users frequently report a 'glass skin' effect and improved makeup application. The unique tingling sensation from the spicules and the small tube size are common points of discussion.
Highlights
Smoother Skin Texture Mostly Mentioned
- “glass-like smoothness”
- “refined pores”
- “softened roughness”
Visible Firming & Anti-Aging Often Mentioned
- “plumper skin”
- “faded fine lines”
- “improved elasticity”
Prickly/Tingling Sensation Often Mentioned
- “stinging”
- “zap-like”
- “prickly”
Small Quantity Often Mentioned
- “tiny”
- “finishes too fast”
- “expensive per ml”
Better Makeup Application Sometimes Noted
- “foundation sits better”
- “creases less”
- “looks flawless”
Fast Absorption Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight”
- “non-greasy”
- “melts instantly”
Initial Irritation Sometimes Noted
- “redness”
- “dry patches”
- “mild purging”
Yellow Residue Rarely Noted
- “slight yellow tint”
- “stains pillowcases”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, celimax.us, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with celimax Retinal Shot for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because retinal may cause dryness, and the panthenol in the formula may not provide enough hydration to fully counteract that drying effect on dry skin. To fit dry skin well, a treatment of this type needs highly effective soothing ingredients that provide significant hydration and skin barrier support, such as ceramides, propolis, or bifida fermentation, without any risk of irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make it a poor fit for dry skin?
Retinal makes this treatment a poor fit for dry skin because it may cause dryness, and the panthenol included may not be enough to fully counteract those drying effects. Products of this type need soothing ingredients that provide significant hydration and skin barrier support, such as propolis, niacinamide, ceramides, and peptides, to truly suit dry skin.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Retinal do for dry skin?
Retinal helps smooth dry skin and is unlikely to cause severe dryness when used properly, though it may occasionally lead to mild scaling or irritation as the skin adjusts. This ingredient works best when paired with gentle moisturizers to keep the face feeling soft and comfortable.
What does Panthenol do for dry skin?
Panthenol helps dry skin by keeping it soft and holding onto moisture while repairing your skin barrier. It also helps soothe redness and rough patches, making it very gentle and comfortable for everyday use.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Because it contains retinal, it may dry out skin, so dry skin needs a rich moisturizer with extra hydrating ingredients and ceramides to keep skin comfortable.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
It is best to use vitamin C in your morning routine and this treatment at night, as applying them together may make dry skin too sensitive. This product needs extra hydration and soothing ingredients like panthenol to keep dry skin comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
How often should I use it?
This treatment should be used just once a week in the evening to help your dry skin adjust, as the retinal may cause dryness. To work well on dry skin, a product of this type needs extra soothing and hydrating ingredients like ceramides and rich oils to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores, but the retinal in it may cause dryness or peeling on dry skin. Dry skin needs rich moisturizers with ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to keep skin soft and protect its barrier when using treatments like this.
What the research says
A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical 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, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Twice 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, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 1999Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic 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, 2020Chronomodulated 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
Ingredients
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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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
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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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
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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