Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum for dry sensitive skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Baicalin
Glutathione
Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract FermentHigh
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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
- Excellent suitability for your dry skin is provided by Sodium Hyaluronate and Propanediol, which offer humectant action to combat dryness and flakiness.
- The serum also offers moderate hydration and soothing effects for your dry and sensitive skin, thanks to Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this PM routine for your evening skincare. Start using the serum 3 times a week and increase to daily use if your skin feels comfortable.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer. This step locks in deep hydration for dry skin.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin using your palms. Let it absorb completely for a minute ⏱ before applying your next product.
- Since your skin is sensitive, apply the serum on completely dry skin for better tolerance and less irritation.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Always do a patch test before your first use to ensure your skin reacts well.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers frequently highlight the serum's elegant, non-sticky texture and its ability to provide immediate, deep hydration, leaving skin soothed and glowing. Many also appreciate its effectiveness in calming redness and plumping the skin. A significant number of reviewers, however, question the product's value, finding the high price point unjustified given the perceived lack of dramatic anti-aging results compared to more affordable options.
Highlights
Superior texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs almost immediately”
- “leaves no residue”
- “silky but not pore-clogging”
- “glides across face”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “extremely expensive”
- “waste of money”
- “not worth the price tag”
- “ridiculously priced”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels refreshed”
- “very hydrating and plumps”
- “cool drink of water”
- “relieves dry tight skin”
Calming and soothing Sometimes Noted
- “calmed down redness”
- “skin feels calmer”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “reduced inflammation”
Radiance and glow Sometimes Noted
- “noticeably brighter”
- “gives baby soft skin”
- “youthful radiance”
- “skin looks healthy”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “don't see any difference”
- “didn't achieve flawless skin”
- “no miracle results”
- “just a moisturizer”
Basic ingredients Rarely Noted
- “just a hyaluronic serum”
- “can get cheaper dupes”
- “paying for the brand”
- “basic ingredients list”
Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, cultbeauty.com, mecca.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum is a great fit because Sodium Hyaluronate and Propanediol tackle dryness and flakiness, while Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment helps calm sensitive areas. It is unlikely to cause irritation since it leaves out harsh ingredients.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Sodium Hyaluronate and Propanediol make this serum a great fit by combating dryness and flakiness, while Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment adds soothing effects and moderate hydration. These ingredients have an excellent safety profile, meaning they are very unlikely to irritate your skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
What does Baicalin do for dry sensitive skin?
Baicalin helps calm sensitive skin and fights daily skin aging, making it feel more comfortable and soft. A product with this ingredient is safe for sensitive skin, but dry skin also needs rich moisturizing ingredients and oils to stay smooth and hydrated.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, 2026International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing, to keep things simple and safe around sun exposure. It is also used after a nourishing mask on weekly routine days.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to calm your skin, and then following with your retinol. This approach helps keep your dry and sensitive skin comfortable while you use active treatments.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is used in the evening as part of your routine. It is unlikely to cause irritation on dry and sensitive skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on dry sensitive skin. Its safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022Topical 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, 2019A nighttime topical antioxidant containing resveratrol, baicalin, and vitamin E significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, laxity, hyperpigmentation, radiance, roughness, and dermal thickness in subjects with mild to moderately photodamaged skin over 12 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Motor baicalin encapsulated in bio-vesicles enhanced water solubility, stability, transdermal penetration, antioxidant activity, and clinical skin antiaging efficacy compared to liposome baicalin and baicalin raw material.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Chronomodulated 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, 2026Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2023Topical application of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea accelerates wound healing by decreasing wound surface area and increasing tensile strength in Mus musculus JVI-1, with the greatest contraction achieved at a single dose of 50mg compared to other dosages.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003A polysaccharide fraction (VPOP3) from Portulaca oleracea L. reduced reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis, and downregulated melanogenic signaling pathway proteins in cells and zebrafish.
Phytomedicine, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Baicalin, Glutathione
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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