Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum for oily skin
Squalane
Bakuchiol
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Biosaccharide Gum-1
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 skin smoothing for your oily skin due to bakuchiol and niacinamide, which help regulate texture and oil production.
- While squalane and hyaluronic acid provide general hydration, they do not directly address your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risk of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like squalane and niacinamide.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsUsers frequently report improvements in skin texture and significant hydration without the irritation commonly associated with retinoids. Some users find the name misleading and the scent polarizing, while others note the high price and recent availability issues.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “No redness or flaking”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
Hydrating and moisturizing Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Makes skin glow”
- “Very moisturizing”
Availability issues Often Mentioned
- “Discontinued”
- “Hard to find”
- “Out of stock”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Smoother texture”
- “Helps fine lines”
- “Skin feels bouncy”
Lightweight formula Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs well”
- “Non-greasy”
- “Lightweight feel”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive”
- “Pricey”
- “Not budget friendly”
Misleading name Sometimes Noted
- “Contains no retinol”
- “Confusing marketing”
- “Just Bakuchiol”
Polarizing scent Rarely Noted
- “Unique smell”
- “Dislike the scent”
- “Smells like rose”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, sephora.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin by smoothing texture and helping control oil through bakuchiol and niacinamide. Although it provides safe hydration without clogging pores, it lacks targeted ingredients for oily shine. Oily skin works best with treatments containing niacinamide, zinc pca, and lightweight hydration to control excess oil and pores.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Bakuchiol and niacinamide make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping regulate texture and oil production. An oily skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control sebum and manage oily shine, alongside lightweight hydrators and soothing extracts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
What does Bakuchiol do for oily skin?
Bakuchiol helps balance oily skin by regulating sebum production and reducing inflammation with a very low likelihood of irritation. This type of skin needs ingredients that provide antibacterial and anti-inflammatory benefits to help control breakouts and keep pores clear.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2016Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the routine simple and safe around sun exposure. To better fit oily skin, this type of product needs ingredients that directly address oily shine and excess oil production.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
This product already contains bakuchiol, which works similarly to retinol, so using a separate retinol product at the same time is usually unnecessary and may cause extra dryness or irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
Apply this serum in your evening routine, starting once a week and using it more often if your skin handles it well. This type of oily skin needs products with ingredients like oil-absorbing minerals or purifying clays to tackle shine directly.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or trigger purging on oily skin, as its safe formula includes soothing ingredients like squalane and niacinamide without harsh irritants. However, to better manage oily shine, this skin type typically benefits from lightweight treatments with oil-controlling and pore-clearing ingredients.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, geraniol, and limonene).
What the research says
A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.
Health Science Reports, 2025Bakuchiol functions as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression, producing significant improvements in lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and photo-damage after 12 weeks of twice-a-day facial application without usual retinol therapy-associated undesirable effects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014A nature-based bakuchiol-containing cleanser and moisturizer improved visual and tactile smoothness, clarity, radiance, overall appearance, global anti-aging, and skin moisture content by 16% in 60 female subjects with sensitive mild to moderate photodamaged skin over 4 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2020Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2019
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Yeast Extract, Amino Acids, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
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
How does it fit your skin?
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