Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum for oily skin
Retinal
Niacinamide
Ceramides
Squalane
Adaptogens
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 benefits for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and retinal supports desquamation, though it doesn't directly target oily shine as a primary concern.
- The formula is highly suitable for oily skin and generally safe, with no reported irritation risks due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
- It provides excellent treatment for fine lines and wrinkles and evens skin tone, contributing to overall skin health.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers with acne-prone and textured skin report significant improvements in smoothness and clarity, often seeing faster results than with traditional retinols without the typical irritation. While the yellow tint and high price point are common complaints, the majority find it to be a gentle, effective solution for brightening dark spots and refining pores.
Highlights
Smoother texture Mostly Mentioned
- “acne has disappeared”
- “skin looking super smooth”
- “smoothing rough skin”
- “helped with texture”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation redness”
- “gave me nothing but happy skin”
- “gentle efficacy”
- “no discomfort”
Yellow tint Often Mentioned
- “turned skin yellow”
- “stained my skin”
- “yellow tint looks odd”
- “face yellow and tacky”
Brightening and glow Sometimes Noted
- “visibly brighter”
- “radiant look”
- “dark spots fading”
- “even out skin tone”
Fast visible results Sometimes Noted
- “results in one week”
- “fast acting”
- “results within couple weeks”
- “shocked by amount of results”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey side”
- “costs way too much”
- “out of budget”
Hydrating feel Rarely Noted
- “plump juicy brighter”
- “hydrating ingredients”
- “skin feels better”
- “not heavy or greasy”
Dryness and flaking Rarely Noted
- “felt dry and flaky”
- “little drying”
- “drys out the skin”
- “skin felt dry”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “not doing anything”
- “didn't find added value”
- “unhelpful for acne”
- “no change in pores”
Pump issues Rarely Noted
- “pump is awful”
- “pump hard to press”
- “stiff pump”
- “impossible to get little product”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, youthtothepeople.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin because niacinamide helps control oil and retinal helps smooth texture, though it does not directly target oily shine as a main goal. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but an oily skin routine also needs ingredients like zinc or targeted mattifying agents to manage excess shine and keep pores clear.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and retinal make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping control oil and smooth the skin. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and light hydrators to manage excess oil and enlarged pores while keeping the skin calm and clear.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Retinal do for oily skin?
Retinal helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and clearing clogged pores when used daily. This ingredient is well-suited for managing breakouts while keeping skin smooth and calm.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with serums featuring lightweight hydration and oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide.
Can I use this serum with AHA, and in what order?
You can use this serum with AHA, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use the AHA in the morning to avoid overloading your skin. This formula is unlikely to cause irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients, but combining strong treatments too closely may increase dryness.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment works well in the evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly increasing frequency if your skin tolerates it well. Oily skin works best with products that combine oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide with light, non-greasy hydrators.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Youth To The People Retinal + Niacinamide Youth Serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a safe formula without harsh ingredients, though retinal may cause mild flaking as it helps smooth the skin. Oily skin works best with lightweight treatments containing niacinamide to help balance oil and keep pores clear.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2021Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Twice 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, 1999Topical 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 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 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, 2025
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, Butylene Glycol, Triethylhexanoin, Niacinamide, Squalane, Cyclodextrin, Glycerin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Grifola Frondosa Fruiting Body Extract, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Arginine, Retinal, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Ganoderma Lucidum Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Letinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Oil Shea Oil, Ceramide Eop, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Capryloyl Glycerin Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tocopherol, Carbomer, Hydrolyzed Glycosaminoglycans, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pentylene Glycol, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Diheptyl Succinate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phytosterols, Propanediol, Benzyl Glycol, Raspberry Ketone
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.