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ZO Skin Health Firming Serum for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few serums fit it even 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, this serum utilizes humectants like glycerin and propanediol to hydrate without adding excess oil, while Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3 and plant stem cells offer excellent firming and plumping benefits.
  • While it provides general hydration beneficial for oily shine, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oiliness.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Tocopheryl Acetate.

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 300+ reviews

This product is highly praised for its ability to visibly lift, tighten, and improve the structural integrity of aging skin. Users across various skin types report that the lightweight, hydrating formula effectively reduces the appearance of sagging jowls and fine lines, resulting in a more defined and youthful facial contour.

Highlights

  • Visible firming Mostly Mentioned
    • “My jowls don't bother me as much.”
    • “Finally got that much-needed lift.”
    • “Marionette lines appear less pronounced.”
    • “Visibly tightens and firms the skin.”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “Lightweight and tolerable formulation.”
    • “Gel formula, super hydrating without heaviness.”
    • “Absorbs quickly, feels amazing.”
  • Expensive product Often Mentioned
    • “I just wish it weren't so expensive!”
    • “Even though it's expensive I love it.”
    • “Price is a bit high for the amount.”
  • Improves texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels smoother, wrinkles reduced.”
    • “Skin quality improved greatly.”
    • “Skin feels hydrated and plump.”
  • Minimal results Rarely Noted
    • “Actives are not the most effective.”
    • “Effect is most likely minimal.”
    • “Hard to photograph results.”

Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, judge.me, myfacedr.com, uzuriaesthetics.com, whatsinmyjar.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes ZO Firming Serum a great fit for oily skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because it hydrates using glycerin and propanediol without adding excess oil, while peptides and plant stem cells help firm and plump. It also has a very safe profile with soothing ingredients that are unlikely to cause irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because it uses glycerin and propanediol to hydrate without adding extra oil, alongside plant stem cells and Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3 for firming benefits. It also includes soothing components like Tocopheryl Acetate, which helps keep the safety profile very high without causing irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Retinyl Palmitate do for oily skin?

Retinyl palmitate helps manage breakouts and smooth texture in oily skin with a low likelihood of irritation. This type of skin also benefits from ingredients that balance oil production and keep pores clear.

International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019

What does Sodium DNA do for oily skin?

Sodium DNA helps calm and repair oily skin while supporting its moisture barrier. It may improve skin firmness and is unlikely to feel heavy.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid extra safety concerns around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

This serum is unlikely to irritate your skin and can be used in your evening routine, but you may want to apply it carefully if you are already using a separate retinol product. Since it already contains Retinyl Palmitate, combining it with other strong vitamin A treatments might feel too heavy for your skin.

How often should I use this serum?

This serum is used in the evening as part of your routine. It is a great fit for your oily skin because it hydrates without adding extra oil while offering firming benefits.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on oily skin. It features a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like Tocopheryl Acetate and hydrating agents that add moisture without extra oil.

Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum and limonene).

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, 2024
  • 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
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021
  • A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
  • A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
  • Topical application of Low-Peony PDRN enhanced barrier recovery and improved periorbital skin elasticity in human subjects.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
  • Polydeoxyribonucleotide promotes skin regeneration by increasing ERK phosphorylation, collagen accumulation, and cell proliferation and migration in fibroblasts while inhibiting ERK phosphorylation and inflammatory cytokine expression in keratinocytes.

    Molecular Medicine Reports, 2023
  • A topical mixture of polydeoxyribonucleotide, vitamin C, and niacinamide delivered via a microneedling therapy system decreased skin pigmentation and increased skin elasticity by attenuating melanogenesis and the destruction of collagen and elastin fibers in a UV-B-radiated animal model.

    Molecules, 2022
  • Leontopodium alpinum callus culture extract improved anti-periorbital wrinkles, skin elasticity, dermal density, skin thickness, antioxidant activity, and moisturizing activity while suppressing inflammation and wrinkling compared to placebo and in response to UVB treatment.

    Genes, 2020
  • Leontopodium alpinum callus culture extract at 10-15 mg/mL promoted COL-I production and inhibited MMP-1, OPN3, ROS, and calcium influx in a blue-light-induced human foreskin fibroblast damage model, indicating an anti-blue-light-damage effect through the OPN3-calcium pathway.

    Molecules, 2023
  • A concentrated ethanol extract of Edelweiss callus culture (ECC55) protected primary human keratinocytes and endotheliocytes against various inflammatory and oxidative stimuli by inhibiting chemokine release, restoring sirtuin-inhibited cellular markers, and suppressing inflammation-related gene expression.

    Mediators of Inflammation, 2012
  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Dna, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Marrubium Vulgare Meristem Cell Culture, Melilotus Officinalis Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Caprooyl Tetrapeptide-3, Lecithin, Dextran, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Carbomer, Aminomethyl Propanol, Cellulose, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Lactose, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Ultramarines, Ext, Violet 2, Limonene

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.