COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Acetyl Glucosamine
Zinc Pca
Trehalose
AllantoinHigh
- SuperiorOily 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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by niacinamide and zinc pca, which effectively regulate sebum production to combat oily shine and reduce acne lesions.
- Allantoin and trehalose further support skin hydration and soothe the skin, enhancing overall comfort for your oily skin type.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
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 3.1k+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its ability to significantly control sebum and refine pore texture, often delivering a smoother, "glass skin" finish. The high 15% concentration is effective for many, but frequently causes irritation, stinging, or barrier damage for those with sensitive or dry skin types. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Controls excess oil Mostly Mentioned
- “less oily T-zone”
- “regulated sebum production”
- “kept oil at bay”
- “balanced my skin”
- “matte but glowing”
Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “non-sticky finish”
- “lightweight consistency”
- “layers well”
- “watery and fresh”
Reduces pore visibility Often Mentioned
- “pores look smaller”
- “tightened my pores”
- “pores less visible”
- “refined pore texture”
- “shrunk enlarged pores”
Smoothes skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “bumpy texture gone”
- “smooths rough skin”
- “glass skin effect”
- “improved skin surface”
Fades acne marks Sometimes Noted
- “lightened dark spots”
- “faded post-acne marks”
- “helped with hyperpigmentation”
- “scars are lighter”
- “evened skin tone”
Causes irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stinging sensation”
- “face turned red”
- “burning on application”
- “itchy skin”
- “sensitized my face”
Too strong Sometimes Noted
- “15% is too harsh”
- “damaged skin barrier”
- “too potent for me”
- “over-exfoliated feeling”
- “strong chemical reaction”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “caused flaky patches”
- “skin felt tight”
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “sucked moisture out”
Induces breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused whiteheads”
- “broke me out”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
- “worsened my acne”
- “clogged my pores”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, iherb.com, sokoglam.com, yesstyle.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum a great fit for oily skin?
COSRX The Niacinamide 15 Serum is a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide and zinc PCA help control extra oil and keep breakouts down, while allantoin and trehalose soothe and hydrate without making skin greasy. Its formula has a very safe profile and is unlikely to cause irritation.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Skin Research and Technology, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and zinc pca make this serum a great fit for oily skin because they help control oil and reduce breakouts. Allantoin and trehalose also help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Skin Research and Technology, 2024
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
What does Acetyl Glucosamine do for oily skin?
Acetyl glucosamine helps keep oily skin feeling smooth by normalizing how the outer skin layer sheds, which reduces flakiness and boosts hydration. A product of this type for oily skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, which keeps things simple and avoids extra safety concerns around sun exposure. It is safe for your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the treatment first in your evening routine to help regulate oil and soothe the skin. Pairing these ingredients is generally safe and helps manage breakouts while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation, helping to regulate oil and keep your face calm and comfortable.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Skin Research and Technology, 2024
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it contains ingredients that help control excess oil and soothe the skin. While a small number of reviewers report breakouts, the formula's gentle components make adverse reactions uncommon.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Niacinamide 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 2% N-acetyl glucosamine reduced facial hyperpigmentation in an 8-week split-face clinical test, with an even greater effect observed when combined with 4% niacinamide.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007Topical 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, 2005N-acetyl-glucosamine-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers successfully delivered the hydrophilic agent through the skin and reduced melanin distribution in healthy volunteers.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2016Topical cosmetic products containing hyaluronic acid, N-acetyl glucosamine, and gamma-amino butyric acid improved skin hydration by 24.28% to 33.60%, elasticity by 11.98%, and skin lightening by 5.26% over 2 months in 20 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2019Liposomes containing N-acetyl glucosamine prepared using the fusion method significantly increased skin moisture content compared to empty liposomes in human volunteers over a 5-hour period.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Topical chloramphenicol-betamethasone combined with sodium hyaluronate/trehalose/carbomer gel compared to chloramphenicol-betamethasone alone reduced most subjective symptoms at 1 week but increased blurred vision at 4 weeks following strabismus surgery in 31 patients, with no significant differences in conjunctival inflammation between treatments.
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2019Topical treatment with Thealoz Duo significantly improved dry eye disease symptoms, tear break-up time, and restored tear lipid layer functionality by reducing inflammatory response proteins in moderate to severe dry eye patients over 56 days.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025An injectable product combining different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid and trehalose reduced CML formation by 45% at baseline and 30% under methylglyoxal-induced stress while preserving cell viability in human skin explants compared to untreated controls.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, 1,2-Hexanediol, Zinc Pca, Trehalose, Hydrolyzed Sclerotium Gum, Pullulan, Allantoin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid
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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