L'Oreal Paris Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum for oily skin
Ascorbic Acid
Vitamin E
Salicylic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
AdenosineSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for oily skin.
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 the high concentrations of Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) and Salicylic Acid, which effectively brighten and smooth your complexion by exfoliating and clearing pores.
- Tocopherol and Adenosine further enhance the formula by providing antioxidant protection and supporting skin renewal, addressing your concerns about oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence 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
★4.4Overall rating based on 5.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report that this serum effectively brightens dull complexions and smooths skin texture, with many noticing a visible "glow" and softer skin within a few weeks. The lightweight, non-greasy formula is praised for layering well. A significant minority of users experience issues with the product oxidizing quickly or dislike its distinct scent.
Highlights
Brightens skin tone Mostly Mentioned
- “Instantly offers a more radiant skin complexion”
- “Skin looks 70% brighter”
- “Gave me the boost to go makeup-free”
- “Noticed a big difference in my skin... no longer wake up with whiteheads”
Absorbs quickly Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs into skin fast without leaving residue”
- “Sinks in without a tingle”
- “Non-greasy and lightweight feel”
- “Sinks into the skin fast”
Smooths skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling soft”
- “Feels 83% smoother”
- “Skin texture is back to my version of normal”
- “Visibly reduces lines, pores, evens tone”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “Subtle difference in my fine lines around my eyes”
- “Fights early aging signs like... fine lines”
- “Key signs of early aging look reduced”
- “Visibly reduces lines”
Oxidizes quickly Sometimes Noted
- “First bottle went off half way through”
- “Concerns about oxidation”
- “Turns orange/brown on the skin”
- “Product discoloration after opening”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like bleach”
- “Has a meaty smell”
- “Strong fragrance that I didn't like”
- “Smell is overpowering”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Wake up with a family of new whiteheads”
- “Caused breakouts on my chin”
- “Not suitable for my sensitive skin”
- “Irritated my acne-prone skin”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “Pilling/Does not layer well”
- “Left a sticky residue”
- “Felt tacky on the skin”
- “Peels off under makeup”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, walmart.com, lorealparisusa.com, ulta.com, cvs.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes L'Oreal Paris Revitalift 12% Vitamin C + E + Salicylic Serum one of the best fits for oily skin?
This serum is one of the best fits for oily skin because it contains high concentrations of vitamin C and salicylic acid that effectively brighten and smooth your complexion by clearing pores. Tocopherol and adenosine further help protect and renew the skin while addressing oily shine without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020BioMed Research International, 2020
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily skin because high concentrations of Ascorbic Acid and Salicylic Acid brighten and smooth your complexion by clearing pores and exfoliating. Tocopherol and Adenosine also help protect your skin and address oily shine with an excellent safety profile.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.
What does Vitamin E do for oily skin?
Vitamin E helps balance oily skin by reducing excess oil and calming redness. It is also unlikely to clog pores while helping to keep your skin smooth and properly hydrated.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum is used in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting once a week and gradually increasing frequency if tolerated well. It helps brighten and smooth your oily complexion while clearing pores.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use Vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night to avoid irritation. Using strong exfoliating acids and retinoids together may sometimes cause dryness or sensitivity on oily skin.
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps your oily skin adjust without irritation while clearing pores and smoothing your complexion.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin because it contains salicylic acid to help clear pores and has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the formula is designed to smooth your complexion and manage oily shine.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, 2025Dermatological 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, 2021Topical 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, 2024Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Topical 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, 2019Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Potassium Hydroxide, Polysilicone-11, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Silica, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Laureth-7, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Poloxamer 338, Polyacrylamide, Sorbitan Laurate, Xanthan Gum, Bis-Peg Ppg-16 16 Peg Ppg-16 16 Dimethicone, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Salicylic Acid, Parfum
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.