Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Dipropylene Glycol
Betaine
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
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 benefits for oily shine and oily skin due to the presence of niacinamide, which helps regulate sebum production and improve skin texture.
- Glycerin and betaine provide hydration and support skin barrier function, which is beneficial for maintaining comfortable, balanced oily skin.
- The product is safe for your oily 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-sticky feel and its effectiveness in visibly reducing pores and smoothing skin texture, all at an accessible price. Many users found it beneficial for controlling oil and redness. A smaller number of users reported experiencing breakouts or irritation, indicating it might not be suitable for all sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Affordable price Mostly Mentioned
- “great value”
- “inexpensive”
- “worth every penny”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “improved skin texture”
- “refine skin tone”
Minimizes pores Often Mentioned
- “pores are much smaller”
- “reduction in pore size”
- “less visible pores”
Controls oil/redness Sometimes Noted
- “calm my skin”
- “helping with oil production”
- “improvement in redness”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs right away”
- “not sticky or greasy”
- “layers seamlessly”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “gave me little white bumps”
- “breaking out a ton”
- “caused acne”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “don't see much difference”
- “no obvious improvement”
- “did nothing”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is difficult”
- “hard to dispense”
- “bottle design flaws”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “skin started tingling”
- “irritation on my face”
- “burning sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, beautylish.com, target.com, walmart.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum work for oily skin?
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum works moderately well for oily skin by helping control shine and improve texture. It contains niacinamide and glycerin to support a balanced, comfortable feel without causing irritation. To get a better fit for oily skin, a product of this type needs additional oil-controlling ingredients like zinc PCA or ferulic acid, along with barrier-supporting ceramides.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and improve skin texture, while glycerin and betaine provide hydration and support skin barrier function for comfortable, balanced oily skin. A product of this type needs ingredients that control oil and enhance radiance without irritation, such as niacinamide and zinc PCA, along with barrier-supporting components like ceramides.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol treatment in your evening routine. Niacinamide helps keep oily skin comfortable and balanced while keeping your skin calm and safe from irritation. A product for oily skin also needs ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to manage shine and hydrate without feeling heavy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Skin Research and Technology, 2003
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Oily skin often benefits most from products that combine oil control with lighter hydrators like glycerin and niacinamide.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum may cause breakouts for oily skin, as some reviewers report this issue. Oily skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that help balance oil without heavy textures.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Topical 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, 2005The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007Mixed surfactant systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine significantly reduce acute skin irritation potential in human volunteers compared with the individual surfactants, demonstrating that irritation potential cannot be predicted by simple summation.
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998Polyhexanide/betaine may be nontoxic and effective in enhancing wound healing, whereas the majority of other topical cleaning agents are locally toxic and of limited or no proven efficacy.
Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol
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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