Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment for combination skin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 exfoliation and hydration for your combination skin, as retinol helps regulate desquamation and sodium hyaluronate provides humectant action, though it lacks specialized ingredients to address oily shine.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
- While it provides general skincare benefits like plumping and smoothing fine lines, its primary function is not aligned with your main goal of managing oily shine.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with acne-prone skin report that this treatment effectively fades post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and dark spots, often showing visible results within a few weeks. While many praise its ability to smooth skin texture and even out tone, a significant number of users experience initial dryness, flaking, or stinging as their skin adjusts to the retinol formula.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “acne marks have disappeared within weeks”
- “dark spots are fading”
- “visibly faded my spots”
- “noticeable difference in lightening”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin vibrant and smooth”
- “leaves skin super moisturized”
- “soft and smoother”
- “improves clarity and tone”
Small quantity Often Mentioned
- “1 oz goes by in 1-2 weeks”
- “wish it were in a bigger size”
- “bottle is very small”
- “run out too quickly”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs very quickly”
- “lightweight formula”
- “doesn't feel greasy”
- “spreads out really nice”
Prevents breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “keeps acne away”
- “haven't popped a zit in a while”
- “reduces frequency of breakouts”
- “clears up my skin”
Drying and irritation Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt super dry”
- “mild redness and flaking”
- “slight burning sensation”
- “dried my face out”
Ineffective on wrinkles Rarely Noted
- “didn't do much for fine lines”
- “falls short on anti-aging”
- “no difference in wrinkles”
- “better for marks than lines”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “noticeable chemical odor”
- “smells like a lotiony chemical”
- “scent is not pleasant”
- “weird smell”
Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.com, target.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Stubborn Marks PM Treatment a great fit for combination skin?
Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment is a great fit for your combination skin because it offers moderate exfoliation and hydration, as retinol helps regulate skin shedding and sodium hyaluronate keeps skin soft. The formula is also generally safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for combination skin?
This treatment is a good fit for combination skin because retinol helps smooth and renew the skin while sodium hyaluronate adds much-needed moisture. It is generally safe for your skin type and unlikely to cause irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
What does Retinol SA do for combination skin?
Retinol SA helps smooth out fine lines and uneven tone while keeping combination skin balanced. It may improve firmness and texture over time, though an average fit for combination skin also needs soothing and hydrating ingredients to maintain a calm and comfortable feel.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015Dermatology and Therapy, 2023
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this treatment with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside benzoyl peroxide, but apply them at different times or on alternate nights to avoid heavy irritation. Since both ingredients are quite active on the skin, separating them helps maintain a calm and smooth complexion.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment fits into your evening routine. You can start using it once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and looks good, you may gradually use it more often.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, and it is generally safe without harsh ingredients that cause irritation. However, because it contains retinol which speeds up skin renewal, you may experience some mild initial purging or peeling as your skin adjusts.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2020Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995Topical 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 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, 2019A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023Topical treatments including podophyllotoxin, sodium nitrite, myrtle leaf extract, phenol, salicylic acid with lactic acid, SB206, and VP-102 were more efficacious than control in patients with molluscum contagiosum, whereas cantharidin, potassium hydroxide, and imiquimod showed varying degrees of efficacy.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2021Topical Myrtle solution significantly reduced inflammatory lesions and acne severity index compared to 1% clindamycin solution in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
Journal of Pharmacopuncture, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Bht, Retinol, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide
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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