Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment for oily skin
Retinol Sa
Ascorbic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 as retinol and ascorbic acid manage oiliness and promote renewal, while sodium hyaluronate provides hydration and plumps fine lines.
- The presence of Bht and phenoxyethanol ensures a stable and safe formula, minimizing potential irritation for your skin.
- This product is safe for your oily skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.3Overall 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 Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment a great fit for oily skin?
Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment is a great fit because retinol and ascorbic acid help manage oiliness and renew your skin, while sodium hyaluronate provides hydration. It is safe for oily skin with a low risk of irritation thanks to gentle ingredients and a stable formula.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily skin?
Retinol and ascorbic acid make this treatment a great fit for your oily skin because they help manage oiliness and promote renewal. Additionally, sodium hyaluronate provides hydration while glycerin keeps your skin soft and smooth.
What does Retinol SA do for oily skin?
Retinol SA helps balance oily skin by reducing excess sebum secretion while keeping the skin smooth and minimizing the irritation often caused by classic retinoids. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs to include ingredients that regulate oil production without causing dryness.
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.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, placed after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it at night helps keep your skin safe around sun exposure while allowing the active ingredients to manage oiliness and renew your skin.
Can I use this treatment with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?
It is best to use this treatment and benzoyl peroxide at different times of day to help prevent irritation on oily skin. You can apply this treatment at night and your benzoyl peroxide product in the morning.
American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment is applied in the evening as part of your nighttime routine. It is a great fit for your oily skin because retinol and ascorbic acid manage oiliness and promote renewal, while sodium hyaluronate provides hydration.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is a great fit for oily skin because retinol and ascorbic acid help manage oiliness and encourage skin renewal. Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide hydration without heavy oils, while safe ingredients keep the formula stable and irritation low.
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, 2022Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Topical 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, 2019Silicone 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 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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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