Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum for combination skin
Content Protein
Rice Seed Protein
Hydrolyzed Protein
Ceramide Np
Cholesterol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it 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 suitability for your combination skin as oat extract protein and rice seed protein provide excellent hydration and improve elasticity, though it lacks targeted ingredients for your oily shine concern.
- The inclusion of multiple protein ingredients offers emollient action, but stronger seboregulation would better address your specific needs.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like ceramides.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised as a "winter savior" for dry, sensitive, and dehydrated skin, effectively repairing damaged barriers and alleviating flakiness. Users consistently report a plump, healthy glow and deep "inner" hydration, though its rich, protein-heavy formula can be too heavy or potentially pore-clogging for oily or acne-prone skin types.
Highlights
Deep barrier repair Mostly Mentioned
- “strengthens my barrier”
- “calmed down sensitivity”
- “saviour for irritated skin”
Long-lasting hydration Often Mentioned
- “keeps skin from feeling dry”
- “inner dryness solved”
- “plump and hydrated”
Rich creamy texture Often Mentioned
- “perfect balance between cream and serum”
- “silky and nourishing”
- “absorbs beautifully”
Glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “glass skin glow”
- “healthy shine”
- “makeup sits beautifully”
Not for oily skin Sometimes Noted
- “too heavy for oily skin”
- “greasy in summer”
- “better for winter”
Potential breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “got a break-out”
- “caused acne”
- “fermented ingredients didn't work”
Stickiness/tackiness Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “slightly sticky feeling”
- “nasal mucus texture”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “hard to get last bit out”
- “lid design inconvenient”
- “product sticks to container”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum work for combination skin?
This moisturizing treatment works moderately well for your combination skin because its various proteins provide good hydration, but it lacks targeted ingredients for your oily shine. A product of this type needs ingredients that balance oil and moisture without overwhelming oiliness, along with soothing agents that address both dry and oily areas effectively.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Oat extract protein and rice seed protein make this serum a good fit by hydrating your skin and improving its elasticity, while ceramides help keep it calm and comfortable. To truly work for combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that balance moisture levels and control oily shine without causing irritation.
What does Content Protein do for combination skin?
Content Protein helps keep combination skin hydrated while supporting the skin barrier so it feels soft and smooth. Topical protein formulations increase water-holding capacity and reinforce skin integrity.
What does Rice Seed Protein do for combination skin?
Rice Seed Protein helps balance combination skin by softening dry areas and smoothing out oily spots without clogging pores. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation and supports a calm, even feel across your face.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though it can also be used in the morning or twice a day. It is unlikely to irritate your skin due to the soothing ceramides, but combination skin with oily shine needs a product that includes targeted ingredients to control excess oil.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin soft and calm while your skin adjusts to the treatment. This product helps maintain your skin barrier with ceramides, but combination skin also needs oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment serum in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and keeps your combination skin soft and smooth, though this type of skin also needs targeted ingredients for oily shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum may cause potential breakouts for combination skin, as reviewers moderately complain about this issue. A product for this skin type needs lighter hydration and oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine and keep pores clear.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This serum is safe to use around the eyes and on the body, as its gentle ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, moisturizing treatments like this help keep it soft and comfortable without heavy buildup.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002International Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of oyster protein hydrolysates peptides protected against UVB-induced skin photodamage in mice by alleviating moisture loss, epidermal hyperplasia, and fiber degradation through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Marine Drugs, 2020Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020A liquid formulation containing hydrolyzed collagen demonstrated structural stability, peptide mass distribution between 0.5 and 19.5 kDa, and faded forehead wrinkles in five volunteers while proving to be non-irritating and hypoallergenic.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Combined treatment with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes and hydrolyzed collagen oligopeptides enhanced proliferation and migration, reduced reactive oxygen species and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, increased type I and type III collagen expression, and decreased metalloproteinases, inflammatory cytokines, and senescence markers in human skin fibroblasts compared to either treatment alone.
Molecules, 2024Collagen peptides induced cell proliferation and pro-collagen-1α expression, increased TGF-β and VEGF, and suppressed the LPS-induced inflammatory response in human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
Nutrients, 2022Botulinum toxin-A encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol nanoliposomes delivered transdermally achieved a diffusion depth of 380 μm and showed a nonsignificant advantage in relieving post-acne scarring compared to hyaluronic acid hydrogel treatment in 12 facial patients.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2024Topical application of cholesterol sulfate increases stratum corneum thickness and inhibits protease-induced cell dissociation by competitively inhibiting serine proteases in mice and human stratum corneum.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1998Topical lovastatin treatment impairs the recovery of cutaneous permeability barrier function and stratum corneum cholesterol levels after acetone disruption in mice, an effect normalized by simultaneous treatment with mevalonate or cholesterol.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1990
Why other moisturizers fit combination skin better
A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Voat Extract Protein, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethyl Hexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Pg, Sebum-10 1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenate Tid Poly, Rice Seed Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Protein, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Glycine Soja Protein Soybean Protein, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Ceramide Np, Cholesterol
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.