Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Tranexamic Acid
Alpha Arbutin
Kojic AcidHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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, this treatment utilizes niacinamide for seboregulation and tranexamic acid to address discoloration, effectively targeting your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts. Alpha arbutin further supports skin clarity and oil control, offering moderate benefits for your specific skin issues.
- The formulation is also excellent for brightening and evening your skin tone, with niacinamide and alpha arbutin working in moderate concentrations to improve discoloration.
- 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 like niacinamide and glycerin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this treatment for its ability to visibly fade post-acne marks and brighten the overall complexion, often noting its lightweight and non-sticky texture. While many see rapid results with general hyperpigmentation, some users report it is less effective on stubborn conditions like melasma and note the high price point.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “acne marks faded faster”
- “reduced post-acne scars”
- “dark spots are lighter”
- “cleared up pigmentation”
Brightens complexion Often Mentioned
- “skin looks radiant”
- “immediate glow”
- “more even skin tone”
- “restored brightness”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “leaves satin finish”
- “not sticky or greasy”
- “layers well under makeup”
Gentle formulation Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging or redness”
- “didn't irritate sensitive skin”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “hydrating feel”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “luxury price tag”
Ineffective on melasma Rarely Noted
- “struggles with melasma”
- “didn't touch stubborn patches”
- “melasma didn't fade”
- “no change in deep pigment”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused small bumps”
- “ingredients might clog pores”
- “broke me out slightly”
- “too heavy for oily skin”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “takes weeks to work”
- “didn't see immediate change”
- “requires patience”
- “slow progress on old scars”
Sources: lovi.care, kohls.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, youtube.com, peterthomasroth.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Peter Thomas Roth Potent-C Niacinamide Discoloration Treatment a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is a great fit because it uses niacinamide to balance oil and tranexamic acid alongside alpha arbutin to target dark spots and breakouts without clogging pores. It also has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like glycerin, so it is unlikely to cause irritation on your skin.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it uses niacinamide to help balance oil and tranexamic acid to target breakouts and dark spots. Alpha arbutin and kojic acid also help brighten your skin tone while keeping the formula gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps calm red and irritated skin and may improve the look of post-acne marks when used as part of your routine. For oily and acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs soothing ingredients and lightweight hydrators that keep pores clear without feeling heavy.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are placed in the PM for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is unlikely to cause irritation on your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like niacinamide and glycerin.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
This treatment is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin and helps target breakouts and dark spots without causing irritation. When using it with retinol, apply your retinol first, let it absorb, and then follow with this treatment to keep your skin calm and clear.
How often should I use this treatment?
This treatment is best used in your evening routine. Using it daily is generally well tolerated, helping to target breakouts and brighten your skin tone without causing irritation.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it has a very safe profile with soothing components and no harsh ingredients. Niacinamide also helps control oil and keep skin clear.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2022A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A topical formulation containing kojic acid, emblica extract, and glycolic acid demonstrated efficacy parity compared with hydroquinone 4% in multiethnic participants with mild to moderate facial dyschromia.
Cutis, 2010A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.
Pharmaceutics, 2023Topical application of iron chelators kojic acid and deferiprone significantly accelerated wound healing in rats compared to control groups, with deferiprone showing superior efficacy due to higher antioxidant and iron chelation abilities.
International Wound Journal, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Isononyl Isononanoate, Tranexamic Acid, Dimethicone, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Alpha Arbutin, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, C9-12 Alkane, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Kojic Acid, Resveratrol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Hydrangea Arborescens Root Extract, Morus Alba Root Extract, Scutellaria Lateriflora Extract, Hydrolyzed Protein, Silica, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Dimethiconol, Glycerin, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Polysorbate 20, Ceteth-20, Steareth-20, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Peg-75 Stearate, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Phenoxyethanol
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.