Rodan + Fields Intensive Renewing Serum for oily skin
Retinal
Retinyl Palmitate
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14
Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate
Hydroxyapatite
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 exfoliation for your oily skin due to the presence of retinal and retinyl palmitate, which can help with cell turnover but may not be sufficient for optimal oil control.
- The inclusion of palmitoyl hexapeptide-14 provides moderate anti-aging visible effects by smoothing fine lines and wrinkles.
- The 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
★4.8Overall rating based on 5.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently report that this serum effectively smooths skin texture, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and promotes a firmer, more youthful complexion. While many appreciate the results for various skin types, some users feel the product is overpriced and note that similar results can be achieved with more affordable alternatives. This should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “Fine lines are significantly reduced.”
- “Wrinkles are less noticeable.”
- “Helps minimize appearance of wrinkles.”
Smoother skin texture Often Mentioned
- “My skin looks so much smoother.”
- “Noticeable improvement in skin texture.”
- “Skin feels softer and more refined.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Very expensive for the amount.”
- “Too pricey for what it is.”
- “Can find cheaper alternatives.”
Convenient capsule delivery Sometimes Noted
- “Perfect amount in each capsule.”
- “Easy to use single-dose.”
- “Innovative delivery system.”
Effective, gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “Gentle enough for daily use.”
- “Works well on my sensitive skin.”
- “Potent but minimal irritation.”
Customer service issues Sometimes Noted
- “Difficulties with canceled orders.”
- “Issues with auto-ship programs.”
- “Hard to manage subscriptions.”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “Did not make a difference.”
- “Never saw or felt a change.”
- “Results were not noticeable.”
Sources: lovi.care, rodanandfields.com, ulta.com, ebay.com, consumeraffairs.com, whatthefab.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Intensive Renewing Serum work for oily skin?
This treatment works moderately well for oily skin, offering gentle cell turnover and smoothing fine lines, though it may not provide enough oil control. Oily skin works best with a product that contains ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control shine and manage enlarged pores.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Retinal and retinyl palmitate make this serum a fit for your oily skin by offering moderate exfoliation to help with cell turnover. To be a better fit for oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to control sebum production and manage oily shine.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013
What does Retinal do for oily skin?
Retinal helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and clearing clogged pores when used daily. This ingredient is well-suited for managing breakouts while keeping skin smooth and calm.
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for oily skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps manage breakouts and smooth texture in oily skin with a low likelihood of irritation. This type of skin also benefits from ingredients that balance oil production and keep pores clear.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin works well with a product of this type when it includes ingredients that provide stronger oil control and deeper cell renewal.
Can I use this serum with glycolic acid, and in what order?
You can use this serum with glycolic acid, but to prevent irritation, use them on alternating nights rather than at the same time. Oily skin also needs ingredients that help balance oil and clear pores effectively.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly increasing if your skin tolerates it nicely. Oily skin often benefits from deeper oil control and stronger exfoliation than this product provides alone.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for oily skin since it is safe and free of harsh ingredients, though its moderate exfoliation may not be enough for optimal oil control. An oily skin type needs stronger exfoliating acids and oil-balancing ingredients to truly keep pores clear and mattified.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Treatment with 2% bis-ethylhexyl hydroxydimethoxy benzylmalonate (HDBM) resulted in a significant reduction of sebum excretion and efficacy against inflamed/red lesions compared to placebo in 44 test subjects with blemished skin over 8 weeks.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2012The combination of botulinum toxin and calcium hydroxylapatite applied together produced higher and earlier satisfaction rates and improved hydration in the lower face and neck region compared to calcium hydroxylapatite alone in 15 participants.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Topically applied calcium hydroxylapatite successfully penetrated fractional laser-induced skin defects and remained in the healing skin for at least six weeks, inducing collagen production around the microspheres in a human volunteer.
Lasers in Surgery and Medicine, 2025Calcium ions from nanophased hydroxyapatite embedded in collagen nanofibers significantly enhanced human dermal fibroblasts, keratinocytes, and hMSCs growth and proliferation, prevented pathogenic bacteria adhesion, enabled hMSCs differentiation, and caused no adverse reaction in rat subcutaneous implantation.
Nanomedicine, 2021
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A 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, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Bis-Ethylhexyl Hydroxydimethoxy Benzylmalonate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Hydroxyapatite, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-14, Polysilicone-11, Retinal, Retinyl Palmitate
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.