Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum for oily skin
Ascorbic Acid
Ferulic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycolic Acid
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, the Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ferulic Acid provide antioxidant benefits and help regulate melanogenesis, while Glycolic Acid offers keratolytic action to manage oiliness.
- The serum offers general hydration and cleansing benefits, which are supportive for your oily skin concerns.
- The product is generally safe for your oily skin, though the presence of Glycolic Acid and Lactic Acid carries a moderate risk of irritation.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 177.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report that this serum effectively brightens the complexion and fades dark spots while being gentle enough for sensitive skin. Some users with dry skin find it slightly dehydrating or sticky, and a minority experienced breakouts or saw no visible changes in deep pigmentation.
Highlights
Brightens and evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “noticeably lightened age spots”
- “skin looks brighter and more even”
- “faded dark acne scars”
- “gave my face a healthy glow”
Excellent value Mostly Mentioned
- “huge bottle for the price”
- “unbeatable value”
- “lasts a long time”
- “affordable alternative to high-end brands”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation or redness”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “light gel consistency”
- “layers well under makeup”
Sticky or tacky finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “feels tacky until dry”
- “too sticky for morning use”
- “glue-like texture”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “need a heavy moisturizer after”
- “accentuated dry patches”
- “felt tight after application”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “saw no difference after a bottle”
- “did not fade sun spots”
- “just acts like a moisturizer”
- “watery and weak”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, walmart.com, target.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Serum work for oily skin?
Advanced Clinicals Vitamin C Anti Aging Serum works for oily skin, though other products fit it better because they contain niacinamide to control sebum production, soothing extracts, and ceramides that provide oil control and barrier support without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum fits oily skin because aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate and ferulic acid provide antioxidant support while glycolic acid helps manage oiliness. An oily skin product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control excess oil and soothe the skin without causing irritation.
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
What does Ferulic Acid do for oily skin?
Ferulic acid helps protect oily skin from sun damage and environmental stress when used as part of a daytime antioxidant serum. It is often combined with vitamins C and E to boost overall defense and keep skin healthy.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with products that contain antioxidants to protect the skin and exfoliating acids to manage oiliness, while keeping a close eye on potential irritation.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum alongside retinol by applying them on separate nights or using retinol at night and this serum in the morning to help prevent irritation. Because this product contains exfoliating acids that carry a moderate risk of discomfort, combining them directly may overwhelm your skin.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine once a week to start, since acids can sometimes cause irritation on oily skin. Once your skin handles it comfortably, you may carefully use it more often. To fit oily skin best, products of this type need soothing ingredients and gentle exfoliants that manage oil without causing redness.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin, as reviewers report a low risk, though it carries a moderate risk of irritation from exfoliating acids. To best care for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and pore-clearing ingredients that keep the skin clear without feeling heavy or sticky.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical 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, 2022Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ferulic Acid, Ergothioneine, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Xanthan Gum, Peg-12 Dimethicone, Maltodextrin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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