APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Sunscreen for oily acne-prone skin
Glutathione
Madecassoside
Squalane
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other sunscreens fit it better.
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
- Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
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
- This sunscreen offers moderate suitability for your oily skin, with Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract and Glutathione providing seboregulation and antioxidant activity to help manage oiliness. While it offers general hydration and soothing benefits supportive for acne-prone skin, these are not directly targeted at addressing active acne, blemishes, or breakouts.
- The formula is highly suitable for oily skin and provides excellent sun protection due to the inclusion of Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate and Octocrylene.
- 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 agents like Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract and Beta-Glucan.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive and combination skin frequently praise this chemical sunscreen for its lightweight, lotion-like texture that absorbs quickly without stinging the eyes. While the inclusion of Glutathione and Niacinamide is highlighted for potential brightening effects over time, the immediate consensus focuses on its comfortable, moisturizing finish that leaves no white cast, though some find the 40ml tube smaller than average.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “feels like a light moisturizer”
- “absorbs in seconds”
- “weightless on skin”
- “not sticky at all”
No white cast Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves no white cast”
- “finish is totally transparent”
- “blends like your own skin”
- “no white film”
Non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “doesn't sting my eyes”
- “calmed my redness”
- “no irritation on sensitive skin”
- “gentle formula”
Moisturizing finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a healthy glow”
- “moisturizing without stickiness”
- “skin feels hydrated”
- “good base for makeup”
Small volume Sometimes Noted
- “size seems small”
- “wish it came in a bigger bottle”
- “finished it in a month”
- “tube feels a bit empty”
Limited hydration Rarely Noted
- “dry skin may need something richer”
- “lightly hydrating but not enough for winter”
- “need a cream underneath”
Shiny finish Rarely Noted
- “a bit too glowy for me”
- “initially shiny”
- “takes a moment to absorb fully”
- “prefer a matte finish”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Sunscreen work for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen works moderately well for your oily skin, helping manage oiliness while offering sun protection and soothing benefits, though it is not directly targeted at active acne or blemishes. To fit this skin type best, a product needs ingredients like niacinamide and centella asiatica to address breakouts, alongside lightweight hydration that does not cause excess oiliness.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
Which ingredients make this sunscreen a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract and Glutathione help manage oiliness and provide antioxidant support, while Squalane and Sodium Hyaluronate offer hydration without heaviness. To be a better fit for oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs ingredients like Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica to actively address blemishes and breakouts.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
What does Glutathione do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glutathione helps protect oily, acne-prone skin from daily stress and irritation by acting as an antioxidant that supports a healthy skin barrier. It is unlikely to clog pores, but this skin type also needs ingredients that clear out oil and soothe redness to stay calm and smooth.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Current Problems in Dermatology, 2001
What does Madecassoside do for oily acne-prone skin?
Madecassoside helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness and soothing irritation while supporting barrier repair. It may help decrease acne blemishes and moisture loss in human skin.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Where does this sunscreen go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen goes in the morning routine as the final step after your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your skin or trigger breakouts, but an oily acne-prone skin type also needs targeted ingredients that directly clear active blemishes.
Can I use this sunscreen with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this sunscreen in the morning after applying your moisturizer and before sun exposure, while saving your retinol for your evening routine. This helps protect your skin while keeping it calm, though oily acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing care to get the best results.
How often should I use this sunscreen?
This sunscreen is safe for daily morning use on oily acne-prone skin, as it provides moderate oil control and excellent sun protection without irritating ingredients. To properly manage breakouts and active blemishes, this skin type needs targeted treatments with active ingredients in addition to a standard daily sunscreen.
Can this sunscreen clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This sunscreen is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing ingredients and safe sun filters that do not disrupt skin bacteria. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for active blemishes, this skin type needs a product that also features ingredients to actively clear breakouts.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007
Is this sunscreen 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
Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Liposomal encapsulation of octyl methoxycinnamate increases its safety, skin affinity, and in vivo solar photoprotection factor while slowing its release and enhancing retention in the stratum corneum compared to a conventional formulation.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Octocrylene, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Dipropylene Glycol, Squalane, C14-22 Alcohols, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Propanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Tromethamine, Carbomer, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Grape Fruit Extract, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Uncaria Sinensis Extract, Glycerin, Adenosine, Disodium Edta, Rice Bran Extract, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glucose, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Sucrose Stearate, Glutathione, Cyclodextrin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylyl Glycol, Beta-Glucan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Asiatic Acid, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Madecassoside, Tropolone, Potassium Hyaluronate
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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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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