DIME Super Firm Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea Extract
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Average
- HighOily 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 firming for your oily skin due to Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, which help plump and improve elasticity, while niacinamide provides seboregulation and anti-inflammatory action.
- The serum offers general hydration benefits that you will notice, but lacks specialized ingredients to directly address your oily shine concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin 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
★4.2Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is frequently praised for its immediate tightening effect and suitability for sensitive skin, with many users noting improvements in fine lines and firmness. Some users, however, report minimal long-term results and question the potency of the ingredients.
Highlights
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “Super gentle, no irritation”
- “Perfect for ultra-sensitive skin”
- “Doesn't cause redness”
Immediate tightening Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels tighter after application”
- “Noticeable difference within 24 hours”
- “Innovative texture delivers immediate effect”
Clean ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “EWG verified”
- “Clean formula”
- “No added fragrance”
Improves firmness Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels more firm”
- “Rejuvenated and lifted look”
- “Strengthens skin resilience”
Minimal results Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't notice anything after a month”
- “Most won't see firming effects”
- “Hoped to see a difference”
Poor packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Dropper bottle is hard to dispense”
- “Wish it had a pump”
- “Packaging could use work”
Questionable potency Rarely Noted
- “Minimal active ingredients”
- “Not enough evidence it works”
- “Less effective than others”
Sources: lovi.care, dimebeautyco.com, whowhatwear.com, everyday-reading.com, coconutsandkettlebells.com, whatsinmyjar.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does DIME Super Firm Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works well enough by offering moderate firming and general hydration, but it lacks specialized ingredients to directly manage your oily shine. A treatment that fits oily skin better needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc to control excess oil, along with soothing extracts to keep skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38 make this serum a fit by helping control oil and improve elasticity. Oily skin needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage excess shine, along with lightweight hydrators and soothing extracts.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19 do for oily skin?
Palmitoyl hexapeptide-19 is unlikely to provide direct oil-balancing benefits for oily skin, as peptides of this type generally focus on firming and repairing the skin barrier rather than reducing sebum production. Oily skin typically needs ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help control excess shine and keep pores clear.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. A product of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide to help control excess oil alongside firming peptides for oily skin.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to let it absorb before putting on your retinol. The product is unlikely to irritate oily skin because it avoids harsh ingredients, but to properly care for oily shine, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that manage excess oil.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before your moisturizer. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients that balance oil and reduce shine while providing firming benefits.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on oily skin, as it has an excellent safety profile without harsh or irritating ingredients. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly manage oily shine, an oily skin type typically needs a product with dedicated oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid or zinc.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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 sunscreen formulations containing UV filters, red algae extract, Ginkgo biloba, and vitamins protected hairless mice from UV-induced erythema, reduced transepidermal water loss, and significantly decreased the expression of p53 and caspase-3 compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2015Chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofibrous dressings containing 3% Corallina officinalis extract exhibited bead-free morphology, enhanced mechanical strength, strong antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, and excellent biocompatibility for skin cell survival and proliferation.
Journal of Biomaterials Science. Polymer Edition, 2026Cosmetic products containing 4-t-butylcyclohexanol demonstrated a faster and more pronounced soothing effect on capsaicin-induced burning compared to those containing acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester in volunteers with sensitive skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2016
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
Water, Acacia Senegal Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dipentaerythrityl Hexa C5-9 Acid Esters, Sea Water, Pullulan, 1.2 Hexanediol, Hydroeyacetophenone, Hydrolyzed Rhizobian Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sclerotium Gum, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Sorbitan Laurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Niacinamide, Sodium Phytate, Olea Europaea Fruit Olive Fruit, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-19, Silica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Hydrolyzed Rhodophycea Extract, Hydrocypropyl Cyclodextrin, Leucojum Aestivuym Bulb Extract, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
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.