NINEL ESS B-BOOST for oily skin
Kojic Acid
Niacinamide
Tranexamic AcidHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few serums fit it even 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 brightening and evening of skin tone for your oily skin due to the presence of Kojic Acid and Niacinamide, which help to inhibit melanin production and offer seboregulation.
- While the product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing from Panthenol and Ascorbyl Glucoside, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Niacinamide and Panthenol.
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 200+ reviewsUsers with oily, acne-prone, and dull skin frequently praise this serum for its lightweight, non-sticky texture and its ability to brighten skin tone and fade dark spots over time. While the majority find it soothing and effective for pore control, a small minority of users reported no visible changes or mild irritation.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-sticky”
- “lightweight”
- “water-like consistency”
- “no greasy residue”
Brightens and fades spots Often Mentioned
- “fades dark spots”
- “evens skin tone”
- “radiant complexion”
- “brightens dull skin”
Hydrating effect Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating”
- “plump skin”
- “leaves skin supple”
- “not drying”
Pore and oil control Sometimes Noted
- “minimizes pores”
- “regulates oil”
- “smoother texture”
- “refined complexion”
Soothing for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “calming”
- “reduces redness”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “soothing effect”
Ineffectiveness reported Rarely Noted
- “did nothing”
- “no difference”
- “water with price”
- “saw no changes”
Mild irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “redness”
- “irritated skin”
- “worst serum”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “bottle not practical”
- “dropper issue”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “subtle changes”
- “takes time”
- “need patience”
- “gradual improvement”
Sources: lovi.care, stylekorean.com, yesstyle.com, gopicky.com, koreandirect.com, kbeauty.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes NINEL ESS B-BOOST serum a great fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit because Kojic Acid and Niacinamide help balance oil and brighten skin tone without causing irritation. It is also safe and soothing for your skin thanks to ingredients like Niacinamide and Panthenol.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Kojic acid and niacinamide make this serum a good fit by helping to even out your skin tone and manage oil. Niacinamide and panthenol also help keep your skin calm and safe from irritation.
What does Kojic Acid do for oily skin?
Kojic acid helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone by slowing down the pigment production in oily skin. It is generally well tolerated, though products of this type for oily skin also need balancing ingredients to control shine and keep pores clear.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, 2019The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 1994
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
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the treatment first and following with your retinol on alternating nights or in separate steps to keep your skin calm. The gentle ingredients like Niacinamide and Panthenol help ensure the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is used in the evening, starting once a week to see how your skin reacts. People who tolerate it well and see good results can carefully use it more often.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients like Niacinamide and Panthenol that do not irritate. It may also help keep your skin calm and balanced.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
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, 2002Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
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, 2013Topical 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, 2005
Ingredients
Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Panthenol, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Glutathione
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.