numbuzin 5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Serum for combination skin
Glutathione
Niacinamide
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Tranexamic Acid
Alpha-ArbutinAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as niacinamide and tranexamic acid provide antioxidant activity and melanogenesis regulation to address brightening and evening of skin tone. Glycerin and panthenol offer hydration and soothing benefits supportive for oily shine, but the formula lacks targeted ingredients for significant oil control.
- The product is safe for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Alpha Bisabolol and Allantoin, ensuring a gentle experience.
- While effective for general skincare benefits, the serum's primary focus is not on intensive oil control for your oily shine concerns.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dullness, hyperpigmentation, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to fade acne scars and even out skin tone without causing irritation. The majority report a "glass skin" glow and rapid absorption, while a small minority experienced breakouts or found the brightening effects too slow to appear.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “Acne marks faded noticeably”
- “Helps with pigmentation issues”
- “Sunspots have faded”
- “Clear up hyperpigmentation”
- “Reduces appearance of spots”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “No irritation”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Gentle yet effective”
- “No stinging”
- “Soothing ingredients”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs instantly”
- “Non-sticky formula”
- “Lightweight milky texture”
- “Sinks in quickly”
- “Does not feel heavy”
Hydrating glow Sometimes Noted
- “Natural glass-skin glow”
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Very hydrating”
- “Restores natural glow”
- “Dewy finish”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused tiny bumps”
- “More acne on my skin”
- “Triggered whiteheads”
- “Broke me out”
- “Clogged my pores”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Dropper is messy”
- “Hard to get last drops”
- “Bottle leaks slightly”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “Did nothing to brighten”
- “No big improvement”
- “Takes a long time”
- “Saw no difference”
- “Overhyped results”
Tacky finish Rarely Noted
- “Left a slightly tacky feeling”
- “Sticky residue”
- “Felt heavy initially”
- “Greasy after application”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does numbuzin 5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Serum work for combination skin?
This serum works moderately well for combination skin because ingredients like niacinamide, tranexamic acid, glycerin, and panthenol help brighten skin tone, hydrate, and soothe oily areas. However, it lacks targeted oil control ingredients, so combination skin needs a product of this type that also contains ingredients like propolis or zinc PCA to regulate oiliness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and tranexamic acid help brighten and even out your skin tone, while glycerin and panthenol provide hydration and soothing benefits for oily areas. However, a treatment for combination skin also needs targeted oil-control ingredients like propolis or zinc PCA to manage shine effectively.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Glutathione do for combination skin?
Glutathione helps brighten sun-exposed areas and reduce dark spots for combination skin, while also improving moisture and smoothness. It is unlikely to cause irritation and maintains a safe profile for regular use.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014International Journal of Dermatology, 2025
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine for combination skin. To properly care for combination skin, this type of product also needs targeted ingredients for significant oil control.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, but because this product focuses on brightening rather than oil control, combination skin needs a formula with targeted oil-absorbing ingredients to better manage oily shine.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in the evening. Combination skin needs products that balance hydration with targeted oil control and lightweight soothing ingredients.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing agents, though a few reviewers have occasionally reported breakouts. Combination skin works best with targeted oil-control ingredients and lightweight hydration to balance oily and dry zones without clogging pores.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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 topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Glutathione 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, 2024Topical 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, 2025Topical 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 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, 2022A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide 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
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Tranexamic Acid, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alpha Bisabolol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Glutathione, Ceramide Np, Beta-Glucan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, L Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ubiquinone, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta
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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