PCA SKIN Rejuvenating Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Glutathione
Squalane
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAverage
- AverageOily 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 suitability for your oily skin as gluconolactone provides gentle exfoliation and niacinamide helps improve skin tone, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine.
- The inclusion of Bisabolol and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice offers supportive hydration and soothing benefits for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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+ reviewsThis product is highly praised for improving skin texture, reducing fine lines, and providing a radiant glow. Users frequently mention its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula. Some users with sensitive skin find the alcohol-heavy base to be drying or irritating.
Highlights
Improves radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin glowing and refreshed.”
- “It did seem to make my skin more radiant.”
- “Gives your skin such a beautiful glow.”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly and does not feel sticky.”
- “Not greasy and heavy.”
- “Easy to apply, absorbs quickly.”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “Improvement in fine lines.”
- “Amazing for plumping and filling in fine lines.”
- “Decreasing the depth of lines.”
Refreshing experience Sometimes Noted
- “Love the light tingling/refreshing feeling.”
- “Smells amazing (very minty).”
- “Cooling sensation right away.”
Drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “Alcohol denat. ... can be drying and irritating.”
- “Strips barrier lipids and can trigger inflammation.”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “Was just a little too expensive.”
Irritating ingredients Rarely Noted
- “Peppermint oil ... is a known sensitizer.”
- “Citrus oils are a frustrating contradiction.”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “Not sure I'm seeing much difference.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, dermstreet.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Rejuvenating Serum work for oily skin?
PCA SKIN Rejuvenating Serum offers moderate suitability for oily skin, as gluconolactone provides gentle exfoliation and niacinamide helps improve skin tone, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine. Oily skin needs ingredients that control sebum production and manage excess oil, such as niacinamide, zinc PCA, and specific humectants, combined with soothing extracts for comfortable daily use.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum fits oily skin decently because gluconolactone offers gentle exfoliation and niacinamide helps improve skin tone, while bisabolol and aloe leaf juice provide soothing hydration. To be an even better fit for this skin type, a product like this needs ingredients that control oil and shine, such as zinc PCA, along with lightweight hydrating agents.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
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 Glutathione do for oily skin?
Glutathione helps protect oily skin from everyday damage and oxidative stress. It may also help keep your skin looking bright and smooth.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. It works for oily skin, though this skin type needs products that include oil-absorbing ingredients to target shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol at night, provided your skin is used to both. This serum is unlikely to cause irritation due to its soothing ingredients, but using multiple active products may occasionally lead to dryness on oily skin.
How often should I use it?
This treatment is typically used in the evening once a week to start, and may be used more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. An average fit for oily skin like this needs specialized ingredients that directly target oily shine.
Can Rejuvenating Serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
PCA SKIN Rejuvenating Serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients like bisabolol and aloe leaf juice that help keep irritation low. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target oily shine, oily skin often needs mattifying ingredients or oil-control components to stay balanced.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (sd alcohol 40-b).
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, 2002Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A 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 application of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to human skin before UV irradiation decreases UV-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by 68-90% and nitric oxide by 30-100%, inhibits leukocyte infiltration and lipid peroxidation by 41-84%, and restores glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity compared to UV exposure alone.
Carcinogenesis, 2001Topical 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, 2005Glutathione 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, 2025Squalane 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, 2025Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006
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, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Polysorbate 20, Bisabolol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isomalt, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Peppermint Oil, Tocopherol, Squalane, Glutathione, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Phytosterols, Tropolone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tocotrienols, Squalene, Rice Bran Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Urea, Niacinamide, Glycine, Fructose, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract Grape Fruit Cell Extract, Lecithin, Inositol, Rh-Oligopeptide-1
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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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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