Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream for oily skin
Glycolic Acid
Niacinamide
Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers 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 due to glycolic acid and ethyl lactyl retinoate providing exfoliation and renewal, though it lacks sufficient oil-controlling ingredients to optimally address your main goal of reducing oily shine.
- Glycerin and bisabolol offer general hydration and soothing benefits supportive for oily skin, but do not directly target excess oil production.
- The product is generally safe for your oily skin, with a low risk of irritation from glycolic acid and ethyl lactyl retinoate.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.9Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this cream as a "game-changer" for sensitive and aging skin, noting visible improvements in texture, tone, and fine lines without the harsh side effects typical of retinoids. While highly effective for smoothing rough skin and clearing pigmentation, a small minority of users experienced initial purging or found the hydration insufficient for very dry skin types.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “No redness or peeling”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Better than tretinoin”
- “Zero irritation”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “Very expensive”
- “Hard on the wallet”
- “Pricey investment”
- “Wish it was cheaper”
Effective anti-aging Often Mentioned
- “Softened forehead lines”
- “Skin looks younger”
- “Firmed my skin”
- “Wrinkles are less deep”
Improves texture & tone Often Mentioned
- “Glass skin effect”
- “Smoothed out texture”
- “Faded acne marks”
- “Evened out skin tone”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Feels moisturizing”
- “Creamy texture”
- “Doesn't dry me out”
- “Nice slip”
Packaging design Sometimes Noted
- “Love the twist top”
- “Sanitary pump”
- “Easy to dispense”
- “Protects the product”
Initial purging Rarely Noted
- “Caused bad purging”
- “Broke me out initially”
- “Acne flared up”
- “Tiny bumps appeared”
Not moisturizing enough Rarely Noted
- “Need extra moisturizer”
- “Not enough hydration alone”
- “Still felt dry”
- “Layered with another cream”
Packaging malfunctions Rarely Noted
- “Pump stopped working”
- “Hard to get empty”
- “Can't see how much is left”
- “Broken dispenser”
Sources: lovi.care, skinelite.com, influenster.com, dermstreet.com, realself.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Skinbetter AlphaRet work for oily skin?
This cream works for your oily skin, though it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to properly reduce oily shine, and a product for this skin needs ingredients that control oil and manage shine without heavy oils or clogged pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid and ethyl lactyl retinoate make this cream a fit for oily skin by offering exfoliation and renewal, while glycerin and bisabolol provide soothing hydration. However, this product needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients, a lightweight texture free of heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier to optimally address oily shine and reduce oiliness.
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
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 cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting once a week to see how your skin tolerates it. Oily skin works best with products that provide oil-controlling and mattifying ingredients to reduce shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Skinbetter Science AlphaRet Overnight Cream already contains a retinoid, so you should not layer it with another retinol product at the same time to avoid irritation. When using treatments like this in your evening routine, apply them after cleansing and toning, and follow with a lightweight moisturizer if your skin feels dry.
How often should I use this cream?
Use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Start using it once a week to see how your skin reacts, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Oily skin also needs ingredients that control oil and target shine.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clogged pores, and it may bring a low risk of initial purging on oily skin. Oily skin works best with a product of this type that also includes strong oil-controlling ingredients to keep shine under control.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body, though the thin skin of the eyelids requires careful application. A product for these delicate areas should provide lightweight hydration and targeted anti-aging benefits without heavy oils or harsh exfoliants that may cause irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Topical 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 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 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, Sodium Glycolate, Glycolic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Pentylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isohexadecane, Sorbitan Olivate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Glycerin, Ceresin, Glycol Palmitate, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Squalane, Methyl Gluceth-20, Ethyl Lactyl Retinoate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Ceramide Np, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ubiquinone, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Superoxide Dismutase, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Allantoin Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Sodium Pca, Panthenol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Linolenic Acid, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Steareth-2, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Hydrated Silica, Carbomer, Polysorbate 20, Tromethamine, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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.