Topicals Faded Brightening & Clearing Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Tranexamic Acid
Azelaic Acid
Kojic Acid
Alpha ArbutinAverage
- 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 brightening and evening of skin tone for your oily skin due to niacinamide and tranexamic acid, which effectively fade hyperpigmentation and dark spots. Azelaic acid and glycolic acid further support seboregulation and gentle exfoliation, complementing your skin type.
- The inclusion of glycerin and squalane provides essential hydration and soothing benefits, supporting overall skin health without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users highly praise this serum for effectively fading hyperpigmentation, acne scars, and dark spots, especially on melanated skin. While results are impressive, a significant number of reviews mention a strong, sulfur-like smell that users must tolerate. Some users also report an initial purging phase before experiencing clearer, brighter skin.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “scars are noticeably lighter”
- “fades dark spots”
- “impressed with effectiveness”
- “minimized appearance of marks”
Unpleasant smell Mostly Mentioned
- “smells like sulfur”
- “rotten eggs”
- “smells like rust”
- “scent is off-putting”
Brightens skin Often Mentioned
- “skin looks clearer”
- “more radiant”
- “brightens your skin”
- “leaves a glow”
Absorbs well Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight texture”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “layers well under moisturizer”
- “non-greasy”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “smooths skin texture”
- “skin feels calmer”
- “softens rough patches”
Safe for melanated skin Sometimes Noted
- “made with melanated skin in mind”
- “safe for all ethnicities”
- “works on darker skin tones”
Causes purging Sometimes Noted
- “face exploded with acne”
- “exacerbated comedones”
- “broke me out”
- “caused purging”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “tube cracks easily”
- “product spills out”
- “hate the metal tube”
- “leaks everywhere”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “slightly irritating”
- “caused burning”
- “too strong for sensitive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, amazon.com, mytopicals.com, skinsort.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Topicals Faded work for oily skin?
Topicals Faded works well for oily skin by helping to fade dark spots and gently smooth the surface, though other treatments fit this skin type better. An ideal treatment for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide to control shine and soothe the skin without causing irritation or clogged pores.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum works for oily skin due to niacinamide and tranexamic acid, which fade dark spots, along with azelaic acid and glycolic acid for gentle exfoliation and oil control. Glycerin and squalane also provide hydration without making skin greasy. To fit oily skin even better, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control excess oil, plus ceramides and panthenol to support the skin barrier without clogging pores.
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 Tranexamic Acid do for oily skin?
Tranexamic acid helps oily skin by calming redness and keeping the skin barrier strong, which is especially useful when dealing with stubborn dark spots and uneven tone. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and may improve overall skin texture while balancing the complexion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer. Putting it at night keeps it simple and avoids extra safety concerns around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it absorb, and then following with this serum. This approach helps minimize potential irritation while still allowing both ingredients to work effectively on your skin.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment should be used once a week in the evening to start, and people who tolerate it well and see good results can carefully use it more often. This allows your oily skin to adjust safely to the exfoliating acids while keeping your routine simple.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum may cause moderate purging for oily skin. To work better for oily skin, a product of this type needs lighter ingredients and oil-absorbing minerals that keep pores clear without heavy layers.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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 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, 2021A 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, 2017A 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, 2020Topical 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 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Azelaic acid nanocrystal hydrogel 10% achieved a higher success rate and greater lesion reduction than azelaic acid cream 20% in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2024Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023A 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, 2013Encapsulation 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, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023
Ingredients
Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Kojic Acid, Alpha Arbutin, Licorice Root Extract, Melatonin, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Squalane, Glycerin, Water, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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