Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Baicalin
Glutathione
Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract FermentAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 anti-aging benefits for your oily skin, as glutathione and baicalin work to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment and Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant support.
- The inclusion of Sodium Hyaluronate and Butylene Glycol offers general hydration, though specialized ingredients to directly address oily shine are not present.
- The product is safe for your oily 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
★4.4Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers frequently highlight the serum's elegant, non-sticky texture and its ability to provide immediate, deep hydration, leaving skin soothed and glowing. Many also appreciate its effectiveness in calming redness and plumping the skin. A significant number of reviewers, however, question the product's value, finding the high price point unjustified given the perceived lack of dramatic anti-aging results compared to more affordable options.
Highlights
Superior texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs almost immediately”
- “leaves no residue”
- “silky but not pore-clogging”
- “glides across face”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “extremely expensive”
- “waste of money”
- “not worth the price tag”
- “ridiculously priced”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin feels refreshed”
- “very hydrating and plumps”
- “cool drink of water”
- “relieves dry tight skin”
Calming and soothing Sometimes Noted
- “calmed down redness”
- “skin feels calmer”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “reduced inflammation”
Radiance and glow Sometimes Noted
- “noticeably brighter”
- “gives baby soft skin”
- “youthful radiance”
- “skin looks healthy”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “don't see any difference”
- “didn't achieve flawless skin”
- “no miracle results”
- “just a moisturizer”
Basic ingredients Rarely Noted
- “just a hyaluronic serum”
- “can get cheaper dupes”
- “paying for the brand”
- “basic ingredients list”
Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, cultbeauty.com, mecca.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works well for oily skin by providing moderate anti-aging benefits and general hydration without causing irritation, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly manage oily shine. A treatment for this skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to control oil and pores, alongside barrier-supporting ceramides and panthenol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Glutathione and baicalin help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while Lactobacillus ferment provides soothing antioxidant support. Sodium hyaluronate and butylene glycol offer general hydration, though a treatment for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or ferulic acid to manage excess oil and shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Baicalin do for oily skin?
Baicalin helps calm oily skin and protects it against daily damage when used as part of your routine. This ingredient is often paired with antioxidants and soothing agents to help keep your skin smooth and balanced.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2013
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. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the treatment after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but to better fit this skin type, a product should include ingredients that directly control oily shine.
How often should I use it?
Use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with serums that also help control excess oil and shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains soothing ingredients and lacks harsh components that typically cause irritation. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly address oily shine, a product of this type for oily skin needs oil-controlling components like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage excess oil.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2014Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A nighttime topical antioxidant containing resveratrol, baicalin, and vitamin E significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, laxity, hyperpigmentation, radiance, roughness, and dermal thickness in subjects with mild to moderately photodamaged skin over 12 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Dipropylene glycol, propylene glycol, and butylene glycol increased molecular mobility in stratum corneum lipids and affected keratin filaments, with butylene glycol and propylene glycol providing significant permeation enhancement.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2022Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022Topical 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, 2019Motor baicalin encapsulated in bio-vesicles enhanced water solubility, stability, transdermal penetration, antioxidant activity, and clinical skin antiaging efficacy compared to liposome baicalin and baicalin raw material.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Core-shell gellan-transfersomes loading baicalin achieved high skin deposition (~11% in whole skin, ~8% in dermis) and improved baicalin efficacy by providing complete skin restoration and inhibiting inflammatory markers in mice.
Nanomedicine, 2018Glycyrrhizin micellar nanocarriers significantly improved topical penetration and follicular accumulation of baicalin in porcine skin, enhanced human dermal papilla cell proliferation, and promoted hair recovery through Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and upregulation of VEGF, α-MSH, and IL-10.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022Glutathione 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 glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2023Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Topical application of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea accelerates wound healing by decreasing wound surface area and increasing tensile strength in Mus musculus JVI-1, with the greatest contraction achieved at a single dose of 50mg compared to other dosages.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003
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, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Baicalin, 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.
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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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