Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum for oily skin
Tri-Hyaluronan Complex- Sodium Hyaluronate
Botanical Extracts
Benzyl Alcohol
Average
- 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 due to the humectant action of Sodium Hyaluronate Molecule, which provides excellent hydration and plumping effects.
- While it addresses general hydration needs, the formula lacks specific ingredients to effectively manage oily shine and optimal oil control for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it does not contain any prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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 900+ reviewsThis serum is highly praised for its ability to deliver deep, weightless hydration, effectively plumping the skin and softening the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It is particularly well-suited for those with dehydrated or dull complexions, offering a smooth, non-tacky finish that improves overall skin texture and radiance.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin version of chugging water”
- “Deep hydration”
- “Replenishes moisture”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Very light weight”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Not greasy or heavy”
Non-tacky finish Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't dry tacky”
- “No stickiness”
- “Leaves skin soft”
Smooths fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “Smooths out fine lines”
- “Forehead lines less defined”
- “Instant plumping effect”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “A bit pricey”
- “Expensive for the size”
- “Value could be better”
Small bottle size Sometimes Noted
- “Only 25ml”
- “Runs out too fast”
- “Small amount for price”
Minimal visible results Rarely Noted
- “Nothing to brag about”
- “Don't see improvement”
- “Dubious at first”
Sources: lovi.care, grownalchemist.com, lookfantastic.com, adorebeauty.com.au, influenster.com, chickadvisor.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Grown Alchemist Instant Smoothing Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin, providing good hydration and plumping without causing irritation. However, because it lacks specific ingredients to manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs a treatment with ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to control excess oil and pores while maintaining hydration.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022International Journal of Toxicology, 2001
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium Hyaluronate Molecule makes this serum a fit for your oily skin by providing moderate hydration and plumping effects. A treatment for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control excess oil and manage oily shine.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing oil production and sebum in the skin. Studies show it decreases lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands without causing irritation.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
Apply this serum in your evening routine, as treatments fit best there for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Because this formula provides good hydration but lacks specific ingredients to manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs added ingredients like oil-control agents and balancing botanicals to keep pores clear.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your skin a boost of hydration, followed by your retinol. The product is unlikely to irritate your skin, but a product for oily skin also needs specific ingredients to manage shine and control oil.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is safe for your oily skin, but because it lacks ingredients to manage oily shine, oily skin also needs oil-controlling ingredients.
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 because it has a safe formula without harsh ingredients that cause irritation. However, because it lacks specific ingredients to manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help balance excess oil.
What the research says
Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Benzyl Alcohol, Benzoic Acid, and Sodium Benzoate can be used safely in cosmetic formulations at concentrations up to 5%, and Benzyl Alcohol is safe up to 10% in hair dyes, despite causing nonimmunologic contact reactions.
International Journal of Toxicology, 2001Topical 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, 2019Benzyl alcohol acted moderately and reversibly on stratum corneum lipids, increasing hygroscopicity and decreasing water-holding capacity to the same extent as Azone and DMSO.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 1995
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, Sodium Hyaluronate Molecule, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid
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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