MERIT Great Skin Instant Glow Serum for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
TocopherolAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 hydration for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil production and multiple forms of sodium hyaluronate provide humectant action without occlusive properties.
- While the serum offers general skincare benefits, it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively control oily shine, which is your main goal.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsUsers with dry, dull, or combination skin highly praise this serum for its ability to deliver immediate, glass-like radiance and deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. It effectively plumps the skin and serves as an excellent makeup primer. A very large amount of data was used to generate this summary, and it should be definitely taken into account. Some users note that the extremely watery consistency and forceful pump dispenser can make application slightly messy.
Highlights
Instant healthy glow Mostly Mentioned
- “As soon as you apply it, your skin has a true lit-from-within effect.”
- “Leaves you with glass-like skin—no filter or ring light required.”
- “Gives that 'I just did skincare' look even when I didn't do much.”
- “My skin always seems to have an extra glow when I use it.”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Does a solid job at making skin feel comforted and less tight pretty quickly.”
- “Provides intense hydration.”
- “Left a glowing sheen and burst of long-lasting hydration all day.”
- “Instantly plumps and soothes.”
Great makeup primer Often Mentioned
- “Sets skin up perfectly in the morning for make-up application.”
- “Functions as a hydrating primer with the benefits of a serum.”
- “Layers beautifully under makeup.”
- “Velvety finish makes a great base for makeup.”
Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often Mentioned
- “Super lightweight, almost like a non-oily oil.”
- “Absorbs quickly into skin with zero residue.”
- “Sinks into the skin really elegantly, and instantly plumps and soothes.”
- “Lightweight formula absorbs quickly and doesn't pill.”
Messy pump dispenser Sometimes Noted
- “The pump dispenser sends the product flying out at times which is a little annoying and messy.”
- “The pump could definitely use improvement or be switched to a dropper.”
- “Sends the product flying out at times.”
Watery consistency Sometimes Noted
- “Surprised by how watery the consistency was and how it easily sloshed around my palms.”
- “Feels more like an essence than a serum.”
- “Super light, bi-phase formula that feels like water.”
- “Texture and the need to use a bit more product can be a dealbreaker.”
Not standalone moisturizer Rarely Noted
- “It's not a replacement for moisturizer.”
- “I wouldn't say this product is a necessity but it is a solid addition.”
- “Depending on your skin type, you may need more or less of the serum.”
Sources: lovi.care, kohls.com, marieclaire.co.uk, purewow.com, thedailybeast.com, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Great Skin Instant Glow Serum work for oily skin?
MERIT Great Skin Instant Glow Serum works moderately well for oily skin by providing lightweight moisture without heavy oils. However, because it lacks targeted shine control, an oily skin type needs a product with ingredients like niacinamide and lightweight hydration that balance oil and keep pores clear.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and niacinamide make this serum a good fit for oily skin because they provide light, non-greasy moisture while helping to balance oil production. To work even better for this skin type, a product of this type needs additional ingredients like allantoin and ceramides to soothe the skin and keep pores clear.
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 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 serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep the routine simple and adds 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 serum first to give your oily skin lightweight hydration, followed by your retinol. The product is unlikely to cause irritation because it avoids harsh ingredients, but an oily skin routine also needs targeted ingredients to effectively control shine.
How often should I use this serum?
You can safely use this serum in your evening routine, as treatments fit best at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It offers moderate hydration and niacinamide helps regulate oil, but oily skin needs targeted ingredients to control shine.
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 has a safe profile and lacks harsh ingredients. However, because it offers only moderate hydration and lacks targeted shine control, an oily skin type still needs a product with stronger oil-balancing ingredients.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this serum around the eyes and on the body since it has a gentle formula with no harsh ingredients. The thin skin around the eyes and various body areas benefit from lightweight moisture and soothing ingredients, though you should pair it with targeted treatments if you have specific concerns in those areas.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2019Topical 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, 2005A 1.0% w/w cocoa pod husk extract lotion improved skin hydration by 52.48%, reduced transepidermal water loss by 7.73%, and decreased the melanin index by 9.10% in 30 volunteers after 4 weeks of application compared to baseline.
Life, 2025Application of cocoa pod extract gel reduced skin wrinkles by 6.38% at 3 weeks and 12.39% at 5 weeks, and increased skin hydration by 3.18% at 3 weeks in 12 panelists.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2016Cocoa polyphenols improved indicators of skin elasticity and tonus including glycosaminoglycans and collagens I, III, and IV in ex vivo human skin explants with an efficacy equivalent to a commercially available product.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other moisturizers 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, 2024A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dextrin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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.