🇪🇸Spain

Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, this treatment effectively addresses acne, blemishes, and breakouts with retinol and ascorbic acid, which promote skin renewal and antioxidant protection. These ingredients are beneficial for managing oiliness and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
  • The inclusion of sodium hyaluronate provides additional hydration, supporting your skin's moisture balance without exacerbating oiliness.
  • The product has a favorable safety profile, with no reported risks of irritation for oily skin due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 600+ reviews

Users with acne-prone skin report that this treatment effectively fades post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and dark spots, often showing visible results within a few weeks. While many praise its ability to smooth skin texture and even out tone, a significant number of users experience initial dryness, flaking, or stinging as their skin adjusts to the retinol formula.

Highlights

  • Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
    • “acne marks have disappeared within weeks”
    • “dark spots are fading”
    • “visibly faded my spots”
    • “noticeable difference in lightening”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin vibrant and smooth”
    • “leaves skin super moisturized”
    • “soft and smoother”
    • “improves clarity and tone”
  • Small quantity Often Mentioned
    • “1 oz goes by in 1-2 weeks”
    • “wish it were in a bigger size”
    • “bottle is very small”
    • “run out too quickly”
  • Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs very quickly”
    • “lightweight formula”
    • “doesn't feel greasy”
    • “spreads out really nice”
  • Prevents breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “keeps acne away”
    • “haven't popped a zit in a while”
    • “reduces frequency of breakouts”
    • “clears up my skin”
  • Drying and irritation Sometimes Noted
    • “skin felt super dry”
    • “mild redness and flaking”
    • “slight burning sensation”
    • “dried my face out”
  • Ineffective on wrinkles Rarely Noted
    • “didn't do much for fine lines”
    • “falls short on anti-aging”
    • “no difference in wrinkles”
    • “better for marks than lines”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “noticeable chemical odor”
    • “smells like a lotiony chemical”
    • “scent is not pleasant”
    • “weird smell”

Sources: lovi.care, neutrogena.com, walmart.com, target.com, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Neutrogena Stubborn Marks PM Treatment a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment is a great fit because it uses retinol and ascorbic acid to manage oiliness, clear breakouts, and promote skin renewal. It also includes sodium hyaluronate to keep your skin hydrated without making it feel oily, and it has a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.

Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it contains retinol and ascorbic acid, which help clear blemishes and promote skin renewal. Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin also support your skin's moisture balance without making it feel greasy.

What does Retinol SA do for oily acne-prone skin?

Retinol SA helps clear breakouts and manage oil on acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and reducing clogged pores. It may cause mild dryness or irritation when you first start using it, so it is best to introduce it gradually into your routine.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024

What does Vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?

Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out texture, and improve uneven spots for oily acne-prone skin. It may also help fade marks left behind by blemishes.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are best used then for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is applied after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing.

Can I use this treatment with benzoyl peroxide, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with benzoyl peroxide, but it is best to apply them at different times of day or on alternate nights to avoid dryness and irritation. Using them together at the same time may be too harsh for your skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012

How often should I use this treatment?

This treatment goes in your evening routine. You can start using it once a week, and if your skin feels fine and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.

Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because it uses retinol and ascorbic acid to help clear breakouts while keeping your skin balanced and smooth. It is unlikely to cause irritation or clog pores, and it helps manage oiliness effectively.

Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

  • Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019

  • Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.

    Journal of Controlled Release, 2018

  • Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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, 2019

  • 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, 2017

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Topical 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, 2023

  • Topical treatments including podophyllotoxin, sodium nitrite, myrtle leaf extract, phenol, salicylic acid with lactic acid, SB206, and VP-102 were more efficacious than control in patients with molluscum contagiosum, whereas cantharidin, potassium hydroxide, and imiquimod showed varying degrees of efficacy.

    Clinics in Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical Myrtle solution significantly reduced inflammatory lesions and acne severity index compared to 1% clindamycin solution in patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris.

    Journal of Pharmacopuncture, 2020

Ingredients

Water, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Isohexadecane, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisiloxane, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Chlorphenesin, Hydrolyzed Myrtus Communis Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 20, Bht, Retinol, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ascorbic Acid, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play