ZO Skin Health Growth Factor Serum for oily skin
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Adenosine Triphosphate
Beta-Glucan
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Hydrolyzed Sericin
Average
- 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, Panthenyl Triacetate and Ethyl Linoleate help regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, though the formula primarily offers general hydration with Glycerin and Butylene Glycol rather than directly targeting oily shine.
- Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate provide moderate skin regeneration and fine line reduction, supporting overall skin health.
- 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
- 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 1.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly regarded by users with aging, dry, and sensitive skin for its hydrating and plumping effects, visibly reducing fine lines. The lightweight gel formula is frequently praised for restoring the skin's moisture barrier and improving texture. However, some users with acne-prone skin report breakouts, and the high price is a common concern.
Highlights
Lightweight gel Mostly Mentioned
- “The lightweight gel feels refreshing upon application”
- “Glides effortlessly on the skin, leaving no greasy residue”
- “Absorbs within seconds, leaving no greasy or sticky residue”
- “Feels so light weight and leaves your face feeling hydrated”
Hydrating, plumping Often Mentioned
- “Skin truly feels plumped and nourished”
- “Super hydrating and leaves the skin smooth and plump”
- “Helps hydrate dry patches and leave skin feeling supple”
- “Leaves my skin hydrated and bouncy”
Very expensive Often Mentioned
- “Premium pricing might not suit budget-conscious buyers”
- “Expensive for 1 oz”
- “Well worth the money... but it's so expensive”
- “Pricey but it's money well spent”
Gentle, soothing Sometimes Noted
- “Gentle enough for sensitive skin; no irritation”
- “Seemed to calm my skin rather than aggravate it”
- “Reduces minor irritation, ideal for sensitive skin types”
- “Calming aloe scent provided a spa-like experience”
Reduces lines Sometimes Noted
- “Softened the appearance of fine lines”
- “Annoying fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes looked diminished”
- “Helped with hydration and my fine lines”
- “Helps visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles over consistent use”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “Effects do take time”
- “Requires patience; results are visible only after several weeks”
- “Deeper wrinkles remained largely unchanged, at least in the short term”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “The growth serum broke me out like I haven't broken out since high school”
- “Ingredient in it that commonly breaks people out: dimethicone”
- “Some individuals may experience increased acne or new blemishes”
Faulty pump Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenser to be somewhat finicky”
- “Dispensing an even amount of product can be tricky”
- “Excess product dispensed often leads to waste”
Pills under makeup Rarely Noted
- “User found that it pills under a foundation”
- “Dimethicone may contribute to pilling”
- “Pilling may occur when layered with products”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, reddit.com, whatsinmyjar.com, skinsort.com, dermapproved.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ZO Growth Factor Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works reasonably well for oily skin, though other products fit it better. Panthenyl Triacetate and Ethyl Linoleate help regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, while other ingredients offer general hydration rather than directly targeting oily shine. Oily skin needs treatments with ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control oil production and enhance radiance.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Panthenyl triacetate and ethyl linoleate help control oil and calm inflammation in your oily skin. To be a better fit for this skin type, a product of this kind needs ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to actively target excess shine and enlarged pores.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
What does Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate do for oily skin?
Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate helps smooth out fine lines and wrinkles while improving overall skin texture. For oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients that refine pores without feeling heavy or greasy.
What does Adenosine Triphosphate do for oily skin?
Adenosine Triphosphate is unlikely to help oily skin and may cause unwanted irritation or increased sensitivity. A product for oily skin needs oil-absorbing or balancing ingredients to keep the skin clear and calm.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with products that help regulate oil and reduce shine while providing lightweight hydration.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this treatment with retinol by applying the treatment first and following with your retinol. The formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but an average fit for this skin type also needs ingredients that directly manage excess oil and shine.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning. Oily skin works well with a lighter, oil-controlling product that contains ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help reduce shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for your oily skin, as it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients. However, it only offers general hydration rather than directly targeting oily shine, so oily skin needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients that help control excess sebum.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Oleyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate reduced Leeds grading, total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory lesion counts, and sebum production compared with a placebo in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Treatment with a bioactive complex of Panthenyl triacetate and Ethyl linoleate at 3% protected human skin biopsies against UV-induced protein oxidation by 72% with pre-treatment and 78% with post-treatment, while also stimulating the expression of protein repairing enzymes compared to UV-irradiated controls.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010Bakuchiol and ethyl (linoleate/oleate) synergistically inhibit eCB degradation to favor eCB mobilization and repress inflammatory mediators in keratinocytes.
JID Innovations, 2023A novel anti-aging serum containing acetyl hexapeptide-8, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, gluconolactone, niacinamide, and laminaria extract significantly increased anti-aging biomarkers and improved static and dynamic wrinkles as well as skin quality in clinical studies.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Verbascoside- and teupolioside-containing extracts significantly accelerated wound healing, exhibited anti-inflammatory action, inhibited reactive oxygen species release, and suppressed chemokine and growth factor expression in cultured human keratinocytes compared to pro-inflammatory controls.
Cellular and Molecular Biology, 2007The application of a vitamin B12 and adenosine triphosphate complex improved skin radiance, elasticity, and texture in human participants.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2024Direct delivery of intracellular adenosine triphosphate using ATP-encapsulated fusogenic small unilamellar lipid vesicles accelerated wound healing, improved granular tissue development, re-epithelialization, and increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression compared to lipid vesicles alone in adult nude mice.
American Journal of Surgery, 2007A self-powered chloroplast-driven nanophotosystem consisting of Chlorella-derived nanothylakoid units and hyaluronic acid microneedles increased mitochondrial biogenesis, adenosine triphosphate generation, and NAD(P)H pools in senescent fibroblasts, leading to increased collagen synthesis and alleviated skin photoaging.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2026Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022Angelica sinensis essential oil at 5%-10% demonstrated significant anti-acne effects comparable to adapalene gel with reduced side effects in mice by suppressing Cutibacterium acnes and downregulating IL-1β.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2026An Angelica sinensis extract containing 1% ligustilide demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-senescence, matrix-supportive, and antimicrobial effects in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2026Topical application of Angelica sinensis extract induced noticeable hair regrowth, restored hair shaft lengths and follicle size, and decreased apoptotic cells in C57BL/6 mice.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2014Bacterial cellulose wound dressing containing silk sericin and PHMB improved wound quality and reduced pain compared to Bactigras in patients with split-thickness skin graft donor-site wounds.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018A bacterial nanocellulose wound dressing incorporating polyhexamethylene biguanide and sericin showed no skin irritation in healthy volunteers and significantly promoted wound healing with lower wound size and higher collagen formation in full-thickness rat wounds compared to controls.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2016Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005
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, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Peg-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Phosphate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Ethyl Linoleate, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Lactobacillus Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Dimethiconol, Oleyl Alcohol, Proline, Parfum, Tocopherol, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine Triphosphate, Hydrolyzed Protein, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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
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