Clarins Bright Plus Serum for oily skin
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
- Offers moderate brightening for your oily skin due to Ascorbyl Glucoside and Acerola Fruit Extract, which help even skin tone and provide antioxidant activity. Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate offer hydration, which is supportive but not directly targeted at your primary concern of oily shine.
- The formulation is highly suitable for oily skin, with Ascorbyl Glucoside and Glycerin balancing sebum production and hydration.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin 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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users generally praise this serum for its ability to create a radiant, luminous complexion and improve overall skin texture without irritating sensitive skin. While many report a visible "glow" and hydration, results regarding the reduction of specific dark spots and deep pigmentation are mixed, with some users seeing significant fading and others noticing little change.
Highlights
Excellent texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Lightweight, milky texture”
- “Non-greasy finish”
Improves radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “Complexion is more radiant”
- “Healthier, more luminous complexion”
- “Skin looked brighter overall”
High price Often Mentioned
- “A little pricey”
- “Higher price point”
- “Expensive for the amount”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “Did not break out my sensitive skin”
- “Suitable for all skin types”
- “Non-irritating”
Hydrating feel Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves skin feeling soft”
- “Provides light hydration”
- “Skin feels super hydrated”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells great”
- “Nice light scent”
- “Luxurious smell”
Ineffective on spots Sometimes Noted
- “Not doing anything to lighten red spots”
- “Does nothing for my dark spots”
- “No visible difference”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Dropper mechanism wasn't easy”
- “Difficult to get every bit out”
- “Pump dispenses too little”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “Laid on skin and was tacky”
- “Sticky residue”
- “Felt a bit sticky”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Fragrance can be overpowering”
- “Highly scented”
- “Prefer non-scented products”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, macys.com, beautybulletin.com, influenster.com, sephora.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Bright Plus work for oily skin?
Clarins Bright Plus Serum works moderately well for oily skin, offering some brightening and hydration while lacking ingredients like niacinamide or zinc that actively control oily shine. To better manage oily skin, a treatment of this type needs sebum-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or ferulic acid combined with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Periodontology, 2009
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Ascorbyl glucoside and acerola fruit extract make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping even skin tone and providing antioxidant activity, while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate offer supportive hydration. To fit oily skin even better, treatments need ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid that actively control sebum production and manage shine.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024
What does Ascorbyl Glucoside do for oily skin?
Ascorbyl Glucoside helps brighten skin and fade dark spots, making it a good fit for oily skin when you want a more even complexion. It is unlikely to feel heavy or greasy, but oily skin also benefits from lightweight hydrators and gentle exfoliants to keep pores clear.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016
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.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, after cleansing and before moisturizing, to keep things simple and safe around sun exposure. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol product. This helps brighten your skin while keeping the routine gentle, though oily skin often benefits more from lightweight treatments specifically designed to control excess shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. An oily skin type of average fit needs a lightweight formula with antioxidants and oil-balancing ingredients to brighten skin tone without adding extra 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 because it has a very safe formula with no harsh or prohibited ingredients. However, an oily skin type also needs lightweight formulas with oil-absorbing ingredients and targeted blemish-control actives to truly get the best fit.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
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, 2017Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Treatment with ascorbyl glucoside-arginine complex lotion significantly decreased pigmentation scores and melanin index while increasing lightness in solar lentigos of Japanese females compared to placebo over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Topical 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, 2003Topical 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, 2022Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Topical 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, 2019Elderberry extract reduced reactive oxygen species, matrix metalloproteinase-1 expression, and inflammatory cytokine secretion while promoting procollagen type I synthesis in UVB-irradiated human skin keratinocytes.
Cytotechnology, 2019Water extract and bioferment from Sambucus nigra fruit exhibit antioxidant properties, stimulate cell proliferation, and prevent free-radical-induced damage in human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023Sunscreen formulations containing Helichrysum arenarium, Sambucus nigra, and Crataegus monogyna extracts exhibit broad-spectrum UV protection, high photostability, and remarkable antioxidant properties, fulfilling official requirements for sunscreen products.
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2013Topical ascorbic acid application resulted in a statistically significant improvement in Ra and shadows north-south facial axis values as well as clinical, photographic, and patient self-appraisal scores compared with vehicle control in nineteen patients with mild to moderately photodamaged facial skin.
Archives of Otolaryngology--head & Neck Surgery, 1999Application of a 3% ascorbic acid oil-in-water emulsion significantly reduced oxidative stress, increased dermal papillae, and reduced fine lines and wrinkles in human skin compared to placebo and a vitamin C derivative.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2004Topical ascorbic acid application promoted dermal redensification and significantly increased total skin and dermal echogenicity in 25 healthy female participants after 30 days compared to a placebo formulation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022WS Biotin, a novel encapsulated form of D-Biotin with 20-fold greater water solubility than free biotin, enhanced hair-related keratin and hair growth gene expression in cell cultures and reduced melanin content in UVA-exposed epidermal melanocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Pharmacological biotin concentrations of 1 microM and 100 microM specifically increased cytokeratins induced upon terminal differentiation in a keratinocyte cell line (Ha-CaT) compared to untreated cells, demonstrating that biotin directly stimulates epidermal cell differentiation.
Schweizer Archiv Fur Tierheilkunde, 1991
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Boron Nitride, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Cellulose, Tromethamine, Sodium Polyacrylate, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Biotin, Parfum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Citric Acid, Polianthes Tuberosa Polysaccharide, Acerola Fruit Extract, Xylitol, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Acerola Seed Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Rhodomyrtus Tomentosa Fruit Extract, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract
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
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