DIME TBT Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Mandelic Acid
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Peptides
BakuchiolAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products fit it 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin due to mandelic acid, which helps smooth texture and regulate oiliness with niacinamide. Supportive ingredients like Sodium Hyaluronate provide general hydration.
- While the formula is safe for your oily skin and offers good exfoliation, it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant as part of your PM routine once a week to start, increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toning, but before your final moisturizer step.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product directly onto clean, dry skin for the best results against breakouts.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and always use a daily SPF since exfoliating makes skin more sensitive to the sun.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise the serum for its ability to smooth skin texture and provide a radiant glow, often noting improvements in fine lines and acne scarring over time. Reactions are mixed regarding hydration; while many find it lightweight and effective, a notable subset of users with sensitive or dry skin experienced irritation, breakouts, or a lack of sufficient moisture.
Highlights
Improved skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “softer feel”
- “reduced roughness”
Radiant complexion Often Mentioned
- “healthy glow”
- “brighter skin”
- “less dullness”
Clean formulation Sometimes Noted
- “gentle ingredients”
- “EWG verified”
- “vegan/cruelty-free”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “reduced acne scars”
- “evened skin tone”
- “lighter hyperpigmentation”
Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-greasy”
- “layers well”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “redness”
- “rashes”
- “breakouts”
- “itchiness”
Unpleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “sticky finish”
- “tacky feel”
- “heavy residue”
Insufficient hydration Rarely Noted
- “drying effect”
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “requires extra cream”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “no visible change”
- “plateaued improvement”
- “ineffective for wrinkles”
Scent issues Rarely Noted
- “overpowering smell”
- “unpleasant odor”
Sources: lovi.care, dimebeautyco.com, amazon.com, ulta.com, reddit.com, gurlgonegreen.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does DIME TBT Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
DIME TBT Serum works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, smoothing texture and helping control oiliness with mandelic acid and niacinamide. Although it is safe and non-irritating, it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address active breakouts. An exfoliant treatment for this skin needs effective acne-fighting ingredients like vitamin C, salicylic acid, or propolis, along with oil-controlling agents and soothing extracts.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Mandelic acid and niacinamide make this serum a good fit by helping smooth texture and regulate oiliness. To better care for oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like propolis, vitamin C, or salicylic acid along with oil-controlling and soothing components.
What does Mandelic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Mandelic acid helps clear breakouts and manage oil on acne-prone skin with a lower chance of irritation than many other acids. It gently removes dead skin cells to keep pores clean and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This exfoliant goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Oily acne-prone skin of this type needs products containing targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and acne-clearing actives.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this exfoliant first and following with your retinol after it absorbs, though it is best to alternate nights or use one in the morning and one at night to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
Start using this exfoliant once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This product of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to help clear breakouts and blemishes on oily acne-prone skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your oily skin because it contains gentle mandelic acid and niacinamide, but it also lacks the targeted ingredients needed to clear active blemishes. An effective product for this skin type needs stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-controlling properties.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.
BMJ Open, 2018Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Treatment with 30% lactic acid peel showed a significantly greater reduction in pigmentation and higher patient satisfaction compared to 30% mandelic acid peel in patients with periorbital melanosis.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2025Topical 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, 2005Topical 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 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, 2019A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.
Health Science Reports, 2025
Why other products fit oily acne-prone skin better
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide 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, Propanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mandelic Acid, Niacinamide, Camellia Sinensis Extract, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil Rosehip Seed Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Oil, Neem Oil, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Phoenix Dactylifera Extract Date Palm Extract, Resveratrol, Bakuchiol, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, Lycium Barbarum Berry Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
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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