Dr. Althea Pure Vitamin C 50% Boosting Powder for oily skin
Ascorbic Acid
Silica
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
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 ascorbic acid and tocopherol, which provide antioxidant effects and help even skin tone.
- The formula includes allantoin and tocopherol, offering soothing benefits that complement your skin's needs.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like allantoin and tocopherol.
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
★0.0Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this product is designed as a high-potency vitamin C booster to be mixed with other skincare. Users appreciate the clean ingredient list and the ability to customize the concentration, though some find the powder format less convenient than a pre-mixed serum.
Highlights
Lack of social proof Mostly Mentioned
- “No reviews yet”
- “hard to find user photos”
- “unknown real-world results”
Customizable versatility Often Mentioned
- “Mix with your favorite toner”
- “adaptable to your routine”
- “mix with essence or cream”
High potency Often Mentioned
- “50% pure vitamin content”
- “stabilizes vitamin C in the freshest state”
- “highly concentrated powder”
Clean ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “Ingredient list is clean and concise”
- “EWG Green grade ingredients”
- “vegan formula”
Targeted brightening Sometimes Noted
- “Brightens skin tone”
- “reduces dark spots”
- “improves elasticity”
Inconvenient format Sometimes Noted
- “Wish they released this as a serum”
- “requires mixing”
- “extra step in routine”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “High concentration”
- “might be strong for sensitive skin”
- “patch test recommended”
Sources: lovi.care, dr-althea.com, yesstyle.com, stylekorean.com, hwahae.co.kr, kbeautyave.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dr. Althea Pure Vitamin C 50% Boosting Powder work for oily skin?
Dr. Althea Pure Vitamin C 50% Boosting Powder is an average fit for oily skin because it offers moderate brightening and soothing benefits, though other treatments fit this skin better. An ideal product for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide or zinc PCA to control excess oil and shine, along with lightweight hydrators that keep the skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this powder a good fit for oily skin?
This powder works for your oily skin because it contains ascorbic acid and tocopherol, which help brighten and calm your skin. Oily skin often benefits even more from a product with ingredients like niacinamide to control shine and manage pores.
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.
What does Silica do for oily skin?
Silica is unlikely to cause skin irritation and helps manage excess oil by absorbing shine while keeping the skin smooth. This type of ingredient works best for oily skin when it is paired with oil-controlling and lightweight hydrating components that balance moisture without feeling heavy.
Where does this powder go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This powder goes in your evening routine as a treatment after cleansing and before moisturizing, though an oily skin needs a formula with lightweight, oil-absorbing ingredients and antioxidants to brighten without feeling heavy.
Can I use this powder with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol, but apply them on alternating nights to help prevent irritation on your oily skin. Using potent active ingredients like vitamin C and retinol together may be too strong for daily use, so separating them keeps your skin calm and balanced. Oily skin often benefits from lightweight hydrators and gentle soothing ingredients like allantoin when managing multiple active treatments.
How often should I use this powder?
This treatment works for your oily skin in the evening, used as part of your weekly routine to start. To work well for this skin type, a product of this type needs antioxidant ingredients like vitamin C and tocopherol to help brighten tone, alongside soothing agents like allantoin.
Can this powder clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This powder is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing allantoin and tocopherol. However, because this is an average fit for oily skin, a product for this skin type needs oil-absorbing minerals and lightweight hydrators to keep pores clear and skin smooth.
Is this powder fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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, 2022A functional cosmetic cream containing bioactive materials from Streptomyces sp. T65 embedded in SBA-15 decreased skin roughness by 4.670% and increased skin brightness by 0.472% after 4 weeks of application, while demonstrating antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening activities.
Antioxidants, 2020Film-forming formulations containing porous silica achieved skin permeation rates comparable to immediate release formulations while confirming prolonged drug availability and causing no skin irritation in healthy volunteers.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017Topical treatment with silica mud and microalgae extracts from the Blue Lagoon improved skin barrier function by inducing epidermal gene expression and reducing transepidermal water loss in healthy humans, while preventing skin aging markers in vitro.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023
Ingredients
Ascorbic Acid, Silica, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Allantoin, Tocopherol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Iron Oxides Ci 77492
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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