Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Butylene Glycol
Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment
Ethylhexylglycerin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best moisturizers for oily skin.
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 as sodium hyaluronate and Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment provide excellent hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
- Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate offers additional soothing benefits, complementing the hydration for your skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently describe this serum as a "splurge" product that delivers deep, non-greasy hydration and a noticeable "plumping" effect that smooths fine lines and revitalizes dull complexions. While many praise its ability to calm sensitive or acne-prone skin without irritation, a significant portion of reviewers feel the exorbitant price tag is not justified by the results, often citing comparable effects from more affordable alternatives.
Highlights
Deep Instant Hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin drank it up”
- “quenched dry patches”
- “long-lasting moisture”
- “relieved tightness”
Extremely Expensive Mostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive”
- “overpriced luxury”
- “hard on wallet”
Lightweight Absorption Often Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “water-like texture”
- “weightless feel”
Plumps Fine Lines Often Mentioned
- “lines less visible”
- “bouncy texture”
- “youthful fullness”
- “smoother forehead”
Calms Sensitive Skin Sometimes Noted
- “reduced redness”
- “no breakouts”
- “gentle on acne”
Glow and Radiance Sometimes Noted
- “healthy glow”
- “dewy look”
- “revived dull skin”
- “fresh appearance”
Cheaper Alternatives Sometimes Noted
- “The Ordinary is better”
- “found cheaper dupes”
- “paying for brand”
- “similar to drugstore”
Minimal Results Sometimes Noted
- “did nothing”
- “saw no difference”
- “average performance”
- “just basic hydration”
Sticky Residue Sometimes Noted
- “tacky finish”
- “feels sticky”
- “left a film”
- “tacky to touch”
Pilling Issues Rarely Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “balls up”
- “flakes off”
- “doesn't layer well”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, bluemercury.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum a great fit for oily skin?
Dr. Barbara Sturm Hyaluronic Serum is a great fit for oily skin because sodium hyaluronate and Portulaca oleracea extract provide deep hydration without making your skin oily. It also helps calm your skin safely without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment make this serum a great fit by providing deep hydration without adding extra oiliness. Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate also helps soothe the skin safely without irritation.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
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.
What does Butylene Glycol do for oily skin?
Butylene glycol helps deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin and is unlikely to clog pores, making it useful for keeping oily skin balanced and smooth. It helps other ingredients penetrate effectively while maintaining a lightweight feel.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2022European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your oily skin lightweight hydration, followed by retinol. This helps keep your skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your oily skin and can be used in your evening routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated without making it greasy, and it is unlikely to cause irritation.
Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin because sodium hyaluronate and Portulaca extract provide light hydration that is unlikely to trigger breakouts or clog pores. It has a very safe profile with no harsh ingredients, though some shoppers do mention a sticky feeling.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this serum around the eyes and on your body to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. The ingredients help deliver moisture safely without irritation, making them suitable for thinner or delicate areas.
Polymers, 2023Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Topical 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 purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2023Topical application of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea accelerates wound healing by decreasing wound surface area and increasing tensile strength in Mus musculus JVI-1, with the greatest contraction achieved at a single dose of 50mg compared to other dosages.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003A polysaccharide fraction (VPOP3) from Portulaca oleracea L. reduced reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation, inhibited UVB-induced apoptosis, and downregulated melanogenic signaling pathway proteins in cells and zebrafish.
Phytomedicine, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate
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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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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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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