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innisfree Retinol Cica Moisture Recovery Serum for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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, this serum leverages salicylic acid for effective pore clearing and niacinamide to help regulate oil production, addressing your concern for oily shine.
  • The inclusion of retinol and sodium hyaluronate further supports skin barrier resilience and provides essential hydration, complementing the seboregulating effects.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no reported irritation risks due to its formulation with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and beta-glucan.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is a gentle, beginner-friendly option that effectively refines skin texture, reduces acne, and hydrates without causing irritation, making it suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Some experienced retinol users find it too mild for significant anti-aging effects.

Highlights

  • Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
    • “mildest retinol they've tried”
    • “zero irritation, peeling, or adjustment period”
    • “does not cause irritation”
    • “ideal for sensitive, acne-prone skin”
  • Hydrating, soothing Often Mentioned
    • “leaving skin refreshed and hydrated”
    • “helps to soothe the skin”
    • “floods the skin with moisture”
    • “lightweight but moisturizing texture”
  • Improves texture Often Mentioned
    • “significant improvements in skin's texture”
    • “smooth away dead skin cells”
    • “smoothing out rough patches”
    • “improves the look of texture”
  • Clears acne Sometimes Noted
    • “address acne-prone skin concerns”
    • “works on blemishes, acne, sebum”
    • “reduces blackheads and blemishes”
    • “help with the appearance of blemishes”
  • Too mild Sometimes Noted
    • “experienced retinol users find it too mild”
    • “not going to deliver transformative results”
    • “maintenance dose, not a correction”
    • “limits aggressive anti-aging claims”
  • Confusing rebranding Rarely Noted
    • “confused why retinol cica repair ampoule is not sold”
    • “packaging says retinol cica moisture recovery serum”
    • “wondering if there is a difference”
  • Slow results Rarely Noted
    • “will not deliver a strong retinoid result”
    • “effect, if any, is likely to be small”
    • “intentionally conservative”

Sources: lovi.care, innisfree.com, dermapproved.com, reddit.com, cultbeauty.com, gopicky.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes innisfree Retinol Cica Serum a great fit for oily skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because it uses salicylic acid to clear pores and niacinamide to help control oily shine. It also includes soothing ingredients that make irritation unlikely while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because it uses salicylic acid to clear pores and niacinamide to help control oil. It also includes soothing ingredients like beta-glucan to keep your skin calm and safe from irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does retinol do for oily skin?

Retinol helps keep oily skin clear by maintaining healthy skin cell growth and controlling pore activity. This ingredient is unlikely to stop oil production entirely, so oily skin usually needs extra ingredients that soak up excess oil and keep pores clear.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 2012

What does centella asiatica do for oily skin?

Centella asiatica helps calm oily skin and keeps it feeling smooth while supporting moisture levels without feeling heavy. It may also reduce redness and help keep breakouts under control, making it a gentle fit for daily care.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This treatment serum goes in the evening routine step, as placing actives at night provides extra safety around sun exposure. The formula also helps clear pores and manage oily shine.

Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?

You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this retinol serum at night to help avoid any extra irritation. Using them on alternate nights or spacing them out may also help your oily skin adjust comfortably.

How often should I use this serum?

This serum is a great fit for your oily skin and is designed to be used in the evening. It features salicylic acid to help clear pores and niacinamide to keep oily shine under control while remaining gentle on your skin.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because it uses salicylic acid to clear pores and niacinamide to help control oil, making it unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. While retinol can sometimes cause mild purging as it speeds up skin renewal, soothing ingredients like beta-glucan and niacinamide help keep irritation risks low.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this serum around the eyes and on the body because its moisturizing treatment formula provides good skin tolerance and safety. It helps improve fine lines in the periorbital area while keeping the skin calm.

Polymers, 2023International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
  • Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
  • Topical 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, 2019
  • Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.

    Journal of Controlled Release, 2018
  • Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017
  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
  • 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, 2017
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dibutyl Adipate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Cholesterol, Allantoin, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Propanediol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Asiaticoside, Madecassic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Seed Extract, Asiatic Acid, Retinol, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Mannitol, Ceramide Np, Beta-Glucan, Beta-Carotene, Phytosphingosine, Bht, Salicylic Acid, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-11

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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