NATURIUM Vitamin C Complex Serum for oily skin
Vitamin C Complex
Sodium Hyaluronate
Vitamin E
Glutathione
Pineapple Fruit ExtractAverage
- 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 and evening of skin tone for your oily skin due to Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbic Acid, which provide antioxidant protection and mild exfoliation. While beneficial for overall skin health, these ingredients do not directly target excess oiliness.
- The inclusion of glycerin and aloe vera leaf juice offers hydration suitable for oily skin, but the formula lacks specific mattifying agents to control shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no reported risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, uneven, or hyperpigmented skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to brighten the complexion and fade dark spots without the irritation often associated with Vitamin C. The lightweight, gel-like texture absorbs well for the majority, though a small subset of users with highly sensitive or acne-prone skin reported breakouts or allergic reactions.
Highlights
Brightens and evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looks drastically better”
- “significantly less redness”
- “fades dark spots”
- “complexion looks healthier”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “sinks into skin”
- “not sticky”
- “smooth under makeup”
Effective packaging Sometimes Noted
- “pump keeps oxidation at bay”
- “luxurious packaging”
- “easy to dispense”
- “sanitary pump”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging”
- “gentle enough for day and night”
- “good for sensitive skin”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “affordable alternative”
- “great price point”
- “worth every penny”
- “better than high-end”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out bad”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “underwhelming results”
- “no difference after a month”
- “too gentle to be effective”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “rash and hives”
- “burning sensation”
- “red and itchy”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “left a sticky film”
- “feels tacky”
- “takes too long to dry”
- “slightly sticky finish”
Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, walmart.com, sephora.com.au, reddit.com, byrdie.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does NATURIUM Vitamin C Complex Serum work for oily skin?
This vitamin C serum works reasonably well for oily skin by providing brightening and antioxidant protection, though it lacks specific ingredients to control shine. A treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or mattifying agents to properly manage excess oil and reduce shine.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Ascorbic Acid make this serum a good fit for oily skin by offering moderate brightening and antioxidant protection. For this skin type, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control excess oil production and shine.
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps oily skin by preventing sebum oxidation and providing effective antimicrobial action. It may also help keep pores clear and improve overall skin clarity.
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 this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. An oily skin routine like this works well, though oily skin also needs mattifying agents or oil-absorbing ingredients to control shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this serum, or by using them on alternate nights to lower the chance of irritation. This product is safe for your skin, though an oily skin type also needs mattifying ingredients to control shine.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, and you may use it once a day or a few times a week as your skin tolerates it. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but to better manage this skin type, a product like this needs specific mattifying ingredients that help control shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts on oily skin, as review complaints about breakouts are low and the formula is safe for this skin type. However, because it lacks mattifying ingredients to control shine, oily skin also needs oil-absorbing minerals or lightweight, non-greasy hydrators.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2003A 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, 2020A 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, 2017Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 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, 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, 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, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Oral bromelain slightly reduced pain compared to controls (mean difference -0.27) and topical bromelain reduced time to complete debridement by 6.89 days, with no major health risks reported.
Nutrition and Health, 2023An upcycled pineapple leaf fibre crosspolymer forms a physical barrier that protects against environmental aggressors while providing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antipollution, UV protection, hydration, and hair benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026A coaxial electrospun core-shell nanofiber scaffold delivering bromelain and salvianolic acid B demonstrated sustained drug release, in vitro endothelial cell migration, increased capillary formation in an in ovo assay, and in vivo efficacy for skin regeneration and wound healing.
Biomedical Materials, 2017
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide 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, Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ascorbic Acid, Glutathione, Pineapple Fruit Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Mangifera Indica Fruit Extract, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Pleiogynium Timoriense Fruit Extract, Podocarpus Elatus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Hydroxide, Beta-Glucan, Potassium Sorbate, Hexylene Glycol, Sorbitol, Xanthan Gum, Algin, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Sodium Phosphate, Gold
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.