NATURIUM Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% for combination skin
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
GlycerinHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, this serum effectively addresses oily shine with high concentrations of niacinamide and zinc PCA to regulate sebum production and calm inflammation.
- The inclusion of sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provides essential hydration, supporting your skin's moisture balance without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle formula with soothing ingredients and no harsh components.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 12.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly effective for oily and acne-prone skin, with users frequently reporting minimized pores, controlled oil production, and smoother skin texture. Some users, particularly those with sensitive skin, experience irritation, stinging, or breakouts due to the high concentration of niacinamide. A small number of users also noted a sticky residue or saw no visible results.
Highlights
Controls oil Mostly Mentioned
- “great at controlling sebum production”
- “controls the oiliness”
- “reduces oiliness”
Lightweight, absorbs fast Often Mentioned
- “absorbs really fast”
- “lightweight and absorbs quickly”
- “not sticky or heavy on the skin”
Minimizes pores Often Mentioned
- “pores look more minimized on and around my nose”
- “pores look smaller which is really nice”
- “visually refine the complexion”
Smooths texture Often Mentioned
- “skin definitely looks more smooth”
- “texture of this serum is really silky”
- “smooths appearance of fine lines”
Brightens tone Sometimes Noted
- “acne scars have lightened”
- “helps to brighten my skin”
- “even out skin tone”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “broke me out so bad”
- “caused breakouts for my skin”
- “bumps are going away”
Too strong Sometimes Noted
- “too strong for my sensitive skin”
- “high concentration... cause irritation”
- “harsh for some people's skin”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “stinging and itching”
- “burning sensation”
- “reaction to it”
No results Rarely Noted
- “haven't seen any improvement”
- “don't necessarily see the difference”
- “didn't do anything for me”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “left such a sticky layer”
- “sticky residue”
- “tacky finish”
Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, target.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Naturium Niacinamide Serum 12% Plus Zinc 2% a great fit for combination skin?
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit for combination skin because it uses niacinamide and zinc PCA to calm oily shine and balance oil production. It also includes sodium hyaluronate and glycerin to provide essential hydration to dry areas without making the skin greasy.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Zinc PCA do for combination skin?
Zinc PCA helps keep combination skin clear by balancing oil and calming redness. This ingredient is unlikely to irritate your skin and works well to reduce blemishes in oily areas without drying out your face.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. Some serums can also be used in the morning or twice a day.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin calm and hydrated, followed by your retinol. This gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with retinoids, helping to maintain your skin's moisture balance.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is used in your evening routine, starting once a week and moving to more often as your skin tolerates it well.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit for your combination skin, but reviewers do sometimes report breakouts from it. While ingredients like vitamin E generally show a safe profile for pores, individual reactions can vary, so you may want to patch test first.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017Dermatological 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 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, 2005Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Topical 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Glycerin, Zinc Pca, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-11, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid
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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