numbuz:n No.3 Skin Softening Serum for combination skin

Bifida Lysate Ferment
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best moisturizers for combination skin.
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 utilizes Bifida Lysate Ferment and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier, while niacinamide helps regulate sebum production for an improved texture.
- The inclusion of squalane and panthenol further supports skin hydration and barrier function, addressing your oily shine concerns.
- This formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh or irritating ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly effective at softening and smoothing skin, providing a radiant glow and deep hydration, with many users achieving a 'glass skin' appearance. However, a moderate number of users report breakouts and fungal acne flare-ups, while a low number experience irritation or find the finish sticky. This summary should be definitely taken into account.
Highlights
Softens skin Mostly Mentioned
- “makes my skin baby soft”
- “cheeks became so soft and bouncy”
- “smoothed out my rough texture”
- “velvety finish”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “skin feels plump and juicy”
- “deeply hydrating for dry skin”
- “eliminated my dry patches”
- “moisturizing enough to skip cream”
Improves radiance Often Mentioned
- “gave me an instant glow”
- “skin looks radiant and healthy”
- “achieved that glass skin look”
- “brightens dull complexion”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly into the skin”
- “lightweight but nourishing”
- “spreads easily”
- “feels luxurious and silky”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “gave me tiny white bumps”
- “triggered my fungal acne”
- “broke me out in cystic acne”
- “caused texture on my forehead”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung my face immediately”
- “caused redness and burning”
- “skin felt irritated and hot”
- “too harsh for my sensitive skin”
No results Rarely Noted
- “did absolutely nothing”
- “saw no difference in texture”
- “just an expensive hydrator”
- “overhyped and ineffective”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “left a sticky residue”
- “felt too tacky under makeup”
- “heavy and greasy”
- “didn't sink in completely”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes numbuz:n No.3 Skin Softening Serum a great fit for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit because it uses Bifida Lysate Ferment and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate to hydrate and strengthen your skin barrier while niacinamide helps manage oily shine. Squalane and panthenol further support moisture and barrier health to leave your skin feeling soft and smooth.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Bifida Lysate Ferment and Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate make this serum a great fit by strengthening your skin barrier and keeping it hydrated. Niacinamide helps control oily shine, while squalane and panthenol support overall moisture and comfort without irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021
What does Bifida Ferment Lysate do for combination skin?
Bifida Ferment Lysate helps strengthen the skin barrier and calm irritation, making it a good fit for combination skin that is prone to sensitivity. This ingredient works by supporting the skin defenses, keeping moisture locked in, and helping to reduce redness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Experimental Dermatology, 2010
What does Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate do for combination skin?
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate helps smooth rough patches, balance oily and dry areas, and calm redness on combination skin. Daily use may also keep pores looking clear and improve skin hydration over time.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2023
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine, placed after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure, though 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, applying the serum before your retinol to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Ferment filtrates and soothing ingredients like panthenol support your skin barrier, which may reduce the dryness and irritation often caused by retinoids.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is used in the evening as part of your combination skin routine, following Lovi guidelines that place active treatments at night for simplicity and sun safety. You may start using it once a day, and since it is safe and gentle, you can gradually move to twice a day if your skin tolerates it well.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit for your combination skin, but some reviewers mention that it may cause breakouts. Because the formula contains ferment extracts and squalane, it is generally unlikely to clog pores for most people.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around your eyes, where the skin is particularly thin. The formula features ingredients like panthenol that help keep these areas hydrated and protected with a very good skin safety profile.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.
Skinmed, 2021Galactomyces ferment filtrate promotes epidermal interconnectivity, barrier development, cell adhesion, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, and protects cellular bioenergetics against stress in keratinocytes and ex vivo skin explants compared to untreated controls.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Galactomyces ferment filtrate activates AHR and NRF2, upregulates filaggrin and terminal differentiation markers, exhibits antioxidative activity, promotes antiinflammatory IL-37, and downregulates CDKN2A, IL-33, CXCL14, and IL6R in epidermal keratinocytes.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Ingredients
Bifida Lysate Ferment, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Butylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Water, Niacinamide, Peg-90, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycerin, Squalane, Alteromonas Extract Ferment, Silk Extract, Goat Extract Milk, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Adenosine, Glycereth-26, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Distearate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Carbomer, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Tropolone, Disodium Edta
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
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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