MERIT Great Skin Instant Glow Serum for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract
TocopherolAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
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
- Offers high suitability for your combination skin due to the presence of niacinamide for seboregulation and multiple forms of sodium hyaluronate for humectant action, providing excellent moisturizing and plumping benefits.
- While it offers general skincare benefits, the lack of targeted ingredients for oil control means it does not directly address your oily shine concern.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh 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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsUsers with dry, dull, or combination skin highly praise this serum for its ability to deliver immediate, glass-like radiance and deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. It effectively plumps the skin and serves as an excellent makeup primer. A very large amount of data was used to generate this summary, and it should be definitely taken into account. Some users note that the extremely watery consistency and forceful pump dispenser can make application slightly messy.
Highlights
Instant healthy glow Mostly Mentioned
- “As soon as you apply it, your skin has a true lit-from-within effect.”
- “Leaves you with glass-like skin—no filter or ring light required.”
- “Gives that 'I just did skincare' look even when I didn't do much.”
- “My skin always seems to have an extra glow when I use it.”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Does a solid job at making skin feel comforted and less tight pretty quickly.”
- “Provides intense hydration.”
- “Left a glowing sheen and burst of long-lasting hydration all day.”
- “Instantly plumps and soothes.”
Great makeup primer Often Mentioned
- “Sets skin up perfectly in the morning for make-up application.”
- “Functions as a hydrating primer with the benefits of a serum.”
- “Layers beautifully under makeup.”
- “Velvety finish makes a great base for makeup.”
Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often Mentioned
- “Super lightweight, almost like a non-oily oil.”
- “Absorbs quickly into skin with zero residue.”
- “Sinks into the skin really elegantly, and instantly plumps and soothes.”
- “Lightweight formula absorbs quickly and doesn't pill.”
Messy pump dispenser Sometimes Noted
- “The pump dispenser sends the product flying out at times which is a little annoying and messy.”
- “The pump could definitely use improvement or be switched to a dropper.”
- “Sends the product flying out at times.”
Watery consistency Sometimes Noted
- “Surprised by how watery the consistency was and how it easily sloshed around my palms.”
- “Feels more like an essence than a serum.”
- “Super light, bi-phase formula that feels like water.”
- “Texture and the need to use a bit more product can be a dealbreaker.”
Not standalone moisturizer Rarely Noted
- “It's not a replacement for moisturizer.”
- “I wouldn't say this product is a necessity but it is a solid addition.”
- “Depending on your skin type, you may need more or less of the serum.”
Sources: lovi.care, kohls.com, marieclaire.co.uk, purewow.com, thedailybeast.com, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does MERIT Great Skin work for combination skin?
MERIT Great Skin works reasonably well for your combination skin because it provides good moisture and helps balance your skin without causing irritation. However, since it lacks specific oil-control ingredients, it does not directly target your oily shine concern. A moisturizing treatment for combination skin needs targeted oil-control ingredients and balanced hydrators that manage oily shine while keeping dry areas soft.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and multiple forms of sodium hyaluronate make this serum a good fit because they balance moisture and help keep your skin looking plump and smooth. To work even better for combination skin, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients for oil control to help manage oily shine.
Scientific Reports, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
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.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure. Combination skin like yours also needs targeted ingredients for oil control to keep oily shine managed.
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 skin moisture, followed by retinol once it absorbs. This approach helps keep your skin soft and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. If tolerated well, treatments like this can sometimes be used in the morning or twice a day.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on combination skin, as it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for oil control, a product of this type needs balancing ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to better manage oily shine.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because it has a very safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation. However, because your combination skin needs oil control for oily shine, a product of this type used in those areas also needs targeted ingredients to manage oil.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 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 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, 2005A 1.0% w/w cocoa pod husk extract lotion improved skin hydration by 52.48%, reduced transepidermal water loss by 7.73%, and decreased the melanin index by 9.10% in 30 volunteers after 4 weeks of application compared to baseline.
Life, 2025Application of cocoa pod extract gel reduced skin wrinkles by 6.38% at 3 weeks and 12.39% at 5 weeks, and increased skin hydration by 3.18% at 3 weeks in 12 panelists.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2016Cocoa polyphenols improved indicators of skin elasticity and tonus including glycosaminoglycans and collagens I, III, and IV in ex vivo human skin explants with an efficacy equivalent to a commercially available product.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical 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, 2024
Why other moisturizers fit combination skin better
A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017A 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Isononyl Isononanoate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Coptis Japonica Root Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Dextrin, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.