numbuzin 5 Glutathione Vitamin Concentrated Serum for oily skin
Glutathione
Niacinamide
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Tranexamic Acid
Alpha-ArbutinHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few serums fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, niacinamide and tranexamic acid work to regulate sebum and melanin production, addressing your concern for oily shine.
- Glycerin and Beta-Glucan provide general hydration and soothing benefits, complementing the primary functions for your skin.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh 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
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dullness, hyperpigmentation, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to fade acne scars and even out skin tone without causing irritation. The majority report a "glass skin" glow and rapid absorption, while a small minority experienced breakouts or found the brightening effects too slow to appear.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “Acne marks faded noticeably”
- “Helps with pigmentation issues”
- “Sunspots have faded”
- “Clear up hyperpigmentation”
- “Reduces appearance of spots”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “No irritation”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Gentle yet effective”
- “No stinging”
- “Soothing ingredients”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs instantly”
- “Non-sticky formula”
- “Lightweight milky texture”
- “Sinks in quickly”
- “Does not feel heavy”
Hydrating glow Sometimes Noted
- “Natural glass-skin glow”
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Very hydrating”
- “Restores natural glow”
- “Dewy finish”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused tiny bumps”
- “More acne on my skin”
- “Triggered whiteheads”
- “Broke me out”
- “Clogged my pores”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Dropper is messy”
- “Hard to get last drops”
- “Bottle leaks slightly”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “Did nothing to brighten”
- “No big improvement”
- “Takes a long time”
- “Saw no difference”
- “Overhyped results”
Tacky finish Rarely Noted
- “Left a slightly tacky feeling”
- “Sticky residue”
- “Felt heavy initially”
- “Greasy after application”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes numbuzin No. 5 serum a great fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide and tranexamic acid help regulate oil and pigment production to reduce shine. Glycerin and beta-glucan provide gentle hydration and calming benefits while keeping the formula safe and non-irritating for your skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and tranexamic acid make this serum a great fit for oily skin because they help regulate sebum and melanin production to manage oily shine. Glycerin and beta-glucan provide helpful hydration and soothing benefits while keeping the formula gentle and safe.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Glutathione do for oily skin?
Glutathione helps protect oily skin from everyday damage and oxidative stress. It may also help keep your skin looking bright and smooth.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and avoids extra safety concerns 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?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol. This combination is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation when introduced gradually.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your oily skin and is meant to be used in your evening routine. It helps regulate oily shine while providing gentle hydration and a safe, irritation-free experience.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit and is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes niacinamide to help control oil. Reviewers rarely mention breakouts, and hydrating ingredients like glycerin keep the skin comfortable without feeling heavy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A 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, 2017Glutathione 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, 2025Topical 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 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, 2003Ascorbic 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, 2022A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Ingredients
Vaccinium Vitis-Idaea Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Tranexamic Acid, Water, 1,2-Hexanediol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sorbitol, Bifida Ferment Filtrate, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Alpha-Arbutin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Tremella Fuciformis Extract, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Alpha Bisabolol, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Allantoin, Glutathione, Ceramide Np, Beta-Glucan, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Tocopherol, L Ascorbic Acid, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Ubiquinone, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Behenyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, 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.
-
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.