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Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

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 as niacinamide and lactic acid work to regulate sebum and refine texture, addressing your concerns with oily shine.
  • The inclusion of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 further enhances brightening and smoothing, complementing the serum's overall effectiveness for your complexion.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to its gentle formulation and the presence of soothing ingredients like Panthenol.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dry, or uneven skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to visibly brighten the complexion and smooth skin texture. Many report hydrated and glowing skin within weeks, though results for fading deep dark spots and hyperpigmentation are mixed and often require consistent long-term use.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “no sticky residue”
    • “works under makeup”
    • “silky texture”
  • Brightens complexion Often Mentioned
    • “skin looks brighter”
    • “healthy glow”
    • “radiant look”
    • “less dullness”
  • Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
    • “smells like citrus”
    • “refreshing scent”
    • “light orange smell”
    • “yummy fragrance”
  • Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
    • “no irritation”
    • “good for sensitive skin”
    • “didn't break me out”
    • “gentle vitamin C”
  • Hydrating Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “moisturizing”
    • “plumps fine lines”
    • “dewy finish”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “perfume is strong”
    • “smells like hand soap”
    • “scent lingers”
    • “irritating fragrance”
  • Not cruelty-free Rarely Noted
    • “tests on animals”
    • “not cruelty-free”
    • “wish it was vegan”
  • Packaging/value Rarely Noted
    • “bottle runs out fast”
    • “pump issues”
    • “expensive for size”
    • “hard to see amount left”
  • Slow results Rarely Noted
    • “no difference yet”
    • “dark spots didn't fade”
    • “took months to work”
    • “average results”
  • Sticky texture Rarely Noted
    • “leaves sticky film”
    • “tacky finish”
    • “feels heavy”
    • “slightly gooey”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, olay.com, skinsort.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Olay Vitamin C + Peptide 24 Brightening Serum a great fit for oily skin?

This serum is a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide and lactic acid help control shine and smooth your texture. It also includes soothing panthenol and brightening vitamin C and peptides to improve your complexion safely without causing irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Polymers, 2023

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?

Niacinamide and lactic acid make this serum a great fit for your oily skin because they help control shiny oil and smooth out your texture. Ingredients like 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 further brighten and smooth your complexion, while panthenol helps keep your skin calm and safe from irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Polymers, 2023

What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?

Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 do for oily skin?

Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 helps smooth fine lines and wrinkles on oily skin without clogging pores. Because it focuses on building firmness and reducing signs of aging, this type of product also needs oil-controlling ingredients to keep greasy skin balanced and clear.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2023

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine, as Lovi places serums with actives then for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is unlikely to irritate your skin thanks to a gentle formula with soothing ingredients like panthenol.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment at night before your moisturizer and using your retinol on alternate nights to avoid irritation.

How often should I use it?

This treatment is a great fit for your oily skin and is used in the evening routine. Start by using it once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its gentle formulation helps control oil and smooth texture without heavy oils. Soothing ingredients like panthenol also help keep irritation low.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide (pal-KTTKS) provided significant improvement versus placebo control in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines in Caucasian female subjects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005

  • A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.

    Polymers, 2023

  • A 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, 2020

  • Topical 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, 2002

  • A 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, 2017

  • 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, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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, 2005

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Lactic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Panthenol, Trehalose, Peg-11 Methyl Ether Dimethicone, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play