Palmer's Skin Success Anti-Dark Spot Fade Cream for oily skin
Niacinamide
Retinol
Vitamin E
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Tricholoma Matsutake ExtractWarning
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- WarningSafety
A poor match for oily skin; the serums alongside fit it 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
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
★4.2Overall rating based on 4.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users report that this cream effectively fades post-acne scars, melasma, and sun spots with consistent use over several weeks, though results vary by skin type. Many praise its potent moisturizing properties and affordability, while others find the texture too heavy or greasy and the scent overpowering.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “acne scars really fade away”
- “melasma is fading”
- “dark spots getting lighter”
- “spots gotten lighter brown”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “super cheap”
- “under 7 bucks”
- “good value”
- “money is worth it”
Deeply moisturizing Often Mentioned
- “keeps my sensitive skin moist”
- “skin feels hydrated and smooth”
- “richly moisturizing”
- “leaves skin soft”
Thick, greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “thick and hard to rub in”
- “greasy”
- “leaves a white cast”
- “heavy on my face”
Improves skin tone Sometimes Noted
- “brightens overall skin tone”
- “skin appeared fresher”
- “balances uneven skin tone”
- “unifying the color”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “no change after a month”
- “slow results”
- “didn't do anything”
- “takes time to work”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “distinctive lavender smell”
- “don't love the smell”
- “strong scent”
- “smell is not for everyone”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “itching and burning”
- “causes breakouts”
- “dryness and irritation”
- “made me sweat”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, walmart.com, target.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against Palmer's Anti-Dark Spot Fade Cream for oily skin?
Lovi advises against this treatment for oily skin because its heavy oils and waxes may clog pores and increase shine. An oily skin type needs lightweight products with niacinamide, zinc PCA, and oil-free hydrators to control excess oil and keep the face clear and balanced.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?
This cream is a poor match for oily skin largely due to heavy ingredients like mineral oil and isopropyl myristate, which tend to clog pores and feel greasy. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide to control shine and lightweight hydrators that keep skin smooth without feeling heavy.
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
What does Retinol do for oily skin?
Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cream is a poor match for oily skin and is best avoided, as it contains heavy oils and ingredients that can clog pores. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free treatments and gel moisturizers with niacinamide or salicylic acid to help keep pores clear and skin balanced.
Can I use this cream with glycolic acid, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this cream with glycolic acid on oily skin, as the combination may easily cause dryness and irritation. Oily skin needs lightweight treatments with niacinamide and gentle acids that keep pores clear without heavy oils.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for oily skin and is not advised for it. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators and gentle exfoliants that clear pores without heavy oils.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is a poor match for oily skin because its thick and greasy texture is likely to clog pores and trigger breakouts. Oily skin needs a lightweight, oil-free formula with gentle blemish-clearing ingredients to stay clear and smooth.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, linalool, and limonene). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
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, 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 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical 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, 2024Topical 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 targeted skincare regimen containing active ingredients such as rhodophyceae extract, ergothioneine, and L-carnosine significantly reduced transepidermal water loss by 24.09%, improved skin elasticity, and decreased redness, dryness, and desquamation in thirty-five female Chinese participants over 4 weeks following advanced optimal pulse technology treatment.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A triple combination of ergothioneine, collagen peptides, and sodium hyaluronate attenuated UV-induced skin damage ex vivo and improved facial skin hydration, elasticity, barrier function, and wrinkles in Chinese women.
Frontiers in Nutrition, 2026Ergothioneine at nanomolar concentrations ameliorated UVA-induced skin damage, reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis in human keratinocyte-derived HaCaT cells by upregulating Nrf2/ARE-mediated antioxidant genes.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2015
Ingredients
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Paraffinum Liquidum Mineral Oil, Niacinamide, Propylene Glycol, Stearyl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Peg-75 Lanolin, Peg-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Isopropyl Myristate, Retinol, Tricholoma Matsutake Extract, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Sulfite, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Sulfate, Bht, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone
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?
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