Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum for oily skin
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ascorbic Acid
Squalane
Phytosterols
Glycolic Acid
Saccharide IsomerateHigh
- 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
- Offers excellent brightening for your oily skin due to tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid, which exfoliate and even skin tone while controlling oil.
- The formula is highly suitable for oily skin, with ingredients like jojoba esters providing nourishment without clogging pores.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dry, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its rich, creamy texture that hydrates while delivering a visible "lit-from-within" glow. Many report significant fading of acne scars and hyperpigmentation without the irritation common to other Vitamin C products, though a minority of users found the high price point unjustifiable for the results achieved.
Highlights
Brightens and evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves complexion glowing”
- “faded my acne scars”
- “skin looks noticeably brighter”
- “got rid of dullness”
Hydrating creamy texture Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “non-greasy but moisturizing”
- “feels like a lotion”
- “plumps my skin”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive”
- “hard to justify the price”
- “luxury splurge only”
- “wallet hurts buying this”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “no tingling sensation”
Pleasant citrus scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like fresh oranges”
- “delicious citrus scent”
- “smells spa-like”
- “uplifting fragrance”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “can't get the last bit out”
- “bottle design is wasteful”
- “have to unscrew to use”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me tiny white bumps”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “broke me out immediately”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “dark spots didn't fade”
- “glorified moisturizer”
- “expected more for the money”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Sunday Riley Vitamin C Brightening Serum a great fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily skin because it brightens and evens your tone while keeping oil under control, thanks to ingredients like vitamin C and glycolic acid. It also nourishes your skin without clogging your pores and is very safe with no harsh ingredients.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin because ingredients like tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid even your skin tone and help control oil, while jojoba esters nourish your skin without clogging pores. These ingredients work safely together to brighten your skin without causing irritation.
What does Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate do for oily skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate helps protect oily skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage while supporting collagen production. When combined with stabilizers like acetyl zingerone, it is unlikely to cause irritation and may help keep skin calm and smooth.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
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. Treatments are placed in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure, though some may 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 product, or by using them on alternate nights to keep your skin calm. Using this combination may increase dryness or sensitivity, so start slowly and watch how your skin reacts.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment fits into your evening routine once a week to start, since exfoliating steps begin slowly. You may carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily skin because it uses ingredients like jojoba esters that provide nourishment without clogging pores. Its safety profile is excellent, with a very low likelihood of causing breakouts and no harsh ingredients that lead to irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
A 3-in-1 anti-aging topical night serum-in-oil applied once daily decreased wrinkles by 11%, increased skin firmness by 8%, reduced redness by 70%, and improved overall skin quality and complexion in 103 female subjects over 28 to 84 days compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical formulations containing 3.75% glycerol and 1.25% hydrolyzed jojoba esters produced significantly lower evaporative TEWL values compared to glycerol alone at 8 and 24 hours posttreatment in human subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Topical 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, 2022Squalane 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, 2025Topical application of soybean phytosterols improves skin barrier recovery compared to a vehicle control in human volunteers with tape-stripped skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical application of a formulation containing niacinamide and soy phytosterols recovered about 95% of skin barrier integrity eight days after tape stripping in vivo.
Current Drug Delivery, 2016Topical application of phytosterols and ceramides on healthy skin blocked the UV-induced down-regulation of COL1A1 and COL1A2 expression, while all four tested preparations inhibited the UV-induced up-regulation of MMP-1.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2008Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Formulations containing saccharide isomerate significantly improved transepidermal water loss, sebum secretion, and scalp flaking compared to a placebo formulation in an adult Chinese population affected by dandruff scalp.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalane, Peg-8 Beeswax, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Ppg-12 Smdi Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopherol, Glycolic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Chlorphenesin, Alba Cera, Glycerin, Isosqualane, C30 Hydrocarbons, Saccharide Isomerate, Limonene, Linalool
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
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