The Nue Co. Skin Filter Serum for oily skin
Phyto-Retinal
Glycolic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Bakuchiol
Lactic AcidAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products 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
Lovi Assistant explains
- Offers moderate exfoliation and hydration for your oily skin, with glycolic acid and glycerin providing mild skin renewal and moisture balance. Zinc PCA further aids in seboregulation, helping to manage oily shine.
- The inclusion of lactic acid and various fruit extracts supports overall skin smoothing and texture refinement.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.1Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis serum is frequently praised for delivering a radiant, filtered complexion and improving skin texture without irritation. Users often report brighter, more hydrated skin with diminished fine lines, making it suitable for sensitive and combination skin types. Some users find the price point high and note a sticky texture during application.
Highlights
Visible skin glow Mostly Mentioned
- “Instant radiant glow”
- “Skin looks filtered”
- “Lovely healthy glow”
Gentle, non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “No redness or irritation”
- “Perfect for sensitive skin”
- “Gentle retinol alternative”
High price Often Mentioned
- “Pricey but good”
- “Expensive for the size”
- “Hard to justify cost”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels plumped”
- “Deeply hydrates skin”
- “Not greasy or oily”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “Smoother skin texture”
- “Refined visible pores”
- “Evened out tone”
Mixed results Rarely Noted
- “Didn't see major change”
- “Not great for me”
- “No noticeable difference”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “Feels a bit sticky”
- “Takes time to absorb”
- “Slightly tacky finish”
Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, lemon8-app.com, ipsy.com, lookfantastic.com, thenueco.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The Nue Co. Skin Filter work for oily skin?
The Nue Co. Skin Filter Serum offers moderate exfoliation and hydration for your oily skin, helping to manage oily shine and smooth texture while remaining safe and gentle. To fit oily skin even better, an exfoliant treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide and ferulic acid that control sebum production and enhance radiance without irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid and glycerin give your oily skin moderate exfoliation and moisture balance, while zinc PCA helps manage oily shine. To best fit oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, ceramide NP, and panthenol to control sebum, support the skin barrier, and manage excess oil and pores without clogging them.
What does Phyto-Retinal do for oily skin?
Phyto-Retinal helps oily skin by smoothing texture and keeping pores clear without feeling heavy. It may gently boost cell turnover to leave your face looking fresh and balanced.
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting once a week and using it more often only if your skin handles it well. Oily skin works best with an exfoliant treatment that offers moderate renewal and hydration alongside ingredients that help manage oily shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, but apply them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm and avoid irritation. Oily skin works best with an exfoliant treatment that combines gentle acids for texture refinement alongside soothing ingredients like zinc PCA and glycerin to manage shine and maintain moisture balance.
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this serum once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This product is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but oily skin often does better with a targeted balance of pore-clearing acids and oil-controlling ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has a safe profile with no risk of irritation. Oily skin works best with products that provide moderate exfoliation, lightweight moisture balance, and shine control.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017Poly-L-lactic acid induces a regenerative cascade resulting in sustained neocollagenesis, improved dermal density, and enhanced skin quality.
Aesthetic Surgery Journal, 2025PLLA-released lactate induces LTBP1 lactylation at lysine 752 via a KAT8-dependent mechanism, promoting collagen I and collagen III synthesis in fibroblasts for skin rejuvenation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Topical 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, 2019A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.
Health Science Reports, 2025Repeated 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, 2017Topical 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, 2019Bakuchiol functions as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression, producing significant improvements in lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and photo-damage after 12 weeks of twice-a-day facial application without usual retinol therapy-associated undesirable effects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014A nature-based bakuchiol-containing cleanser and moisturizer improved visual and tactile smoothness, clarity, radiance, overall appearance, global anti-aging, and skin moisture content by 16% in 60 female subjects with sensitive mild to moderate photodamaged skin over 4 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2020Bakuchiol demonstrated multidirectional antiageing efficacy in in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies, sharing features with retinol while uniquely stimulating extracellular matrix components, epidermal regeneration, and wound healing.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022Application 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, 2004Topical 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, 1992A 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Isoamyl Laurate, Heptyl Glucoside, Galactoarabinan, Sclerotium Gum, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Vaccinium Myrtillus Fruit Extract, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hydroxide, Maltodextrin, Caffeine, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Isoamyl Cocoate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zinc Pca, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sugar Maple Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Nephelium Lappaceum Extract, Heptanol, Pinus Strobus Bark Extract
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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