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Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum for oily acne-prone skin

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

Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oil control for your oily skin, as niacinamide and glycolic acid help to brighten skin tone and smooth texture. Tranexamic acid and hydroxyethyl urea provide additional hydration and support for overall skin health.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While beneficial for general skin health, the product's primary focus is not on directly addressing your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
  • Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

This serum is frequently praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that effectively targets dark spots, uneven skin tone, and fine lines. Users with various skin types report a brighter, smoother complexion with consistent use over several weeks. Some users find the price point to be high and note that results can take time, with a few experiencing issues with the packaging.

Highlights

  • Fast absorption Mostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “non-sticky”
    • “sinks in fast”
  • Evens skin tone Often Mentioned
    • “Faded dark spots”
    • “more even complexion”
    • “reduced discoloration”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “Very light consistency”
    • “not greasy”
    • “feels weightless”
  • Brightening effect Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin looks glowing”
    • “more translucent”
    • “noticeable radiance”
  • Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
    • “Doesn't irritate”
    • “great for sensitive”
    • “no stinging”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “A bit expensive”
    • “budget-heavy”
    • “pricey for size”
  • Slow results Sometimes Noted
    • “Need more time”
    • “no change yet”
    • “results take weeks”
  • Packaging design Rarely Noted
    • “Difficult to dispense”
    • “applicator issues”
    • “messy bottle”

Sources: lovi.care, tryandreview.com, dermstore.com, skincare.com, serumtruth.com, lovelyskin.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Vichy LiftActiv B3 work for oily acne-prone skin?

Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum is an average fit for oily acne-prone skin because, while it offers moderate oil control and smooths texture, its primary focus is not on directly addressing acne and breakouts. To fit this skin better, a treatment needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C to target breakouts and excess oil without any risk of irritation or heavy components.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

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

Niacinamide and glycolic acid make this serum a good fit for oily skin by providing moderate oil control, brightening tone, and smoothing texture. To better fit acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like propolis, vitamin C, or soothing extracts that directly target breakouts and blemishes while keeping the skin calm and clear.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Because it is not primarily focused on clearing breakouts, oily acne-prone skin also needs products with targeted acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first in your evening routine, as the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin. However, since this product focuses more on oil control and brightening rather than directly treating breakouts, an oily acne-prone routine needs acne-targeting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly clear blemishes.

How often should I use this serum?

Use this treatment in your evening routine once a week to start, as acids and other actives need gradual introduction, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. It provides moderate oil control and smooths texture, but oily acne-prone skin needs products with dedicated blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents to directly target breakouts.

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily acne-prone skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients that typically lead to irritation. However, because its primary focus is not on directly addressing acne or blemishes, this type of skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid and targeted blemish-fighting agents to properly manage breakouts.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

  • Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

  • A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • 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

  • 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

  • Repeated 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, 2000

  • Serial 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, 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

Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol

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?

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