Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Concentrated Plumping Serum for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Thermal Spring Water
GlycerinAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers 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 suitability for oily skin as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and hydrate, but it lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients to fully address your oily shine.
- The serum provides excellent plumping and hydrating benefits due to sodium hyaluronate and niacinamide, which improve skin volume and elasticity.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers report this serum provides immediate hydration and a visible plumping effect, making it beneficial for aging and dehydrated skin. Most users find it effective for smoothing fine lines and suitable for sensitive skin, though some encountered a sticky finish or pilling when layering products.
Highlights
Plumps and firms Mostly Mentioned
- “skin instantly felt firmer”
- “noticeably more plump”
- “redensifies skin”
- “fine lines less noticeable”
Deeply hydrates Often Mentioned
- “intensely hydrated”
- “skin feels fresh”
- “super hydration”
- “quenched my thirsty skin”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs fast”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-sticky texture”
- “easy to use”
Gentle on sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no irritation”
- “soothing benefits”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “smoothes and brightens”
- “skin tone is more even”
- “complexion looked smoother”
- “soft and fresh”
Sticky finish Sometimes Noted
- “sticky kinda feeling”
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “tacky residue”
- “feels heavy”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “breakout of acne”
- “bumps appeared”
- “caused reaction”
- “clogged pores”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “made me feel dry”
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “tight feeling”
- “skin felt parched”
No results Rarely Noted
- “didn't work for me”
- “hard to tell”
- “no difference”
- “not the best”
Pilling issues Rarely Noted
- “makes it peel away”
- “peels like dirt”
- “doesn't layer well”
- “balls up”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, ulta.com, aveneusa.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Avène Hyaluron Activ B3 Serum work for oily skin?
This serum offers moderate suitability for oily skin because niacinamide helps hydrate and manage oil, though it lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients to fully target your oily shine. It is safe and provides good hydration without irritation, but a moisturizing treatment for oily skin needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients, lightweight textures that do not clog pores, and soothing components like allantoin to fully manage shine and keep skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate make this serum a good fit for oily skin because niacinamide helps regulate oil while both ingredients provide hydration without irritation. However, oily skin often needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients like allantoin, ceramides, or peptides to better manage shine and maintain balance.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
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
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. You can also use it in the morning or twice a day if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and soothe your skin before putting on your retinol. This product is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but this skin type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to fully address oily shine.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine, applying it once a day. This product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to fully address your oily shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients, though minor breakouts are reported by a few users. To fully control your oily shine, this skin type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients alongside hydrating ones.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this serum around the eyes and on the body because it has a gentle makeup that is safe for the skin there. It is best suited for thinner areas when combined with stronger oil-controlling ingredients and dedicated moisturizers to fully address your oily shine and keep those areas balanced.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical 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, 2021Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Topical 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, 2019Topical 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 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A 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, 2017The 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, 2020Ten 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
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Ingredients
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Adenosine, Citric Acid, 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.
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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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