NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Niacinamide Serum for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Ferulic Acid
Zinc
Vitamin B
ArbutinHigh
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as Zinc PCA helps regulate sebum production while Sodium Hyaluronate provides essential hydration, balancing oiliness and dryness.
- The serum provides moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts by utilizing Niacinamide and Zinc PCA to reduce inflammation and control sebum.
- This product is safe for your acne-prone skin, featuring soothing ingredients like Bisabolol and Calendula Officinalis Extract with no harsh or irritating components.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum for its ability to brighten dull complexions and fade hyperpigmentation while effectively regulating oil production. The lightweight, milky texture is widely appreciated for absorbing quickly and layering well, though the packaging is frequently criticized for accumulating crystallized product around the rim.
Highlights
Brightens skin Often Mentioned
- “Radiant and revitalized”
- “enhances skin brightness”
- “glowy and fresh”
- “immediate glow”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “Lighten pigmentations”
- “reduces hyperpigmentation”
- “fades dark spots”
- “helps with acne marks”
Hydrating & lightweight Often Mentioned
- “Deeply moisturized”
- “lightweight milky consistency”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-sticky finish”
Controls oil Sometimes Noted
- “Regulates excess sebum”
- “balances oil production”
- “controlled excess oil”
- “less greasy”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “Smooths skin texture”
- “tightens pores”
- “refines texture”
- “softens fine lines”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “Bad bottle design”
- “white crust around rim”
- “messy and waste”
- “crystallizing product”
Mild irritation Rarely Noted
- “Sting a little”
- “caused redness”
- “tingling sensation”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “Didn't notice brightening”
- “okay product”
- “no change in spots”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “Slightly tacky”
- “sticky feeling”
- “takes time to set”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Chemical smell”
- “weird scent”
- “fragrance-free but smells odd”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sokoglam.com, neogenlab.us, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes NEOGEN Real Niacinamide Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
NEOGEN Dermalogy Real Niacinamide Serum is a great fit because Niacinamide and Zinc PCA help control extra oil and calm angry breakouts. It also features soothing ingredients like Bisabolol and Calendula Officinalis Extract that are very gentle on easily irritated skin.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and Zinc PCA make this serum a great fit for acne-prone skin because they help control oil and calm inflammation. Additionally, soothing ingredients like Bisabolol and Calendula Officinalis Extract keep the skin calm without harsh irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Ferulic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Ferulic acid helps protect acne-prone skin from UV damage and may reduce redness and dark spots left behind after breakouts clear. Combining it with supportive treatments can also improve skin texture and tone while helping calm inflammation.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums may also be used in the morning or twice a day. Applying it at night helps keep things simple and safe around sun exposure while delivering soothing ingredients and controlling sebum.
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 with your retinol once your skin is used to both. This approach helps calm your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation since the serum features soothing ingredients with no harsh components.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It features soothing and balancing ingredients that are safe for your acne-prone skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin, as it features soothing ingredients and components that help control oil and calm inflammation. It is generally safe for this skin type and has a low likelihood of causing irritation.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Topical 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, 2005Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Topical zinc treatment enhanced MMP-1 expression beneath the neoepidermis and metallothionein expression under the neoepidermis and in the wound bed in human epidermal wounds compared to placebo and control treatments.
European Journal of Cell Biology, 2021Topical preparations containing zinc(II) complexes with glycine and histidine effectively treat acne skin by providing high antibacterial activity against C. acnes and low cytotoxicity for skin cells, with no observed irritation or allergy in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021Topical copper and zinc formulations promote skin healing by exerting antimicrobial effects, modulating macrophage polarization, acting as enzyme cofactors, stimulating angiogenesis, and supporting re-epithelialization.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2026Topical riboflavin photodynamic therapy showed comparable efficacy in reducing acne lesions and fewer adverse events compared with 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.
Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy, 2025Topical application of niacin derivatives increased hair fullness in sixty female subjects with female pattern hair loss compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005Topical myristyl nicotinate increased skin cell NAD, stratum corneum thickness, epidermal thickness, epidermal renewal, minimal erythemal dose, and barrier resistance while reducing transepidermal water loss in subjects with photodamaged skin compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2007A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Dipropylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 60, Propanediol, Bisabolol, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Tromethamine, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Adenosine, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phytosteryl Octyldodecyl Lauroyl Glutamate, Ceramide Np, Riboflavin, Arbutin, Thiamine Hcl, Panthenol, Zinc Pca, Ferulic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Octenylsuccinate Starch, Houttuynia Cordata Extract, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyridoxine Hcl, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Extract, Silica
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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