APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Ampoule Serum for dry skin
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide some hydration, while niacinamide and ascorbic acid work to brighten and even your skin tone.
- Centella Asiatica Extract and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate offer soothing benefits, complementing the general hydration provided by Panthenol and Glycerin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components that prevent irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, acne-prone, and combination skin frequently praise this serum for its lightweight, non-sticky hydration and ability to calm redness while gradually evening out skin tone. While it effectively delivers a "glass skin" glow and smooths texture, many users note that brightening hyperpigmentation is a slow process requiring consistent long-term use.
Highlights
Lightweight & absorbent Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs without sticky residue”
- “glides onto skin beautifully”
- “watery texture sinks in fast”
- “feels like milk, very gentle”
- “perfect for layering under makeup”
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “helped effectively fade dark spots”
- “skin looks clearer and brighter”
- “removes dullness and evens tone”
- “complexion became more refined-looking”
- “gives a radiant healthy glow”
Soothes sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “calms redness noticeably”
- “no tingling or irritation”
- “safe for super sensitive skin”
- “helped stabilize my skin barrier”
- “reduced inflammation and acne marks”
Hydrating & plumping Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin looking well-nourished”
- “plumps up fine lines”
- “deeply hydrating with moisture hint”
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “prevents dryness throughout the day”
Slow visible results Sometimes Noted
- “won't get rid of spots overnight”
- “brightening effect isn't very noticeable yet”
- “takes months to see difference”
- “subtle changes, requires consistency”
- “slow progress on deep pigmentation”
Cheap packaging feel Rarely Noted
- “plastic bottle feels inexpensive”
- “packaging looks simple/basic”
- “lightweight container feels cheap”
- “cap feels a bit flimsy”
- “branding looks budget-friendly”
Insufficient for dryness Rarely Noted
- “hydration level a bit underwhelming”
- “need to layer cream on top”
- “not moisturizing enough for winter”
- “too watery for very dry skin”
- “light for those needing heavy occlusion”
Rare skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “woke up with new bumps”
- “caused tiny pimples initially”
- “not fungal acne safe”
- “experienced slight breakout”
- “skin reacted to fermented ingredients”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, pearlandbubbles.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does APLB Glutathione Niacinamide Ampoule Serum work for dry skin?
This serum works moderately well for dry skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide some hydration while niacinamide helps even your skin tone. A treatment of this type needs ingredients that provide significant hydration, barrier support, and nourishment with components like ceramides, peptides, and propolis to truly thrive on dry skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this serum a good fit by bringing in moisture, while niacinamide helps brighten your skin. Dry skin also needs rich hydrating ingredients, strong skin barrier support like ceramides, and nourishing components like propolis or peptides to keep it soft and healthy.
What does Glutathione do for dry skin?
Glutathione helps dry skin by improving moisture levels and smoothness while keeping the skin barrier strong against daily stress. Topical application of glutathione may also reduce water loss through the skin, helping your face feel softer and more hydrated.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This serum fits into an evening routine for dry skin after cleansing and before moisturizing. Products of this type work best for dry skin when they include rich hydrators and soothing ingredients to relieve tightness and keep skin soft.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help calm your skin, followed by your retinol. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but dry skin typically needs richer moisturizing ingredients and heavier oils to stay fully comfortable.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, and a product of this type for dry skin needs rich hydrators and soothing plant extracts like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and Centella asiatica to boost moisture and comfort.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as it contains gentle, soothing ingredients that are well-tolerated and free of harsh components.
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, 2017Niacinamide 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, 2002Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 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, 2005Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Topical 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, 2019Squalane 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, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Centella Asiatica Extract, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Diethoxyethyl Succinate, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Nelumbo Nucifera Extract, Artemisia Annua Extract, Rice Extract, Saccharomyces Ferment, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Squalane, Beta-Glucan, Ascorbic Acid, Dipropylene Glycol, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Adenosine, Madecassic Acid, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Cholesterol, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Cellulose Gum, Xanthan Gum, Inulin, Cellulose, Glucose, Fructose, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyacetophenone, 1,2-Hexanediol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Sodium Citrate
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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