Medik8 C-Tetra Serum for oily skin
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Lipid Vitamin C
Jojoba Seed Oil
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Grapefruit Peel Oil
Ppg-12 Smdi CopolymerAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums 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
- This serum offers moderate antioxidant protection and brightening for your oily skin, with jojoba seed oil and grapefruit peel oil providing some seboregulation and mild astringency. While these ingredients offer general skincare benefits, they are not specifically targeted to address your primary concern of oily shine.
- The formula is generally safe for your oily skin, though the inclusion of ascorbic acid and grapefruit peel oil carries a slight risk of irritation.
- The presence of jojoba seed oil and grapefruit peel oil makes it highly suitable for oily skin, offering seboregulation and antioxidant activity.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised as an excellent entry-level Vitamin C product, particularly for those with sensitive or dry skin due to its gentle, non-irritating formula. Users consistently report a noticeable "healthy glow" and improved hydration, though those with oily or acne-prone skin sometimes find the oil-based texture too heavy or congestion-inducing.
Highlights
Gentle & Non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “only Vitamin C my sensitive skin can tolerate”
- “completely non-irritating”
Brightening & Glow Often Mentioned
- “unlocked a serious glow”
- “visibly brighter complexion”
- “faded post-acne marks”
Hydrating Texture Sometimes Noted
- “sinks in beautifully”
- “feels incredibly hydrating”
- “leaves skin velvety soft”
Pleasant Scent Sometimes Noted
- “smell is gorgeous”
- “fresh citrus scent”
- “refreshing and pleasant”
High Price Point Sometimes Noted
- “hefty price tag”
- “way too overpriced”
- “not worth the money”
Oily/Greasy Feel Sometimes Noted
- “too oily for my combination skin”
- “left a sticky residue”
- “felt heavy on my face”
Caused Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “made me break out constantly”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused small bumps”
Lack of Potency Rarely Noted
- “didn't notice any benefits”
- “too gentle for advanced damage”
- “wanted stronger results”
Sources: lovi.care, cultbeauty.com, dermstore.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, whowhatwear.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Medik8 C-Tetra work for oily skin?
Medik8 C-Tetra Serum works moderately well for oily skin, providing some antioxidant protection and oil control, though it is not specifically targeted for excess shine and carries a slight risk of irritation. Oily skin needs products containing niacinamide, ferulic acid, or zinc PCA to manage sebum production and reduce pores, along with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
The jojoba seed oil and grapefruit peel oil in this serum make it a good fit for oily skin by helping balance oil and providing antioxidant protection. However, because it is an average fit, an oily skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to better manage excess shine and pores without irritation.
What does Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate do for oily skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate helps protect oily skin from oxidative stress and environmental damage while supporting collagen production. When combined with stabilizers like acetyl zingerone, it is unlikely to cause irritation and may help keep skin calm and smooth.
What does Jojoba Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Jojoba seed oil helps balance oily skin by providing lightweight moisture that is unlikely to clog pores. It may also calm redness and soothe irritation thanks to its natural soothing properties.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2013
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Oily skin works best with oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to properly target shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum in your morning routine and your retinol at night to help avoid irritation. While the formula is generally safe for your oily skin, the citrus oils and vitamin C carry a slight risk of irritation when mixed too closely with strong active ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Oily skin works best with products that contain targeted oil-control ingredients and pore-clearing acids to properly manage excess shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for your oily skin, though some users report a greasy feel. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight ingredients that control shine without feeling heavy.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, citral, linalool, and geraniol).
What the research says
Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Patch testing 4731 consecutive patients in 13 U.K. dermatology departments revealed positive reactions to hydroperoxides of limonene in 5.0% and linalool in 5.9% of patients compared to 0.2% for stabilized terpenes alone.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2014Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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, 2022Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Nanolipidgel formulations with argan or jojoba oil and humectants demonstrate good sensory attributes, instrumental properties, and moisturizing efficacy for cosmetic application.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021Topical application of d-Limonene and perillyl alcohol reduced the severity of TPA-induced skin lesions, lowered serum IL-6 and TNF-alpha concentrations, inhibited P-selectin expression, and improved tissue regeneration associated with reduced neovascularization in murine models.
Anti-inflammatory & Anti-allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2014Grapefruit essential oil promoted HaCaT cell proliferation, reduced ROS production, inhibited IL-1 and COX-2 expression, and recovered LOR and FLG contents in a cell damage model of skin inflammation stimulated by S. aureus metabolites compared to lime essential oil.
Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2022
Why other serums 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, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Jojoba Seed Oil, Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclohexasiloxane, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ppg-12 Smdi Copolymer, Limonene, Citral, Linalool, Geraniol
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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