NATURIUM Tranexamic Topical Acid 5% for oily acne-prone skin
Superior
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best serums for oily acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin and acne concerns as tranexamic acid and niacinamide work synergistically to regulate sebum and target hyperpigmentation, while kojic acid aids in fading blemishes.
- Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract and panthenol further soothe your skin, complementing the brightening effects and ensuring a comfortable experience.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, free from harsh ingredients and containing beneficial components that minimize irritation risk.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers primarily rely on this serum to treat post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and melasma, with many reporting a noticeable reduction in dark spots and an overall brighter complexion within 4-8 weeks. While the lightweight formula is widely praised for being gentle and effective for sensitive skin, a subset of users experienced breakouts or found the product ineffective for older, stubborn discoloration.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “Hyperpigmentation from acne greatly diminished”
- “Spots faded away after a month”
- “Fading fresh acne scars”
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “Skin looks so bright”
- “Noticeably brighter and more even”
- “Visually even and improve the skin”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs well”
- “Smooth and light”
- “Layers well with other serums”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Did not sting my skin”
- “Calming and supporting”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Made me breakout”
- “Kept breaking out”
- “Caused cystic acne”
Ineffective for some Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't do anything”
- “No difference after months”
- “Old marks didn't fade”
Product oxidation Rarely Noted
- “Came cloudy and brown”
- “Product had oxidized”
- “Arrived expired”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smelly”
- “Has a scent like a rose/chemical”
- “Smells like barbecue sauce (oxidized)”
Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, target.com, ulta.com, sokoglam.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Naturium Tranexamic Topical Acid one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is one of the best fits because tranexamic acid and niacinamide work together to control oil and fade dark spots, while kojic acid helps clear blemishes. Licorice root and panthenol also calm your skin to keep it comfortable and minimize the risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Tranexamic acid and niacinamide make this serum a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because they work together to control oil and fade dark spots, while kojic acid helps clear up blemishes. Licorice root and panthenol also calm your skin and keep it comfortable, and the gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Tranexamic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Tranexamic acid helps reduce redness and inflamed spots like pimples and pustules on oily, acne-prone skin. It may also fade lingering dark marks left behind by breakouts with a very low chance of irritation.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
What does Kojic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Kojic acid helps fade dark spots and calm oily acne-prone skin because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It is generally safe to use, though this skin type also needs ingredients that clear pores and control oil.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Using it at night keeps things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying your retinol in your evening routine and this treatment at a separate time or by alternating nights to keep your skin calm. Using active ingredients on alternate nights helps prevent irritation while still helping to fade dark spots and keep your oily skin smooth.
How often should I use this serum?
You can start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your oily skin handles it well, you can carefully use it more often. This product is very suitable for your skin type because its ingredients help regulate oil, fade blemishes, and brighten dark spots comfortably.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment is an exceptionally good fit for oily and acne-prone skin, as its ingredients help regulate oil and fade dark spots while keeping the skin calm. Reviewers sometimes report breakouts, and while the formula is designed to be gentle and low-risk for irritation, any new product can occasionally cause breakouts or reactions in individual routines.
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, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical 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, 2021A topical formulation containing kojic acid, emblica extract, and glycolic acid demonstrated efficacy parity compared with hydroquinone 4% in multiethnic participants with mild to moderate facial dyschromia.
Cutis, 2010A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.
Pharmaceutics, 2023Topical application of iron chelators kojic acid and deferiprone significantly accelerated wound healing in rats compared to control groups, with deferiprone showing superior efficacy due to higher antioxidant and iron chelation abilities.
International Wound Journal, 2013Topical 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, 2005Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Moisturizer 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 dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Isopentyldiol, Tranexamic Acid, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Kojic Acid, Niacinamide, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isododecane, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Panthenol, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Phytate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol
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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