PCA SKIN Rejuvenating Serum for combination skin
Niacinamide
Glutathione
Squalane
Epigallocatechin Gallate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 skin rejuvenation for your combination skin due to gluconolactone and niacinamide, which gently exfoliate and improve skin tone, though they do not specifically target oily shine.
- Glycerin and bisabolol provide general hydration and soothing benefits, supporting your skin's overall health without specialized oil control for your oily areas.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis product is highly praised for improving skin texture, reducing fine lines, and providing a radiant glow. Users frequently mention its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula. Some users with sensitive skin find the alcohol-heavy base to be drying or irritating.
Highlights
Improves radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin glowing and refreshed.”
- “It did seem to make my skin more radiant.”
- “Gives your skin such a beautiful glow.”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly and does not feel sticky.”
- “Not greasy and heavy.”
- “Easy to apply, absorbs quickly.”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “Improvement in fine lines.”
- “Amazing for plumping and filling in fine lines.”
- “Decreasing the depth of lines.”
Refreshing experience Sometimes Noted
- “Love the light tingling/refreshing feeling.”
- “Smells amazing (very minty).”
- “Cooling sensation right away.”
Drying formula Sometimes Noted
- “Alcohol denat. ... can be drying and irritating.”
- “Strips barrier lipids and can trigger inflammation.”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “Was just a little too expensive.”
Irritating ingredients Rarely Noted
- “Peppermint oil ... is a known sensitizer.”
- “Citrus oils are a frustrating contradiction.”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “Not sure I'm seeing much difference.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, dermstreet.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does PCA SKIN Rejuvenating Serum work for combination skin?
This serum works moderately well for combination skin by offering gentle exfoliation and general hydration, though it does not specifically target oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a product needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA that provide significant benefits for managing oily shine while maintaining adequate hydration without overwhelming oilier areas.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Gluconolactone and niacinamide make this serum work for combination skin by gently smoothing and evening out skin tone, while glycerin and bisabolol help keep skin comfortable and hydrated. To be a top fit for combination skin, a treatment of this type needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage oily shine without overwhelming drier areas.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Glutathione do for combination skin?
Glutathione helps brighten sun-exposed areas and reduce dark spots for combination skin, while also improving moisture and smoothness. It is unlikely to cause irritation and maintains a safe profile for regular use.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014International Journal of Dermatology, 2025
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure, though some may also be used in the morning or twice a day.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with your retinol. This product is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment goes into your evening routine once a week to start, and if your skin feels comfortable, you may carefully use it more often. Nonprescription treatments like this serve as a low-risk mainstay for skin rejuvenation, though combination skin needs added ingredients to control oily shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your combination skin, as it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. Combination skin needs targeted oil control and balancing ingredients to keep shiny areas clear while staying hydrated.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (sd alcohol 40-b).
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, 2002Topical 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, 2021A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2006Glutathione 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, 2025Squalane 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, 2025Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide 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, 2022A 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Sd Alcohol 40-B, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Gluconolactone, Polysorbate 20, Bisabolol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Isomalt, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Benzoate, Caprylyl Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Peppermint Oil, Tocopherol, Squalane, Glutathione, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Phytosterols, Tropolone, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Aminomethyl Propanol, Tocotrienols, Squalene, Rice Bran Wax, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Urea, Niacinamide, Glycine, Fructose, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Cell Extract Grape Fruit Cell Extract, Lecithin, Inositol, Rh-Oligopeptide-1
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.