PCA SKIN Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Morus Alba Leaf Extract
Oligopeptide-51Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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
- Offers moderate brightening and evening of skin tone for you due to the presence of niacinamide and sodium ascorbate, which help reduce hyperpigmentation and promote skin tone evenness.
- While niacinamide offers seboregulation and anti-inflammatory action beneficial for your oily skin, the formula's primary focus on brightening is less relevant to your main goal of managing oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers frequently praise this serum for its ability to brighten skin and fade dark spots, often noting its gentle formulation suitable for sensitive or acne-prone skin. Many report a radiant complexion and improved skin barrier health. Some users mention that results can be gradual and require consistent, long-term use to become noticeable.
Highlights
Effective brightening Mostly Mentioned
- “lightened dark patches”
- “evened out my skin tone”
- “gave me a nice glow”
- “reduced redness significantly”
Gentle, non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “didn't cause breakouts”
- “no stinging or burning”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “soaks in immediately”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “layers well under makeup”
- “feels like a burst of water”
Hydrating, barrier support Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin soft”
- “strengthens moisture barrier”
- “hydrating but not heavy”
- “plumps the skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “investment skincare product”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “no noticeable difference after 2 months”
- “takes a long time to work”
- “didn't see significant changes”
- “expected more for the price”
Texture preferences Rarely Noted
- “wished it was thicker”
- “not hydrating enough for very dry skin”
- “runny consistency”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, pcaskin.com, lovelyskin.com, adorebeauty.com.au, bluemercury.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Vitamin B3 Brightening Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin because its focus is brightening rather than managing oily shine, though it is safe and has no risk of irritation. Oily skin needs ingredients that control oil and enlarged pores, such as niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA, alongside barrier-supporting ingredients that do not clog pores.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide makes this serum a good fit for oily skin because it helps control excess oil and calms inflammation. A treatment for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage shine, alongside soothing extracts and light hydrators.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine for oily skin, as treatments with active ingredients are placed then for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is safe for your oily skin with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients, though its focus is on brightening rather than managing oily shine.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside a retinoid product, applying the treatment in your morning routine and the retinoid at night. This approach keeps your oily skin calm while helping avoid the irritation that can happen when using multiple strong active ingredients at the same time.
How often should I use this serum?
Apply this treatment in the evening, starting once a week and using it more often if your skin handles it well and shows good results. This serum is safe for your oily skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that help control excess oil and shine alongside a lightweight feel.
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, 2002Topical 10% sodium ascorbate significantly reduced the change in erythema index compared to vehicle in fourteen subjects with dark circles of the lower eyelids over 6 months.
Skin Research and Technology, 2009Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2005A 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, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Topical 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, 2019Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Plant Milking technology applied to Morus alba L. produced an extract enriched in prenylated compounds with an 18-fold increase compared to commercial root extract and confirmed wrinkle reduction benefits in aged women.
Molecules, 2020Morus alba root extract enhanced proliferation and up-regulated keratin expression and CXCL12/CXCR4 signaling in primary cell and skin explant cultures.
Phytotherapy Research, 2015
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Chloride, Dimethicone Phenyl Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Citrate, Caprylyl Glycol, Disodium Edta, Cellulose Gum, Chlorphenesin, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Oligopeptide-51, Dicrateria Rotunda Oil, Ruttnera Lamellosa Oil, Lecithin, Sodium Ascorbate
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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