Cetaphil Healthy Radiance Antioxidant-C Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate Ascorbic Acid
Gentlebright Complex
Glycerin
Malva Sylvestris Flower ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few serums fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this serum effectively targets oily shine with Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Niacinamide, which work synergistically to reduce hyperpigmentation and improve skin radiance.
- The inclusion of Glycerin and Malva Sylvestris Stem Extract further supports hydration and soothes the skin, complementing the primary brightening and oil-controlling benefits.
- The product has a favorable safety profile, with no reported irritation risks for oily skin due to its gentle formulation and absence of 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
★4.2Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis serum is highly regarded for its gentle formulation, effectively addressing dullness, hyperpigmentation, and post-acne marks, making it suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Most users appreciate its quick absorption and the resulting brighter, more radiant complexion. Some users, however, have noted an unpleasant scent and occasional issues with product oxidation or a sticky feel.
Highlights
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “very effective yet gentle on skin”
- “didn't break me out and it's gentle”
- “Suitable for sensitive and delicate skin, did not cause irritation”
- “clinically proven to be gentle on sensitive skin”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs quickly and layers nicely”
- “applies smoothly without leaving a sticky residue”
- “Texture is thick enough but not too much”
- “Doesn't leave a sticky feeling”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “post acne marks faded out”
- “dark spots are diminishing”
- “solved my concerns on blemishes”
- “visibly reduces dark spots and hyperpigmentation”
Improves radiance Sometimes Noted
- “my skin feels smoother and more radiant”
- “My skin is also brighter”
- “Enhances skin's overall glow”
- “immediate luminosity from the particles”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “I couldn't get past the smell”
- “smelled very weird like burnt coffee”
- “Why does it smell like maple syrup??”
- “The smell made me nauseated”
Arrives oxidized Rarely Noted
- “product is in deep orange color”
- “tube has an orange smudge in it”
- “i got it oxidised so it won't work”
- “This product it has gone bad”
Can feel sticky Rarely Noted
- “wait for it to completely dry... or it'll become sticky”
- “Some users feel the serum is too thick”
- “leaves a sticky feeling if not dried”
Sources: lovi.care, cetaphil.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, iherb.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil Antioxidant-C Serum a great fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit because it targets oily shine and dark spots using sodium ascorbyl phosphate and niacinamide, while glycerin and malva sylvestris extract help hydrate and calm the skin. Its gentle formula is also unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin because Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Niacinamide help control oily shine and even out skin tone. Glycerin and Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract also add light hydration and help keep the skin calm.
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 Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate do for oily skin?
Sodium ascorbyl phosphate helps control oily skin by reducing facial sebum secretions and preventing sebum oxidation. This ingredient provides effective antimicrobial action that is beneficial for keeping breakouts at bay.
Drug Research, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine, applied after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. While evening use helps keep things simple and safe around sun exposure, this product is unlikely to cause irritation and has a great safety profile for oily skin.
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 keep your oily skin bright without overloading it. Using them at different times of the day helps avoid irritation while still giving you the combined benefits of oil control and smoothing.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment serum works well in your evening routine, and some people can also use it in the morning or twice a day. Its gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation while helping to reduce oily shine and dark spots.
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 because of its gentle formulation and absence of harsh ingredients. It has a safe profile that helps manage oily shine while keeping your skin calm and clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 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, 2002Ascorbic 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 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 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, 2003Topical 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 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 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, 2006A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Lectins and niacinamide reversibly inhibit melanosome transfer to keratinocytes without affecting cell viability, and topical niacinamide reduces facial hyperpigmented spots in a dose-dependent and reversible manner.
Experimental Dermatology, 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 application of Malva sylvestris hydroalcoholic extract and its constituent malvidin 3-glucoside reduced ear oedema, polymorphonuclear cell influx, and interleukin-1beta levels in mice with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-acetate-induced ear inflammation.
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2013Topical application of hydroalcoholic extract of Malva sylvestris reduced oedema, leukocyte migration, and keratinocyte hyperproliferation in a mouse ear model of chronic skin inflammation induced by multiple applications of TPA, and caused low toxicity and reduced cell proliferation by apoptosis in HaCaT keratinocytes.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, 2017Topical administration of Malva sylvestris 1% aqueous extract improved cutaneous wound healing with less fibrosis, less scar formation, and less hair follicle damage compared to control groups in male BALB/c mice.
Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 2015
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Sorbitan Oleate Decylglucoside Crosspolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Alcohol, Disodium Edta, Sodium Pca, Caprylyl Glycol, Malva Sylvestris Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Peppermint Leaf Extract, Primula Veris Flower Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Veronica Officinalis Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, Achillea Millefolium Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Erythritol, Chondrus Crispus, Grapefruit Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbic Acid, Lemon Peel Extract, Bht
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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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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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
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