Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum for skin with dark spots
Content Protein
Rice Seed Protein
Hydrolyzed Protein
Ceramide Np
Cholesterol
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 benefits for your normal skin, as oat extract protein and rice seed protein provide excellent hydration and improve skin elasticity, but these ingredients do not directly address your main goal of pigmentation.
- The inclusion of multiple protein ingredients like hydrolyzed corn protein and ceramide NP supports barrier repair and offers emollient action, which is beneficial for normal skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it too hard so it absorbs nicely.
- For the best moisture, you can apply it when your skin is slightly damp. This helps your skin stay soft and happy.
- Remember to avoid the eye area when applying. Always do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised as a "winter savior" for dry, sensitive, and dehydrated skin, effectively repairing damaged barriers and alleviating flakiness. Users consistently report a plump, healthy glow and deep "inner" hydration, though its rich, protein-heavy formula can be too heavy or potentially pore-clogging for oily or acne-prone skin types.
Highlights
Deep barrier repair Mostly Mentioned
- “strengthens my barrier”
- “calmed down sensitivity”
- “saviour for irritated skin”
Long-lasting hydration Often Mentioned
- “keeps skin from feeling dry”
- “inner dryness solved”
- “plump and hydrated”
Rich creamy texture Often Mentioned
- “perfect balance between cream and serum”
- “silky and nourishing”
- “absorbs beautifully”
Glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “glass skin glow”
- “healthy shine”
- “makeup sits beautifully”
Not for oily skin Sometimes Noted
- “too heavy for oily skin”
- “greasy in summer”
- “better for winter”
Potential breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “got a break-out”
- “caused acne”
- “fermented ingredients didn't work”
Stickiness/tackiness Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a sticky residue”
- “slightly sticky feeling”
- “nasal mucus texture”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “hard to get last bit out”
- “lid design inconvenient”
- “product sticks to container”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, yesstyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Numbuzin No.2 Protein 43% Creamy Serum work for skin with dark spots?
This serum works moderately well for your skin, as its proteins provide great hydration and elasticity, but it lacks ingredients that directly target dark spots. A product for this skin needs effective, safe ingredients that provide excellent hydration and support for pigmentation concerns without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Oat extract protein and rice seed protein make this serum a fit by providing hydration and improving elasticity, though a product of this type needs ingredients that directly address pigmentation for dark spots.
What does Content Protein do for skin with dark spots?
Topical hydrolyzed roe protein helps improve skin clarity for dark spots when used twice daily, showing good tolerability with fewer instances of stinging and burning than glycolic acid containing creams. This ingredient provides a gentle option to help brighten uneven skin tone while maintaining comfort.
What does Rice Seed Protein do for skin with dark spots?
Rice seed protein helps brighten skin with dark spots by supporting an even tone and a smooth, radiant look. Plant extracts like this one are studied for their ability to calm pigment production and support a clear, healthy appearance.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This serum goes in the evening routine as a treatment step, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. A product of this type for skin with dark spots needs ingredients that directly fade pigmentation and brighten the skin.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. A product of this type used with retinol needs soothing ingredients and skin-repairing ceramides to calm dryness and support the skin barrier.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning. Twice-daily application may also help boost hydration and keep your skin soft and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
Yes, this serum may cause breakouts for skin with dark spots, as reviewers note moderate complaints about potential breakouts and stickiness. To better target dark spots and avoid breakouts, this skin needs a treatment that includes brightening ingredients along with lightweight, non-pore-clogging hydrators.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment is generally safe to use on thin areas like the skin around the eyes and on the body. A product used in these areas for this skin needs barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramide NP and deep hydration.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical application of oyster protein hydrolysates peptides protected against UVB-induced skin photodamage in mice by alleviating moisture loss, epidermal hyperplasia, and fiber degradation through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.
Marine Drugs, 2020Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020A liquid formulation containing hydrolyzed collagen demonstrated structural stability, peptide mass distribution between 0.5 and 19.5 kDa, and faded forehead wrinkles in five volunteers while proving to be non-irritating and hypoallergenic.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Combined treatment with human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes and hydrolyzed collagen oligopeptides enhanced proliferation and migration, reduced reactive oxygen species and senescence-associated beta-galactosidase activity, increased type I and type III collagen expression, and decreased metalloproteinases, inflammatory cytokines, and senescence markers in human skin fibroblasts compared to either treatment alone.
Molecules, 2024Collagen peptides induced cell proliferation and pro-collagen-1α expression, increased TGF-β and VEGF, and suppressed the LPS-induced inflammatory response in human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
Nutrients, 2022Botulinum toxin-A encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol nanoliposomes delivered transdermally achieved a diffusion depth of 380 μm and showed a nonsignificant advantage in relieving post-acne scarring compared to hyaluronic acid hydrogel treatment in 12 facial patients.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2024Topical application of cholesterol sulfate increases stratum corneum thickness and inhibits protease-induced cell dissociation by competitively inhibiting serine proteases in mice and human stratum corneum.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1998Topical lovastatin treatment impairs the recovery of cutaneous permeability barrier function and stratum corneum cholesterol levels after acetone disruption in mice, an effect normalized by simultaneous treatment with mevalonate or cholesterol.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1990
Why other moisturizers fit skin with dark spots better
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 topical microemulsion containing Punica granatum extract significantly reduced skin erythema and melanin compared to a placebo in healthy Asian subjects over 12 weeks.
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2014Aged Punica granatum extract significantly reduced UV-induced erythema and melanin levels while improving skin hydration and lightness compared to placebo in 60 women.
Food Science & Nutrition, 2025
Ingredients
Voat Extract Protein, Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethyl Hexanoate, Cyclohexasiloxane, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Pg, Sebum-10 1 Dimethicone, Hydrogenate Tid Poly, Rice Seed Protein, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Hydrolyzed Protein, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Hydrolyzed Milk Protein, Glycine Soja Protein Soybean Protein, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Ceramide Np, Cholesterol
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.