Perricone MD Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Intensive Overnight Moisturizer for skin with dark spots
Acyl-Glutathione
Niacinamide
Shea Butter
Lactic Acid
Vitamin F BlendHigh
- SuperiorNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few moisturizers fit it even 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 excellent moisturizing for your normal skin, as shea butter and niacinamide hydrate and enhance barrier resilience, while lactic acid aids in addressing pigmentation.
- The inclusion of S-Palmitoylglutathione provides antioxidant activity, further supporting your skin's overall health and appearance.
- The product is safe for your normal 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.
Questions and answers
What makes Perricone MD Intensive Overnight Moisturizer a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizer is a great fit for skin with dark spots because shea butter and niacinamide hydrate your skin while lactic acid helps address pigmentation. It also features S-Palmitoylglutathione for antioxidant support, and is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
Which ingredients make this moisturizing treatment a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Niacinamide and lactic acid make this a great fit by helping fade dark spots and even out your skin tone. Lactic acid gently resurfaces the skin, while niacinamide is clinically shown to reduce stubborn pigmentation.
What does Acyl-Glutathione do for skin with dark spots?
Acyl-Glutathione helps fade dark spots and brightens your overall skin tone while smoothing out the surface. This ingredient has a safe profile and works by improving pigmentation, though individual results may vary.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Molecules, 2026
What does Niacinamide do for skin with dark spots?
Niacinamide helps fade dark spots and uneven pigmentation by slowing down the transfer of pigment in the skin. It is generally well tolerated and may improve overall skin brightness with consistent use.
Where does this moisturizing treatment go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by your regular moisturizer. Applying treatments at night helps fade dark spots safely while you sleep without extra sun exposure risks.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
Can I use this moisturizing treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing treatment alongside retinol by applying the treatment after your retinol has absorbed, or use it as a buffer beforehand to help prevent dryness and irritation. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps your skin tolerate strong ingredients like retinol more comfortably.
How often should I use this moisturizing treatment?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning. Daily application helps hydrate your skin and addresses dark spots while keeping your skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this moisturizing treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This moisturizing treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for skin with dark spots because it is free of harsh ingredients and uses soothing components. It is very safe for your skin type.
Can I use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes or on my body?
This intensive overnight moisturizer is designed for facial use, and while its rich texture and nourishing ingredients like shea butter and niacinamide provide great hydration, applying it around the delicate eye area or across the body may require caution due to potential sensitivity. The skin around the eyes and on certain body parts is much thinner than facial skin, so a lighter product or a dedicated body lotion is typically a safer and more comfortable choice.
Is this moisturizing treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citronellol, limonene, and linalool).
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 combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Topical 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 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, 2021Glutathione 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 glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005Topical 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, 2006A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998Topical conjugated linolenic acid significantly reduced edema on post-procedure Day 3 and itching on Days 1 and 3, and improved wrinkling at Day 14 compared to 1% dimethicone ointment in 34 subjects undergoing fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing of the face.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2017Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004
Ingredients
Water, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Myristyl Myristate, Niacinamide, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Stearic Acid, Dimethicone, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Palmitoyl Glycine, S-Palmitoylglutathione, Ethylhexylglycerin, Myristyl Laurate, Ribose, Lecithin, Lactic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
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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