Skinbetter Science Even Tone Correcting Serum™ for oily skin
Alpha-Arbutin
Hexylresorcinol
Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract
Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Ng
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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
- Offers moderate benefits for your oily skin, as alpha-arbutin and hexylresorcinol work to even skin tone and regulate melanogenesis, but lacks targeted ingredients for oil control.
- While bisabolol and beta-glucan provide some soothing and hydrating effects, these are secondary to your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or 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
★4.8Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers find this serum to be a gentle, non-hydroquinone alternative that effectively addresses various forms of discoloration such as brown spots, redness, and yellow undertones. While many report gradual improvements in skin clarity and texture, significant fading of stubborn pigmentation typically requires consistent use over several months.
Highlights
Fades pigmentation Often Mentioned
- “Cheek shadow is about half gone”
- “Old dark spots lightened by 50%”
- “Keeps my brown spots from surfacing.”
Improves tone Often Mentioned
- “Calms visible redness”
- “Skin looks more uniform”
- “Addressed the yellowing in my skin.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “My poor wallet”
- “Expensive for a small bottle.”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Layers seamlessly”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Lightweight gel-like serum.”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't sting or burn”
- “Great non-hydroquinone option”
- “Soothing botanical blend.”
Slow to show results Sometimes Noted
- “It works! It's slow”
- “Didn't notice much difference in first week”
- “Takes about 3 months.”
Not moisturizing enough Rarely Noted
- “Less moisturizing than expected”
- “Need to layer hyaluronic acid”
- “Felt a bit dry.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Bottle was halfway done quickly”
- “Hard to tell when empty”
- “Pump dispenser issues.”
Sources: lovi.care, lazskincare.com, skinelite.com, dermsilk.com, reddit.com, thedaleydose.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes skinbetter science Even Tone Correcting Serum a great fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily skin because alpha-arbutin and hexylresorcinol even out your skin tone, while the formula remains safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Alpha-arbutin and hexylresorcinol make this serum a great fit for your oily skin by working to even skin tone and regulate melanin production. Additional ingredients like bisabolol and beta-glucan provide soothing and hydrating effects without clogging pores.
What does Alpha-Arbutin do for oily skin?
Alpha-arbutin helps fade dark spots and uneven tone for oily skin while keeping irritation unlikely. It works to brighten the complexion and manage excess pigment effectively.
What does Hexylresorcinol do for oily skin?
Hexylresorcinol helps brighten dark spots and even out skin tone, which can be particularly beneficial for oily skin dealing with leftover marks from blemishes. It works gently to improve overall skin clarity and is generally well tolerated without causing extra oiliness or irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022Archives of Dermatological Research, 2023
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following with your retinol. This routine is unlikely to cause irritation because the product has a safe profile, though you may want to introduce them gradually to see how your oily skin responds.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is safe for daily use on oily skin, helping to even your skin tone without causing irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is safe for your oily skin and is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation. It helps even skin tone, but because it lacks targeted ingredients for oil control, you may want to pair it with oil-balancing products.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 1% hexylresorcinol is equivalent to 2% hydroquinone in significantly reducing the appearance of facial and hand pigmentation in healthy female participants over 12 weeks, with both treatments showing no adverse effects.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2023Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A 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, 2020Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023A formulation combining 4-hexylresorcinol and niacinamide significantly improved hyperpigmentation, skin tone, fine lines, wrinkles, and firmness compared to niacinamide alone in Chinese subjects without adverse events.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A topical cream containing retinol 0.5% in combination with niacinamide, resveratrol, and hexylresorcinol improved all efficacy endpoints including fine lines, radiance, smoothness, hyperpigmentation, and wrinkles in 25 subjects with photodamaged and aging skin over 10 weeks.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2016Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, C13-15 Alkane, Propanediol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Linoleic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alpha-Arbutin, Arginine Pca, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Bisabolol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Acetyl Glycyl Beta-Alanine, Hexylresorcinol, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Artemisia Capillaris Flower Extract, Diglucosyl Gallic Acid, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Ceramide Ng, Linolenic Acid, Beta-Glucan, Algin, Tocopherol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Benzoic Acid, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid
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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