Good Molecules Daily Brightening Serum for oily skin
Beta Arbutin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Licorice Root Extract
GlycerinAverage
- AverageOily 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 suitability for your oily skin as arbutin and licorice root extract help regulate melanogenesis and reduce inflammation, contributing to a more luminous complexion.
- While it provides general hydration beneficial for oily skin, it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to specifically target oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers describe this serum as a gentle, entry-level brightening option that excels at hydrating and plumping the skin while slowly evening out overall skin tone. While it is highly praised for being non-irritating and affordable, many reviewers note that it requires patience for fading dark spots and is less potent than the brand's Discoloration Correcting Serum for stubborn acne scars.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “never stings my sensitive skin”
- “very gentle formula”
- “no irritation even with daily use”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable for the price”
- “so cheap for good ingredients”
- “great budget skincare”
Hydrating & plumping Often Mentioned
- “makes my skin look plump”
- “great hydration boost”
- “leaves a nice dewy glow”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “sinks in instantly”
- “layers perfectly under makeup”
- “watery and lightweight”
Slow results Often Mentioned
- “took 3 months to see a difference”
- “very slow progress”
- “don't expect overnight miracles”
Improves overall tone Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks less dull”
- “helped even out my redness”
- “woke up with brighter skin”
Not for deep scars Sometimes Noted
- “didn't touch my dark spots”
- “better for glow than scars”
- “discoloration serum works better”
Small bottle size Sometimes Noted
- “finished in 3 weeks”
- “wish it came in a bigger bottle”
- “goes too fast if used 2x daily”
Needs moisturizer Rarely Noted
- “skin felt tight after drying”
- “need to layer a cream on top”
- “not emollient enough”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out in tiny bumps”
- “caused whiteheads on my chin”
- “skin texture got worse”
Sources: lovi.care, goodmolecules.com, beautylish.com, influenster.com, skinsort.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Daily Brightening Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin because it brightens the complexion and calms redness, though it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients. Oily skin needs products containing ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and balancing extracts to manage excess shine and pores.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Beta arbutin and licorice root extract make this serum a fit for your oily skin by helping to calm inflammation and brighten your complexion. Because it does not target oily shine, a product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control oil and minimize pores while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Beta Arbutin do for oily skin?
Beta Arbutin helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone by slowing down the pigment production in your skin. It is generally safe to use on oily skin, but to truly care for oily skin, this type of product also needs oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to keep pores clear and shine under control.
The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 1996Phytotherapy Research, 2006
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure, though some treatments can also be used in the morning or twice a day.
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 it with your retinol product. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to its very safe makeup, but oily skin also needs ingredients that actively control excess shine.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment serum in the evening. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide or zinc to help control excess oil and keep oily skin balanced.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. However, an oily skin type needs targeted oil-balancing ingredients to fully manage shine and keep pores clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015A 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, 2020Encapsulation 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, 2023Combining 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, 2025Topical 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, 2019Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.
Molecules, 2023A 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, 2001
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Arbutin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, T-Butyl Alcohol
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.