Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Dipropylene Glycol
Betaine
Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Average
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 pore decongestion and oil control for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation. Glycerin also provides humectant action to maintain skin hydration.
- This serum provides moderate benefits for your acne and blemishes by improving skin texture and reducing the appearance of blemishes.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like niacinamide.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-sticky feel and its effectiveness in visibly reducing pores and smoothing skin texture, all at an accessible price. Many users found it beneficial for controlling oil and redness. A smaller number of users reported experiencing breakouts or irritation, indicating it might not be suitable for all sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Affordable price Mostly Mentioned
- “great value”
- “inexpensive”
- “worth every penny”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “improved skin texture”
- “refine skin tone”
Minimizes pores Often Mentioned
- “pores are much smaller”
- “reduction in pore size”
- “less visible pores”
Controls oil/redness Sometimes Noted
- “calm my skin”
- “helping with oil production”
- “improvement in redness”
Elegant texture Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs right away”
- “not sticky or greasy”
- “layers seamlessly”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “gave me little white bumps”
- “breaking out a ton”
- “caused acne”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “don't see much difference”
- “no obvious improvement”
- “did nothing”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “dropper is difficult”
- “hard to dispense”
- “bottle design flaws”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “skin started tingling”
- “irritation on my face”
- “burning sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, beautylish.com, target.com, walmart.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Good Molecules Niacinamide work for oily acne-prone skin?
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum is a moderate fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it helps control excess oil and reduces the look of blemishes, though other products fit your skin better. It has an excellent safety profile and is unlikely to cause irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs products with effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C, along with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators that manage oil and texture without feeling heavy or causing breakouts.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and glycerin make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps control oil and calm inflammation while glycerin maintains hydration. To fit this skin type even better, products need extra targeted ingredients like propolis or vitamin C for enhanced blemish control and antioxidant support.
Antioxidants, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums can also be used in the morning or twice a day. It is unlikely to irritate your oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like niacinamide.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum before your retinol product. This helps keep your oily skin hydrated and calm while minimizing any dryness or irritation. An oil-controlling treatment with niacinamide and soothing ingredients is best for this routine.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Oily acne-prone skin needs a treatment that combines stronger oil-controlling actives and pore-clearing ingredients to get a better fit.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum may cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as some reviewers complain about this issue. However, the safety profile is otherwise good with a low risk of irritation due to soothing components like niacinamide.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2005The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Topical dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Niacinamide, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Diphenyl Dimethicone, Disodium Edta, Triethylhexanoin, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol
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?
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