Olay Regenerist Retinol 24 Night Facial Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Retinol
Niacinamide
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Glycerin
Retinyl Propionate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 excellent treatment for fine lines and wrinkles on your oily skin due to the presence of retinol and retinyl propionate, which regulate desquamation and seboregulation with niacinamide.
- While it provides general hydration with dimethicone and glycerin, these ingredients are not primarily targeted towards your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The serum is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has no risk of irritation.
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 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly praised for delivering significant anti-aging results like firmer skin and reduced fine lines, with a notable absence of typical retinol irritation. Its lightweight, hydrating, and fragrance-free formula is well-suited for sensitive skin, effectively improving texture and evening out skin tone over time.
Highlights
Smoother skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels like silk”
- “woke up to soft skin”
- “texture is much smoother”
- “bumps are gone”
- “face feels baby soft”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no redness or peeling”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “zero irritation”
- “gentlest retinol I've used”
- “didn't dry me out”
Lightweight and fast-absorbing Often Mentioned
- “absorbs almost instantly”
- “not greasy at all”
- “lightweight milky texture”
- “sinks right in”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Brightens and evens tone Sometimes Noted
- “faded my dark spots”
- “complexion looks brighter”
- “helped with acne scars”
- “skin tone is more even”
- “glowy morning skin”
Hydrating and plumping Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks plumped”
- “very moisturizing”
- “hydrates well overnight”
- “no need for extra cream”
- “woke up glowing”
Poor dropper design Sometimes Noted
- “dropper is clunky”
- “hard to get product out”
- “button mechanism fails”
- “bottle design is frustrating”
- “dispenses inconsistently”
Slow visible results Sometimes Noted
- “took months to see difference”
- “no immediate miracle”
- “slow progress on deep wrinkles”
- “needs consistent use”
- “hard to tell difference at first”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused minor purging”
- “broke me out initially”
- “small whiteheads appeared”
- “clogged my pores”
- “reaction on chin”
Pilling or residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a white film”
- “pills under moisturizer”
- “feels slightly sticky”
- “residue on pillow”
- “doesn't layer well”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “prefer the cream version”
- “too watery for me”
- “wanted something thicker”
- “runs off hand easily”
- “cream feels more luxurious”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, byrdie.com, youtube.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Retinol 24 Night Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum works well to smooth lines on oily skin, but it is not primarily targeted towards acne, blemishes, and breakouts. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but an oily acne-prone skin needs products containing ingredients like niacinamide, Vitamin C, or propolis for oil control and blemishes.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping regulate skin shedding and oil production. This serum needs ingredients like propolis, vitamin C, and soothing extracts that specifically target blemishes and acne while controlling excess oil.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
What does Retinol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps oily acne-prone skin by clearing up breakouts and smoothing the skin, though it may occasionally cause some mild scaling or stinging. This ingredient works by addressing the root causes of acne, making it a reliable choice for keeping pores clear and skin smooth.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2018
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
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. This type of skin also needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to directly clear up acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this serum at night, as this routine helps manage your oily skin while keeping irritation unlikely.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, starting gradually to see how your skin responds. This product helps smooth fine lines on oily skin, but an oily, acne-prone routine also needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to actively clear blemishes and breakouts.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has a very low risk of causing breakouts. It helps smooth fine lines, but oily acne-prone skin also needs targeted ingredients that actively clear blemishes and prevent clogged pores.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A 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 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 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical 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, 2012Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021Topical retinyl propionate cream produced no statistically significant differences compared to placebo for any clinical, histological, or profilometric parameters of skin photoageing in 80 subjects.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998A vitamin A palmitate and antioxidant-containing oil-based moisturizer improved fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, tone, texture, dryness, firmness, and clarity across various body sites compared to a no-treatment group over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013
Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide 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, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Retinol, Retinyl Propionate, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Polyacrylamide, Titanium Dioxide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Dmdm Hydantoin, Mica, Polysorbate 20, Laureth-4, Laureth-7, Disodium Edta, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.