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Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • Low RiskSafety

Works for dry skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry skin, as glycerin provides humectant action, but it lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients to fully address dryness.
  • The niacinamide and glycolic acid offer excellent treatment for evening skin tone and promoting skin renewal, while allantoin and glycerin provide supportive hydration and calming effects for your dry or flaky skin.
  • The product is generally safe for your dry skin, though the presence of glycolic acid and tranexamic acid carries some risk of irritation.

How to apply

  • Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
  • Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

This serum is frequently praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that effectively targets dark spots, uneven skin tone, and fine lines. Users with various skin types report a brighter, smoother complexion with consistent use over several weeks. Some users find the price point to be high and note that results can take time, with a few experiencing issues with the packaging.

Highlights

  • Fast absorption Mostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “non-sticky”
    • “sinks in fast”
  • Evens skin tone Often Mentioned
    • “Faded dark spots”
    • “more even complexion”
    • “reduced discoloration”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “Very light consistency”
    • “not greasy”
    • “feels weightless”
  • Brightening effect Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin looks glowing”
    • “more translucent”
    • “noticeable radiance”
  • Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
    • “Doesn't irritate”
    • “great for sensitive”
    • “no stinging”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “A bit expensive”
    • “budget-heavy”
    • “pricey for size”
  • Slow results Sometimes Noted
    • “Need more time”
    • “no change yet”
    • “results take weeks”
  • Packaging design Rarely Noted
    • “Difficult to dispense”
    • “applicator issues”
    • “messy bottle”

Sources: lovi.care, tryandreview.com, dermstore.com, skincare.com, serumtruth.com, lovelyskin.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum work for dry skin?

Vichy LiftActiv B3 Serum works moderately well for dry skin, offering helpful hydration and evening out skin tone, though it may cause some irritation. A treatment for dry skin needs rich, soothing ingredients that lock in moisture and support the skin barrier, such as ceramides, peptides, and plant extracts, while avoiding harsh acids.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for dry skin?

Glycerin, allantoin, and niacinamide make this serum a good fit for dry skin by helping provide hydration and calming effects. To fit dry skin even better, a product of this type needs rich softening and sealing ingredients along with barrier-supporting elements like ceramides, peptides, or propolis.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?

Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

What does Glycerin do for dry skin?

Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though dry skin also needs rich ingredients that lock in moisture and soften dry patches.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol, but to lower the risk of irritation, apply retinol on separate nights or use a rich cream afterward to keep your skin calm and soft.

How often should I use this serum?

Apply this serum in your evening routine, starting just once a week and carefully building up frequency only if your skin handles it well. Because dry skin needs products that also bring rich softening and sealing ingredients, this treatment works best when paired with a rich moisturizer.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, but the glycolic acid may cause some mild irritation or flaking as it helps renew the skin. To work well for dry skin, a product of this type needs richer rich oils, butters, or heavy sealants to lock in moisture and fully prevent dryness.

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, 2017

  • 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, 2002

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.

    Scientific Reports, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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, 2005

  • Topical 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, 2006

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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

  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

  • Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.

    International Journal of Dermatology, 2000

  • Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2017

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Why other serums fit dry skin better

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Propylene Glycol, Glycolic Acid, Tranexamic Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play