Vichy Normaderm for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Salicylic Acid
Hyaluronic AcidAverage
- 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 moderate exfoliation for your acne-prone oily skin, as salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid work to unclog pores and control sebum production. Niacinamide further aids in seboregulation, making it highly suitable for your skin type and concerns.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
- This product provides excellent treatment for acne and blemishes by effectively exfoliating and decongesting pores.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers with oily and acne-prone skin frequently praise this lightweight moisturizer for its ability to hydrate without clogging pores or feeling greasy. Most users report clearer skin and reduced blemishes over time. A small minority experienced initial purging or found the fragrance too strong for sensitive skin.
Highlights
Excellent texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Sinks in immediately”
- “Perfect makeup base”
- “Doesn't feel heavy”
- “Leaves a nice matte glow.”
Balanced hydration Often Mentioned
- “Hydrating but not sticky”
- “Controls oil all day”
- “Skin feels plump and soft”
- “Doesn't strip my skin.”
Effective acne control Often Mentioned
- “Cleared my cystic acne”
- “Faded old dark spots”
- “Stopped new pimples forming”
- “Skin looks significantly clearer.”
Pore refinement Sometimes Noted
- “Pores look smaller”
- “Smoother skin texture”
- “Refined my large pores”
- “Skin looks more even.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Smell is too strong”
- “Perfume irritated my eyes”
- “Smells like men's cologne”
- “Wish it was unscented.”
Initial breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out worse”
- “Caused a burning sensation”
- “My skin turned red”
- “Experienced bad purging.”
Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
- “Skin felt tight after”
- “Need a heavier cream”
- “Dried out my cheeks”
- “Not enough for winter.”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “Leaves a sticky film”
- “Pills under foundation”
- “Balls up if you rub it”
- “Feels tacky on the skin.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, lookfantastic.ie, walmart.com, ulta.com, boots.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Vichy Normaderm Phytosaction work for oily acne-prone skin?
Vichy Normaderm works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid and niacinamide unclog pores and control oil without causing irritation. Treatments that fit this skin type better need ingredients like propolis, benzoyl peroxide, or vitamin C to manage breakouts and promote a healthy glow while keeping the skin comfortable and balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid help clear out pores and control oil, while niacinamide helps balance sebum production. To fit oily acne-prone skin even better, products of this type also need soothing extracts and calming ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
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 Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin often needs products that combine salicylic acid and niacinamide to clear pores and balance oil while keeping irritation low.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol at night and this treatment either in the morning or on alternating nights to prevent irritation. Because both products work hard to renew the skin, using them separately helps keep your skin calm and comfortable.
American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
How often should I use it?
Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and sees good results, you may carefully use it more often. A product of this type needs salicylic acid and niacinamide to gently clear pores, control oil, and treat blemishes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Vichy Normaderm is unlikely to clog pores on oily acne-prone skin, as it contains salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid to unclog pores and control oil. However, it may cause initial breakouts for some users since it actively exfoliates the skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Topical 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, 2005Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Topical 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, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propylene Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hyaluronic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Citric Acid, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum
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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