Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum for oily skin
Black Tea Extract
Honeysuckle Leaf Extract
Squalane
Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7
Average
- HighOily 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 benefits for your oily skin, as Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract provide antioxidant activity and potential seboregulation, though targeted ingredients for oil control are lacking.
- The presence of acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 offers firming and smoothing texture, supporting general skincare needs for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin with no risks of irritation 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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is frequently praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that provides immediate hydration and a temporary plumping effect, smoothing fine lines. Many users report a pleasant sensory experience with a nice scent. However, a significant number of reviews indicate that the advertised firming and lifting results are subtle or absent, leading to concerns about the product's high price point not being justified by dramatic anti-aging changes. Some users also find the dropper design to be inconvenient.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly without sticky residue”
- “layers beautifully under makeup”
- “silky consistency, not heavy or greasy”
Expensive for value Mostly Mentioned
- “too expensive for just hydration”
- “not worth the high price tag”
- “results don't justify the cost”
Hydrating and plumping Often Mentioned
- “skin feels instantly bouncy and hydrated”
- “plumps up fine lines immediately”
- “leaves face feeling soft and supple”
Lacks firming Often Mentioned
- “didn't notice any lifting or corset effect”
- “no change in jawline contour”
- “firming claims are exaggerated”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like fresh tea and flowers”
- “cooling sensation upon application”
- “luxurious spa-like scent”
Poor dropper Sometimes Noted
- “dropper doesn't pick up product well”
- “hard to get the last bit out”
- “pipette mechanism is frustrating”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Fresh Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin, offering antioxidants and smoothing peptides while feeling safe and comfortable. Because it lacks targeted oil-control ingredients, a treatment for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and lightweight hydrators to manage shine and pores.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
This serum works for your oily skin because Saccharomyces ferment filtrate and black tea extract help provide antioxidant activity and manage oil. A treatment for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to control sebum, along with soothing hydrators that manage shine and pores without causing breakouts.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
What does Black Tea Extract do for oily skin?
Black tea extract helps calm oily skin and keeps it feeling smooth by reducing inflammation and balancing skin oil. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports overall skin health with its antioxidant properties.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Phytotherapy Research, 2021
What does Honeysuckle Leaf Extract do for oily skin?
Honeysuckle Leaf Extract helps calm oily skin and keep it comfortable by reducing redness and swelling. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help keep breakouts under control.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Oily skin works best with targeted oil-control ingredients and mattifying agents that this product lacks.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help it absorb fully, followed by your retinol. This product is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but an oily skin routine also needs targeted oil-control ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin also needs targeted oil-control ingredients and mattifying agents to properly balance shine.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is safe for your oily skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, clogged pores, or breakouts due to the absence of harsh ingredients. However, it lacks targeted oil control ingredients, so oily skin generally needs formulas with powerful oil-absorbing minerals or clarifying acids to properly manage excess shine.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, citronellol, and geraniol).
What the research says
Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Topical and in vitro application of a Camellia sinensis leaf extract demonstrated immunomodulatory, detoxification, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties while improving mood states, skin hydration, barrier function, rejuvenation, and facial skin health.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical application of standardized black tea extract prior to or after UVB exposure reduced erythema, skinfold thickness, inflammation, and the accumulation of c-fos and p53 proteins in murine and human skin.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 1999Topical application of black tea gel prevented UV-induced erythema in all six subjects compared to unprotected control sites where erythema appeared after 4 hours.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Black tea extract increased water and hyaluronic acid content, decreased malondialdehyde, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, improved skin tissue structure, and increased total collagen in the skin of D-galactose-induced aging mice compared to blank and positive control groups.
Frontiers in Nutrition, 2023Lonicera japonica and Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium Polyphenolic Extract (LCPE) reduces inflammation-mediating cytokines COX-2 and iNOS and inhibits NF-kB and MAPK pathways in lipopolysaccharide-induced skin keratinocytes.
Antioxidants, 2023The incorporation of blue honeysuckle powder into cosmetic face masks resulted in stable emulsions that provided proper skin hydration and altered the physical properties of the masks.
Molecules, 2021Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Cosmetic products containing 4-t-butylcyclohexanol demonstrated a faster and more pronounced soothing effect on capsaicin-induced burning compared to those containing acetyl dipeptide-1 cetyl ester in volunteers with sensitive skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2016
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, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Jojoba Peg-150 Esters Oil, Pentylene Glycol, Methyl Gluceth-20, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Acacia Senegal Gum, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rhizobian Gum, Xanthan Gum, Saccharomyces Ferment Filtrate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Blackberry Leaf Extract, Lonicera Japonica Leaf Extract Honeysuckle Leaf Extract, Litchi Chinensis Seed Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Peg-150, Squalane, Lecithin, Carbomer, Sorbitan Laurate, Sorbitol, Parfum, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Maltodextrin, Algin, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-51, Adenosine, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Lactic Acid, Bht, Cellulose Gum, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Biotin, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol
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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