La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum for oily skin
Retinol
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Thermal Spring WaterAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 niacinamide helps regulate sebum and retinol aids in desquamation, contributing to improved skin texture and reduced fine lines.
- Glycerin provides essential hydration, supporting overall skin health without exacerbating oiliness.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this serum as an excellent starter retinol for sensitive skin, effectively smoothing texture and brightening the complexion without harsh irritation. Many appreciate its hydrating, lightweight feel, though a minority find the floral fragrance overpowering and the formula can feel sticky if not layered correctly.
Highlights
Gentle on skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Great retinol for beginners”
- “No irritation or redness”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels smoother”
- “Pores look smaller”
- “Leaves skin soft and hydrated”
Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
- “Makes sensitive skin glow”
- “Skin looks more luminous”
- “Fading dark spots slowly but steadily”
Hydrating & lightweight Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs fast without residue”
- “Feels moisturizing and hydrating”
- “Non-drying formula”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like cheap fragrance”
- “Strong floral scent”
- “Scent is too overpowering”
Lack of potency Rarely Noted
- “Weaker retinol product”
- “Did not see results”
- “Not strong enough for deep wrinkles”
Product oxidation Rarely Noted
- “Turned dark orange quickly”
- “Oxidizes very fast”
- “Color changed after a few weeks”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “Remained tacky on my skin”
- “Sticky finish”
- “Feels a bit gummy”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, walmart.com, chemistwarehouse.com.au, cocooncenter.co.uk, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Retinol B3 Serum work for oily skin?
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum works reasonably well for oily skin by helping control excess oil and smoothing texture without feeling heavy. To fit oily skin best, a treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage shine and enlarged pores, along with soothing extracts and lightweight hydrators to keep the skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps control excess oil while retinol improves skin texture, and glycerin provides hydration without making your skin greasy. Oily skin needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide and zinc to manage shine and pores, alongside lightweight hydrators and soothing extracts to keep skin comfortable.
What does Retinol do for oily skin?
Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
Apply this treatment in the evening as part of your routine for oily skin, which keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure. This product works well for your skin, though an oily skin routine also benefits from ingredients like niacinamide and lightweight hydration to help manage oil and keep skin smooth.
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 treatment at night to avoid overwhelming your oily skin. Using them at different times of day helps reduce the chance of irritation while still giving you the smoothing and brightening benefits of both ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this treatment in your evening routine, starting slowly to see how your skin adjusts. Oily skin works best with a serum that balances oil while gently smoothing texture without causing extra shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
La Roche-Posay Retinol B3 Serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, but retinol may cause mild initial purging as it speeds up cell renewal. This treatment keeps your skin smooth and balanced with ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin without adding heavy oils that trap grease.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Topical 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, 2017A 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 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 stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Alcohol Denat, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Glycine Soja Oil, Soybean Oil, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Sodium Hyaluronate, Retinol, Adenosine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Polysilicone-11, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, 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
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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