Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum for oily skin
Retinol
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Swertia Chirata Extract
Shea Ethyl Esters Butter
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
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 oily shine due to retinol and hydroxypinacolone retinoate, which promote skin renewal and help regulate oil production for your oily skin. Urea, yeast amino acids, trehalose, inositol, taurine, and betaine are included to soothe and hydrate, preventing potential irritation.
- The formulation includes ingredients like shea ethyl esters butter and squalane which provide nourishment, though lighter emollients might offer better compatibility for your oily skin type.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with aging or textured skin frequently report visible improvements in fine lines and overall radiance, often praising the formula for being significantly gentler than typical retinols. The "Tri-Active" technology is widely credited for delivering effective anti-aging results without the dryness or irritation commonly associated with vitamin A products.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Good for beginners”
- “No redness/peeling”
- “Gentle enough for nightly use”
Improves texture/tone Often Mentioned
- “Smoother skin”
- “Softens texture”
- “Glowing complexion”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “Lines faded”
- “Less visible wrinkles”
- “Plumper skin”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Very expensive”
- “Pricey”
- “Not budget-friendly”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “Creamy consistency”
- “Non-drying”
- “Absorbs quickly”
Hygienic packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Airless pump”
- “Easy to dispense”
- “Protects ingredients”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Floral scent”
- “Perfume is strong”
- “Smell lingers”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused purging”
- “Small bumps”
- “Acne flare-up”
Pump malfunctions Rarely Noted
- “Pump stopped working”
- “Hard to get last bit”
- “Nozzle clogged”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “Took months”
- “Mild effect”
- “Not strong enough”
Sources: lovi.care, murad.com, sephora.co.uk, ulta.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Murad Retinol Youth Renewal Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin, helping manage shine with retinol while soothing the skin with amino acids and urea. However, because it contains heavier nourishing ingredients, this skin type needs lighter, oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to better manage excess oil without extra weight.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Retinol and hydroxypinacolone retinoate help manage oily shine by supporting skin renewal and regulating oil production. Meanwhile, urea, yeast amino acids, trehalose, inositol, taurine, and betaine soothe and hydrate the skin to keep potential irritation down. Oily skin often benefits most from ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to control excess oil and pores, paired with light hydrators and barrier supporters that do not clog pores.
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 Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily skin works best with lighter, oil-free hydrators instead of heavier nourishing butters.
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 retinol treatment at night, as using them separately helps prevent irritation. Oily skin works best with lighter nourishing ingredients that balance oil without heaviness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Skin Research and Technology, 2003
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, and a product of this type needs lighter, oil-free hydrators and non-clogging emollients to better balance oily skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, though an oily skin type typically needs lighter hydrators and oils to keep the skin clear and smooth.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citronellol and parfum).
What the research says
Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Topical 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 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, Cyclopentasiloxane, Isopropyl Palmitate, C14-22 Alcohols, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Propanediol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Shea Ethyl Esters Butter, Retinol, Hydroxypinacolone Retinoate, Ceramide Np, Sodium Hyaluronate, Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract Tomato Fruit Extract, Swertia Chirata Extract, Squalane, Punica Granatum Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycine Soja Extract Soybean Extract, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Silica, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Butylene Glycol, Lecithin, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Cetyl Palmitate, Laureth-23, Polysorbate 20, Trideceth-6 Phosphate, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Chlorphenesin, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide, Tris Tetramethylhydroxypiperidinol Citrate, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891, Red 4 Ci 14700, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citronellol, 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.
-
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.