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Perricone MD Deep Crease Serum for oily acne-prone skin

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

Perricone MD Deep Crease Serum

Average

  • AverageOily 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 suitability for oily skin as squalane and macadamia ternifolia seed oil provide emollient action, though they may not be sufficient for optimal oil control. Palmitoyl tripeptide-5 and acetyl hexapeptide-8 are present for wrinkle reduction, which is a supportive benefit.
  • The product provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, but lacks targeted ingredients such as salicylic acid or niacinamide to address your specific concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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 800+ reviews

Users in their 40s and 50s frequently praise this serum for its lightweight, non-greasy feel and its ability to hydrate and soften the appearance of expression lines. While results are gradual, consistent use leads to firmer, smoother-looking skin.

Highlights

  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “not sticky or greasy”
    • “feels silky and smooth”
  • Hydrating formula Often Mentioned
    • “Skin drinks it up”
    • “leaves skin feeling plump”
    • “adds a boost of moisture”
  • Softens deep lines Often Mentioned
    • “Deeper lines look softer”
    • “smile lines appear less pronounced”
    • “frown lines look less visible”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “Price is quite premium”
    • “barrier for some”
    • “expensive investment”
  • Improves firmness Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin feeling firmer”
    • “noticeable improvement in bounce”
    • “more lifted look”
  • Dropper issues Sometimes Noted
    • “Difficult to pick up product”
    • “dropper doesn't work well”
    • “inconsistent dispensing”
  • Gradual results Sometimes Noted
    • “Not an overnight miracle”
    • “results are subtle”
    • “haven't seen 11s improve yet”
  • Fragrance sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “Rose scent may not be ideal”
    • “not for those with fragrance allergies”

Sources: lovi.care, perriconemd.com, dermstore.com, ulta.com, youtube.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Perricone MD Deep Crease Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment works moderately well for oily skin, offering hydration and wrinkle reduction with peptides, though it may lack sufficient oil control and acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, and vitamin C to target acne and blemishes while providing balanced hydration without excess oil.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Annals of Dermatology, 2019

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum offers moderate suitability for oily skin because squalane and macadamia seed oil provide softening care, while peptides help smooth wrinkles, though it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts. To fit oily acne-prone skin well, a treatment needs effective components like niacinamide and salicylic acid or propolis to manage excess oil and blemishes comfortably.

What does Acyl-Glutathione do for oily acne-prone skin?

Acyl-glutathione helps protect the skin against sun-induced redness and may improve overall tone. This type of product for oily, acne-prone skin needs ingredients that reduce breakouts and soothe irritation while balancing oil.

The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2019

What does Palmitoyl Glutathione do for oily acne-prone skin?

This type of product does not provide a good fit for oily and acne-prone skin, as it often uses heavy oils that can clog pores and trigger breakouts. To properly care for oily skin, a product needs lightweight ingredients that help control excess oil, soothe irritation, and clear pores without leaving a greasy layer.

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. It is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but this type of skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help address acne and breakouts.

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

You can use this treatment in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, but it is an average fit because it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide for breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients such as salicylic acid, niacinamide, and effective oil-control agents to properly manage blemishes and excess oil.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. This product works for your skin, though an oily acne-prone skin type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help clear breakouts and manage oil control.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on oily skin, as it has a very safe formula without harsh ingredients. However, because it contains oils that may not control oil well enough, an oily and acne-prone skin type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, limonene, and linalool).

What the research says

  • Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013

  • Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.

    Annals of Dermatology, 2019

  • Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013

  • Topical formulations containing ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, coenzyme Q10, green tea polyphenols, and resveratrol reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines and attenuated inflammatory signs compared to untreated skin and vehicle in 25 Japanese volunteers exposed to sodium dodecyl sulfate.

    European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017

  • Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017

  • Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024

  • Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014

  • Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025

  • 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

  • Supramolecular collagen nanoparticles composed of lactoferrin, recombinant human collagen, and palmitoyl tripeptide-5 improved transdermal efficiency by 69.90% and demonstrated moisturizing, whitening, wrinkle reduction, and firming effects.

    Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2025

  • Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.

    European Journal of Neurology, 2013

  • Dissolving microneedles loaded with 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid and acetyl hexapeptide-8 achieved higher cumulative transdermal delivery than aqueous solutions and significantly reduced photoaging signs while restoring oxidative balance in a UV/D-galactose-induced mouse model.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026

  • An oil/water emulsion containing 10% Argireline reduced wrinkle depth up to 30% and inhibited neurotransmitter release in healthy women volunteers compared to baseline.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002

Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Propanediol, Squalane, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, S-Palmitoylglutathione, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Xylitylglucoside, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Dimethyl Mea, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-5, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Anhydroxylitol, Lactic Acid, Xylitol, Xanthan Gum, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Alaria Esculenta Extract, Glucose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Copper Gluconate, Tetradecyl Aminobutyroylvalylaminobutyric Urea Trifluoroacetate, Palmitoyl Dipeptide-5 Diaminobutyroyl Hydroxythreonine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Magnesium Chloride, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool

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?

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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