Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ascorbic Acid
Squalane
Phytosterols
Glycolic Acid
Saccharide IsomerateHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even 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 excellent brightening for your oily skin due to tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid, which work synergistically to exfoliate and even skin tone. Glycolic acid also provides moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts by clearing pores and reducing oiliness.
- The formula is highly suitable for your oily skin, with tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate providing antioxidant activity and glycolic acid offering keratolytic action to refine texture.
- 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dry, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its rich, creamy texture that hydrates while delivering a visible "lit-from-within" glow. Many report significant fading of acne scars and hyperpigmentation without the irritation common to other Vitamin C products, though a minority of users found the high price point unjustifiable for the results achieved.
Highlights
Brightens and evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves complexion glowing”
- “faded my acne scars”
- “skin looks noticeably brighter”
- “got rid of dullness”
Hydrating creamy texture Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “non-greasy but moisturizing”
- “feels like a lotion”
- “plumps my skin”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive”
- “hard to justify the price”
- “luxury splurge only”
- “wallet hurts buying this”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “no tingling sensation”
Pleasant citrus scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like fresh oranges”
- “delicious citrus scent”
- “smells spa-like”
- “uplifting fragrance”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “can't get the last bit out”
- “bottle design is wasteful”
- “have to unscrew to use”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me tiny white bumps”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “broke me out immediately”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “dark spots didn't fade”
- “glorified moisturizer”
- “expected more for the money”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid work together to brighten your oily skin and even out your skin tone. Glycolic acid also helps clear pores and reduce oiliness, which manages blemishes and breakouts without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid make this serum a great fit by brightening your oily skin and clearing pores to help with breakouts. The combination works well to smooth your skin texture without causing irritation.
What does Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate helps protect oily, acne-prone skin from everyday damage by providing antioxidant benefits. When combined with stabilizing ingredients like acetyl zingerone, it helps prevent irritation and supports collagen production without feeling heavy.
What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, placed after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying them on alternating nights to prevent irritation on your oily skin. Using them together on the same night may be too harsh, so keep them separate.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this treatment once a week in the evening to start, and if your skin feels fine and you like the results, you can carefully use it more often. It helps clear your pores and brighten your skin while being very unlikely to cause irritation.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it lacks harsh or forbidden ingredients that typically trigger irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the formula helps clear pores and reduce oiliness to keep your skin smooth and calm.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A 3-in-1 anti-aging topical night serum-in-oil applied once daily decreased wrinkles by 11%, increased skin firmness by 8%, reduced redness by 70%, and improved overall skin quality and complexion in 103 female subjects over 28 to 84 days compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2017Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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, 2022Squalane 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, 2025Topical application of soybean phytosterols improves skin barrier recovery compared to a vehicle control in human volunteers with tape-stripped skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical application of a formulation containing niacinamide and soy phytosterols recovered about 95% of skin barrier integrity eight days after tape stripping in vivo.
Current Drug Delivery, 2016Topical application of phytosterols and ceramides on healthy skin blocked the UV-induced down-regulation of COL1A1 and COL1A2 expression, while all four tested preparations inhibited the UV-induced up-regulation of MMP-1.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2008Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Formulations containing saccharide isomerate significantly improved transepidermal water loss, sebum secretion, and scalp flaking compared to a placebo formulation in an adult Chinese population affected by dandruff scalp.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalane, Peg-8 Beeswax, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Ppg-12 Smdi Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopherol, Glycolic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Chlorphenesin, Alba Cera, Glycerin, Isosqualane, C30 Hydrocarbons, Saccharide Isomerate, 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.
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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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