Introduction
Peach Slices might not sit on every vanity yet, but among skincare insiders it enjoys a reputation for playful formulas that punch above their price tag. The K-beauty offshoot has carved out a niche for breezy, no-nonsense solutions that still respect ingredient science, and that balance between fun and function is what first drew me in.
With a name like Oil Control Pore Serum, subtlety clearly was not on the agenda. Peach Slices promises that this silky concentrate will dial down grease, visibly shrink pores and soothe any redness that rides along with overactive sebaceous glands. Their own blurb spotlights zinc PCA and niacinamide for the mattifying heavy lifting with green tea and cica stepping in as the calm crew. Lightweight feel and fast absorption round out the sales pitch.
Marketing copy is one thing, results are another. I spent a full two weeks working the serum into both my morning and evening routines to see if it justified its confident name and whether it deserves a spot in your budget.
What is Oil Control Pore Serum?
Oil Control Pore Serum sits in the broader pore treatment category, a group of lightweight leave-on products designed to manage excess oil and keep the look of enlarged pores in check. Unlike cleansers that rinse away or moisturizers that focus on hydration, a pore treatment acts as a targeted step after toning and before your cream, offering concentrated actives that stay on the skin to do their work throughout the day.
This particular formula takes a multi pronged approach. Zinc PCA partners with niacinamide to put the brakes on overzealous sebaceous glands, which is the technical way of saying it helps reduce midday shine. At the same time niacinamide supports a more even tone. Green tea extract adds antioxidant backup while cica compounds step in to calm any inflammation that often tags along with oily skin. The texture is deliberately light so it can layer under other skincare or makeup without feeling heavy.
In short Oil Control Pore Serum is meant for those battling grease slicks, visible pores or post-breakout redness who still want their skin to feel balanced rather than stripped.
Did it work?
In the name of hard science I benched my usual pore treatment for three full days before introducing Oil Control Pore Serum, a move that made me feel like I deserved my own lab coat. Fourteen days felt like a fair runway to see if the claims of reduced shine and smaller looking pores would stick, so I slotted two pumps into both my AM and PM routines after toner and before moisturizer.
Day one to three brought the kind of honeymoon most lightweight serums manage: a quick hit of hydration, a pleasantly matte finish and no immediate irritation. By lunchtime my T-zone still showed its usual reflective tendencies, but I noticed less of the slick rebound that often happens after blotting sheets. Pores around my nose looked the same at first glance though redness across my cheeks seemed a touch quieter.
Midway through the test week the serum settled into a reliable rhythm. It layered well under sunscreen and foundation without disturbing wear time, and I appreciated that it never pillaged moisture from the drier patches along my jawline. Shine control improved incrementally; I still reached for blotting paper around 3 p.m. yet the sheet came away dotted rather than drenched. Pore size remained largely unchanged in natural light, but under the harsh bathroom mirror they did look slightly less inflamed which made any craters less obvious.
Heading into days ten through fourteen the ceiling of its performance became clearer. The serum kept oil at what I would call a respectable murmur rather than a full-on shout, and any post-workout redness faded faster than usual. Still, pores did not undergo the promised visual shrinking and a few blackout-zone blackheads clung stubbornly to my nose. I also started to crave the stronger sebum suppression of niacinamide at five percent or more, something this formula does not disclose but feels lower.
So did it work? Partially. It delivered a comfortable matte finish, curbed the worst midday shine and soothed mild irritation, but it fell short of being a transformative pore minimizer. I will finish the bottle yet I will not replace my current treatment with it long term. That said, if your primary goal is gentle oil taming without risking dryness, this serum earns a polite nod of approval.
Oil Control Pore Serum’s main ingredients explained
Zinc PCA sits at the top of Peach Slices’ pitch and for good reason. Zinc helps modulate the enzyme that tells sebaceous glands to pump out oil while the PCA portion functions like a humectant, pulling in a whisper of water so skin does not feel tight. It is a smart duo for keeping shine under control without the rebound dryness that often sends oil production into overdrive.
Niacinamide follows as the multitasker. At modest percentages it encourages a stronger barrier, softens uneven tone and, over time, can coax pores to look more refined by preventing excess sebum from stretching them out. I suspect the level hovers between 2 and 4 percent, which explains the gentle but not dramatic results I saw. Still, for sensitive complexions that cannot tolerate higher doses this range feels like a safe sweet spot.
The soothing contingent comes from centella asiatica derivatives (madecassoside, madecassic acid and asiaticoside) alongside classic green tea extract. Both provide antioxidant cover and signal skin to cool inflammatory pathways that make redness flare. If your cheeks flush easily after a sweaty commute these botanicals act as mild fire extinguishers.
Pine bark and mushroom extracts sneak in as supporting antioxidants while a trio of ceramide NP, cholesterol and phytosphingosine reinforce the barrier lipids that oily skin often forgets it needs. This combo helps explain why the serum never left my jawline feeling stripped.
A quick word on the natural oils further down the list: avocado, macadamia seed, evening primrose, baobab and palm. They appear in tiny amounts yet anyone extremely prone to clogged pores should note that some of these rank medium on the comedogenic scale, meaning they can trap dead cells in follicles and trigger bumps if your skin is already sensitive to oils. I did not notice new congestion, but patch testing is wise.
Ingredient watchers will be happy that there is no added fragrance or denatured alcohol, two common irritants in oily skin formulas. The serum also skips parabens and traditional silicones. However it does include propolis extract, a bee byÂproduct, so the formula is not vegan although it remains vegetarian friendly. Because propolis is considered an animal-derived ingredient strict vegans will want to steer clear.
Pregnancy questions inevitably pop up with any leave-on treatment. While none of the actives here are flagged as high risk like retinoids or salicylic acid, I always advise expecting or nursing parents to run any topical past their healthcare provider first. Better safe than sorry.
Last housekeeping note: the pH sits around 5.5 which mirrors healthy skin so the actives can get to work without causing irritation. All told the ingredient deck balances oil control, calm and light hydration in a way that feels thoughtful if not trailblazing.
What I liked/didn’t like
After two weeks of steady use here is the quick rundown of hits and misses.
What works well:
- Lightweight serum sinks in fast and layers cleanly under SPF or makeup
- Noticeable midday shine reduction without leaving drier areas tight
- Green tea and cica calm mild redness after workouts or warm commutes
- Fragrance free and alcohol free formula feels friendly for reactive skin
What to consider:
- Oil control is moderate so very oily T zones may still need blotting sheets
- Pore size improvement is subtle and may not satisfy those seeking a dramatic blur effect
- Includes propolis and a few plant oils that may not suit strict vegans or skins prone to congestion
My final thoughts
Across two weeks Oil Control Pore Serum proved it can keep a temperamental T zone on its best behaviour without pulling moisture from everywhere else, which is more than many mattifiers manage. It muted daytime shine, calmed minor redness and never once stung or clogged, yet it stopped short of the pore blurring magic its name hints at. After years of rotating through pore treatments I would slot it in the reliable but not game changing tier and stamp it with a respectful 7.5/10. I would point an oily yet easily dehydrated friend toward it with the clear note that blotting sheets will still need a permanent home in their bag.
If you want a punchier result or simply like to explore, a few other formulas have impressed me over multiple bottles. Deascal’s Poreless Perfection Serum is the most balanced allrounder I have tried, reining in oil while quietly refining texture and doing so at a price that feels almost generous. Dr.Jart+’s Pore Remedy PHA Exfoliating Serum adds gentle chemical polishing to the mix which makes pores sit flatter without any dryness spiral. Biossance’s Squalane + BHA Pore Minimizing Toner marries a hydrating base with salicylic acid so those prone to congestion get a little inside-out clean as well. Finally Caudalie’s Vinopure Natural Salicylic Acid Pore Minimising Serum remains a faithful standby when breakouts threaten thanks to its blemish calming grape polyphenols and lightweight feel. Depending on where your skin sits on the oil spectrum one of these may edge out Peach Slices for you.
Before you queue any of the above at checkout remember the usual housekeeping. Patch test first on a discreet spot even if that sounds like something your over protective parent would nag about. Give the formula consistent use for at least a few weeks because pore size and sebum output do not rewrite themselves overnight and be prepared to keep at it once you see results or the gains will quietly rewind.