AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Reserve Serum for acne-prone skin

Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions beneficial for general skin health. While these ingredients support your skin type, they do not specifically target your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The inclusion of Panax Ginseng Root Extract offers additional anti-aging benefits, contributing to overall skin rejuvenation.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this serum is highly praised for its luxurious, hydrating texture that provides a noticeable inner glow, improving skin elasticity and radiance, particularly for dry or dull skin types. However, the very high price point and strong signature fragrance are frequently mentioned drawbacks.
Highlights
Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
- “delightfully bouncy texture”
- “silky spreadable formula”
- “absorbs well without stickiness”
- “lightweight finish”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “price is extremely high”
- “worth every penny but painful”
- “apply it sparingly due to cost”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “gives me an Inner Glow”
- “fills skin with hydration”
- “deeply moisturizing”
- “skin feels comfortable”
Anti-aging effects Sometimes Noted
- “improves skin elasticity”
- “visibly firm”
- “skin feels healthier”
- “smoother and fresher skin”
Immediate radiance Sometimes Noted
- “noticeable glow”
- “skin looks less dull”
- “radiant finish”
- “revived and glowing”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “signature Amore scent is strong”
- “smells like baby powder”
- “scent caught my attention every time”
- “strong alcohol + musty scent”
Opaque packaging Rarely Noted
- “no way to open bottle”
- “can't see how much is left”
- “resorting to power tools to get last drop”
Subtle results Rarely Noted
- “effects aren't as dramatic as price suggests”
- “hard to measure antioxidant effect”
- “wishful thinking on results”
Sources: lovi.care, us.amorepacific.com, nordstrom.com, neimanmarcus.com, hwahae.co.kr, cozycot.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does AMOREPACIFIC Time Response Skin Reserve Serum work for acne-prone skin?
This serum works moderately well for acne-prone skin, offering general soothing benefits and antioxidants while lacking specific blemish-fighting ingredients. To properly target breakouts, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and propolis that provide excellent skincare benefits for acne and breakouts, while ensuring no risk of irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water and Epigallocatechin Gallate help make this serum a fit for acne-prone skin by providing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions that support general skin health and improve breakouts. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to target acne and blemishes while maintaining hydration and balance.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
What does Green Tea Water do for acne-prone skin?
Green tea water helps calm redness and can reduce pimples and oily skin when applied to acne-prone skin. Studies show it helps clear both inflammatory and non-inflammatory breakouts while improving overall skin health.
Phytotherapy Research, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. While it is safe for acne-prone skin, it does not specifically target breakouts and needs ingredients that address blemishes to fit this skin well.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following with your retinol. This product is safe for your skin with no risk of irritation, but to fit acne-prone skin best, it needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to directly clear breakouts.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits your acne-prone skin with moderate benefits, so you can safely use it in the evening routine. Because this product type does not specifically target blemishes, acne-prone skin needs soothing ingredients, calming plant extracts, and gentle blemish-fighting actives to help keep pores clear and skin calm.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on acne-prone skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. However, a product for acne-prone skin needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents to truly clear and prevent pimples.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Topical and in vitro application of a Camellia sinensis leaf extract demonstrated immunomodulatory, detoxification, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties while improving mood states, skin hydration, barrier function, rejuvenation, and facial skin health.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Panax ginseng root extract induced Type I procollagen synthesis and COL1A2 promoter activity through Smad2 phosphorylation in human dermal fibroblast cells.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007A mixture of Panax ginseng and Crataegus pinnatifida prevented skin aging by improving procollagen type I expression, diminishing matrix metalloproteinase-1 secretion, reducing skin roughness and photodamage scores, and decreasing loss of skin moisture in human dermal fibroblasts and healthy human skin.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2017Epigallocatechin-3-gallate significantly improved acne in patients compared to the control side during an 8-week clinical trial.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2013An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Water, Butylene Glycol, Water, Glycerin, Alcohol, Trehalose, Phyllostachis Bambusoides Juice, Glycereth-26, Hydrogenated Poly C6-14 Olefin, Dimethicone, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Propanediol, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Panthenol, Cetearyl Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Peg-5 Rapeseed Sterol, Sorbitan Olivate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Parfum, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Tromethamine, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Adenosine, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Beta-Glucan, Ppg-5-Laureth-5, Glycine Soja Seed Extract Soybean Seed Extract, Natto Gum, Dextrin, Theobroma Cacao Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Poloxamer 235, Betaine, Ethoxydiglycol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Camellia Sinensis Flower Extract, Tocophersolan, Poloxamer 338, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Glucose, Acetic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol
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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