celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum for oily skin
Niacinamide
Tranexamic Acid
MelatoninAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
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 brightening and evening of skin tone for your oily skin, as niacinamide and tranexamic acid regulate sebum and melanogenesis respectively. While these ingredients are highly suitable for oily skin, the formula lacks targeted ingredients for pore reduction or oil control, which are your main concerns.
- The serum provides general hydration and soothing benefits, which you will notice, but these are secondary to your primary goals.
- The product is generally safe for your oily skin, with a low risk of irritation from spearmint extract.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its lightweight, non-sticky texture and ability to fade post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation without irritation. While effective for brightening and evening skin tone, many users noted that pore-tightening results were subtle or unnoticeable compared to the brightening effects.
Highlights
Lightweight non-sticky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs incredibly fast”
- “no sticky feeling”
- “lightweight fresh formula”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “marks faded faster than expected”
- “visibly fading blemishes”
- “reduced redness and pigmentation”
Gentle non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation or sensitivity”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no stinging”
Hydrating glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “gives an amazing glow”
- “skin looks luminous”
Minimal pore improvement Sometimes Noted
- “didn't notice pore reduction”
- “pores don't look different”
- “no dramatic change in pores”
Slow visible results Sometimes Noted
- “results take time”
- “not dramatic yet”
- “gradual improvement”
Not moisturizing enough Rarely Noted
- “need to layer for dry skin”
- “light hydration only”
- “not enough for winter”
Potential irritants Rarely Noted
- “reaction to spearmint extract”
- “caused a breakout”
- “slight tingling sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, celimax.us, skinsort.com, stylevana.com, oliveyoung.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works moderately well for oily skin by helping brighten dark spots and even out skin tone, though it lacks targeted ingredients for pore reduction and oil control. Treatments that fit this skin better need ingredients like zinc pca and niacinamide to manage shine and control excess oil, along with soothing extracts for comfort.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and tranexamic acid make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping to regulate oil and even out skin tone. A treatment for this skin type needs ingredients that control oil and target pores, such as zinc PCA and ferulic acid.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Tranexamic Acid do for oily skin?
Tranexamic acid helps oily skin by calming redness and keeping the skin barrier strong, which is especially useful when dealing with stubborn dark spots and uneven tone. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and may improve overall skin texture while balancing the complexion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. While it helps brighten your skin and control oil, oily skin also needs targeted ingredients for pore reduction and oil control.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol product. Because this product type is an average fit for oily skin, it also needs ingredients that actively control oil and shrink pores to truly target your main skin concerns.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Oily skin seeking this product needs targeted ingredients for pore reduction and oil control.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has a generally safe profile and a low risk of irritation. A product of this type needs targeted ingredients for pore reduction and oil control to best manage oily skin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical Berberis integerrima root extract combined with spearmint essential oil significantly reduces lesion counts and mGAGS scores in patients with mild to moderate facial acne, with effectiveness comparable to 1% clindamycin topical solution.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Application of 12.5% melatonin cream significantly reduced natural sunlight-induced erythema compared to placebo and no treatment in healthy volunteers, while lower doses (0.5% and 2.5%) showed no difference.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2016Cosmetic formulations containing lycopene and melatonin showed significant differences in skin sebum content, hydration, elasticity, erythema index, and melanin index compared to control in 36 healthy women.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2020Topical application of 12.5% melatonin reduced erythema induced by natural sunlight compared to placebo and no treatment in participants with an erythema reaction, without causing significant effects on cognition.
Danish Medical Journal, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, 12-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Vinyl Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Sorbitan Oleate, Spearmint Extract, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bisabolol, Hyaluronic Acid
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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