Farmacy 10% Waterless Vitamin C Serum for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid
Alpha-Arbutin
Ferulic Acid
Betaine
Citrus Extracts
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin due to Ascorbic Acid and Alpha-Arbutin, which help regulate melanogenesis and provide antioxidant effects, though these are not primary treatments for oily shine.
- The presence of Ferulic Acid and Alpha-Arbutin offers general skincare benefits and supports collagen synthesis, which is beneficial for combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with dry or dull skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to visibly brighten the complexion and fade dark spots without causing irritation, thanks to its gentle, waterless formula. Those with oily or combination skin often find the texture too heavy and greasy, noting that it leaves an oily residue that takes a significant amount of time to fully absorb.
Highlights
Visibly brightens skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Gave my skin an incredible glow”
- “Results showed improvement in dark spots”
- “Visibly brighter skin after 1 use”
Hydrating texture Often Mentioned
- “Feels smoother after application”
- “Provides a nice layer of hydration”
- “My skin feels noticeably softer”
Greasy residue Often Mentioned
- “Leaves an oily finish”
- “Takes a long time to sink in”
- “Felt like an oil slick”
Gentle and non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Experienced no sensitivity whatsoever”
- “Gentle on skin”
- “Did not irritate my sensitive skin”
Stable packaging/formula Sometimes Noted
- “Love that it is fully recyclable”
- “Waterless formula is more stable”
- “Pump is convenient and sanitary”
Slow absorption Sometimes Noted
- “Hard to layer with other products”
- “Products slip and slide on top”
- “Takes about an hour to sink in”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like hot dog water”
- “Has a weird metallic scent”
- “Scent is not the best”
Leaky packaging Rarely Noted
- “Bottle leaks oil everywhere”
- “Packaging does leak a bit”
- “Messy pump mechanism”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, farmacybeauty.com, amazon.com, skinsort.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Farmacy Waterless Vitamin C Serum work for combination skin?
This serum works moderately well for your combination skin, offering helpful brightening and firming benefits, though it is not a primary treatment for oily shine. A treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, and zinc PCA to regulate oiliness while keeping skin balanced, hydrated, and glowing.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Ascorbic acid and alpha-arbutin make this serum a fit by offering moderate brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, while ferulic acid provides general skincare benefits and supports collagen synthesis. To fit combination skin even better, a treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis that regulate oiliness and enhance radiance without causing excess oiliness.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
What does Alpha-Arbutin do for combination skin?
Alpha-arbutin helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone for combination skin. It works safely to brighten areas with extra pigment while helping to keep the face looking smooth and clear.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing toners and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum in your morning routine and retinol at night to help avoid skin irritation. Because this is an average fit for your skin, a product of this type for combination skin also needs ingredients that help manage oily shine while brightening.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine, starting once a week to see how your skin responds. If your skin tolerates it well without irritation, you may carefully use it more often. To better fit combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that also help balance oily shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, though its heavy feel may leave a greasy residue that bothers some shoppers. To fit combination skin better, this type of treatment needs a lighter texture that absorbs quickly without feeling heavy.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Topical 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, 2022A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Topical ferulic acid-containing formulations effectively reduce skin erythema, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging in adults compared to baseline or alternative conditions.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Topical dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Mixed surfactant systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine significantly reduce acute skin irritation potential in human volunteers compared with the individual surfactants, demonstrating that irritation potential cannot be predicted by simple summation.
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998
Why other serums fit combination skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Ascorbic Acid, Betaine, Alpha-Arbutin, Ferulic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Fruit Extract, Citrus Reticulata Fruit Extract Tangerine Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantium Sinensis Peel Extract, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Citric 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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Co-founder, Medical Director
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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
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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