ilso Super Melting Serum Softener for oily acne-prone skin
Sebum Remove Complex
Centella Asiatica Extract
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it 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 moderate pore cleansing and skin soothing for your oily skin, as Sebum Remove Complex and Centella Asiatica Extract work to regulate oil and calm inflammation.
- The inclusion of Carica Papaya Fruit Extract provides gentle exfoliation, offering moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- This formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing Centella Asiatica Extract.
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 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin find this product highly effective for removing sebum and blackheads, often describing the process as satisfying and gentle enough for sensitive skin. However, achieving optimal results typically requires additional tools and can make the routine time-consuming.
Highlights
Effective sebum removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts blackheads away”
- “gunk comes out”
- “pores look cleaner”
- “removed stubborn whiteheads”
- “satisfying extraction”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no stinging”
- “soothing formula”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't rip skin”
- “calming sensation”
Requires extra tools Often Mentioned
- “need scraper tool”
- “pads not included”
- “bought tool separately”
- “need cotton pads”
- “hard without applicator”
Smoother skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “nose feels smooth”
- “soft skin”
- “better makeup application”
- “glass skin effect”
- “texture improved”
Incomplete extraction Sometimes Noted
- “deep blackheads remained”
- “didn't get everything”
- “surface level only”
- “some gunk left”
- “multiple uses needed”
Time consuming process Sometimes Noted
- “takes 15 minutes”
- “multi-step process”
- “requires prep time”
- “long wait”
- “tedious routine”
Versatile application Rarely Noted
- “use on chin”
- “great for forehead”
- “better than strips”
- “target specific areas”
- “customizable usage”
Mild irritation Rarely Noted
- “skin peeled later”
- “slight redness”
- “high pH dryness”
- “tingling sensation”
- “over-exfoliation risk”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, instyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ilso Super Melting Serum Softener work for oily acne-prone skin?
ilso Super Melting Serum Softener offers moderate pore cleansing, oil regulation, and calm for your oily, acne-prone skin. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though treatments with ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, Vitamin C, and tea tree extract fit this skin type better.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sebum Remove Complex, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract make this serum a fit by helping to regulate oil, calm inflammation, and gently exfoliate to manage breakouts. A treatment for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, Vitamin C, or tea tree extract to provide stronger oil control, target acne, and promote a healthy glow without irritation.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
What does Sebum Remove Complex do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sebum Remove Complex helps clear and calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing excess oil, calming redness, and keeping pores clear. This type of skin needs ingredients that regulate oil production and gently clear away dead skin cells to keep the face smooth and healthy.
What does Centella Asiatica Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Centella Asiatica Extract helps calm red spots and supports skin healing in oily, acne-prone skin. It may also help balance moisture and reduce breakouts by soothing irritated areas.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are best used then for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Oily acne-prone skin needs a treatment that offers pore cleansing, oil regulation, and gentle exfoliation using ingredients like Sebum Remove Complex and papaya extract.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol, applying the treatment in your evening routine before your moisturizer and using retinol on alternating nights to help prevent any irritation on your oily acne-prone skin. To give your skin the best fit, an oily acne-prone routine needs deep pore clearing ingredients and soothing plant extracts that help calm breakouts without harshness.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
How often should I use it?
Use this treatment in your evening routine once a week to start, as this type of product needs gentle exfoliating ingredients and soothing plant extracts to manage oily acne-prone skin safely.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Molecules, 2023
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as it features soothing ingredients that help calm inflammation without harsh additives. However, an oily acne-prone skin often needs products with stronger pore-clearing ingredients and targeted exfoliants to fully manage breakouts.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
What the research says
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Incorporating 1, 2, and 5 percent papain into starch- and carboxymethyl cellulose-based films preserved proteolytic and skin exfoliation activity while improving mechanical properties and water solubility compared to control films, with immobilized enzyme maintaining stability for up to 90 days.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020Carica papaya leaf extracts obtained via supercritical fluid and conventional methods demonstrated antioxidant and cytoprotective effects on skin fibroblasts against oxidative stress, driven by their respective lipophilic and hydrophilic constituents.
Molecules, 2021
Ingredients
Sebum Remove Complex, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
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
How does it fit your skin?
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