MEDI THERAPY Retinal Skin Booster for acne-prone skin
Retinal
Centella Asiatica
NiacinamideAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 treatment for minimizing fine lines and wrinkles due to the presence of retinal for smoothing texture, which is beneficial for your combination skin by regulating desquamation and seboregulation.
- Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide provide supportive skincare benefits such as soothing and pore-refining, which are helpful for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, acne-prone, and aging skin report this product is gentle and effective, improving skin texture and hydration without irritation. Many users notice a radiant glow, reduced pore visibility, and smoother skin. Some users with very dry skin mention needing additional moisturization.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Gentle enough for daily use”
- “No burning or redness”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Zero irritation even on first use”
Hydrating & lightweight Often Mentioned
- “Hydration without dryness”
- “Absorbs beautifully”
- “Not greasy or heavy”
- “Skin feels plump”
Improves texture & pores Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels baby soft”
- “Pores look noticeably smaller”
- “Texture became incredibly smooth”
- “Refined and put-together”
Fades acne & marks Sometimes Noted
- “Fades acne scars”
- “Reduces breakouts”
- “Helps with discoloration”
- “Calms troubled skin”
Great value Sometimes Noted
- “Generous amount for price”
- “Lasts over two months”
- “Absolute steal”
- “Can use on body too”
Dry skin needs more Rarely Noted
- “Need to layer moisturizer”
- “Not enough for winter”
- “Hydration doesn't last long”
- “Dry skin needs more”
Mild stinging Rarely Noted
- “Stings on open wounds”
- “Burned slightly around eyes”
- “Tingle on application”
- “Sensitive areas reacted”
No visible change Rarely Noted
- “No visible change”
- “Didn't see brightening”
- “Don't notice anything different”
- “Just okay”
Packaging quality Rarely Noted
- “Label riddled with bubbles”
- “Messy label application”
- “Hard to see product level”
- “Pump dispenses too much”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “A little sticky”
- “Feels tacky after application”
- “Hair sticks to face”
- “Sticky residue”
Sources: lovi.care, gogumacider.com, oliveyoung.com, gopicky.com, skinsort.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does MEDI THERAPY Retinal Skin Booster work for acne-prone skin?
This product works moderately well for your acne-prone skin by using retinal to smooth texture and centella asiatica and niacinamide to help soothe and refine pores. Treatments that fit this skin better need ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that balance and hydrate your skin while keeping it clear and comfortable without causing extra oiliness or dryness.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin by soothing breakouts and refining pores without causing irritation. Treatments that fit this skin better typically need ingredients like propolis, zinc PCA, antioxidants, and extra hydrating agents to balance oil and maintain moisture without extra oiliness or dryness.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Retinal do for acne-prone skin?
Retinal helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing blemishes, clogged pores, and redness while improving overall skin texture. Side effects are very uncommon when using this ingredient.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1999
What does Centella Asiatica do for acne-prone skin?
Centella asiatica helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and soothing inflammation while supporting healing. It may also help manage breakouts by addressing factors like acne blemishes and irritation.
Molecules, 2023Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps the routine simple and safe around sun exposure. This product works for acne-prone skin, though this skin type typically does better with a product providing soothing Centella Asiatica and pore-refining Niacinamide.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night, as using both at once may cause irritation on acne-prone skin. Because acne-prone skin needs gentle care, incorporating soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide helps keep the skin calm while targeting breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it once a week at first and carefully increasing the frequency if your skin tolerates it well. This product type for acne-prone skin needs soothing and pore-refining ingredients like Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide to help calm blemishes while keeping skin smooth.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica and Niacinamide. However, because it contains retinal to smooth texture, you may experience mild purging as it speeds up skin renewal. To better fit acne-prone skin, products of this type also need oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight, non-greasy textures that do not trap oil.
Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What the research says
Co-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, 2023Cosmetic 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, 2016Niacinamide 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 treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Twice daily application of retinaldehyde 0.1% and 0.05% creams for 3 months improved skin texture and hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in 40 female Korean volunteers, with only the 0.1% cream significantly improving the melanin index.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018Topical retinaldehyde demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria both in vitro and in vivo, leading to decreased bacterial counts without inducing resistance.
Dermatology, 2002Topical 0.05% retinaldehyde applied over 1 year significantly increased epidermal thickness of the temple and cutaneous elasticity compared to an emollient control group in 40 aging skin patients.
Dermatology, 1999Topical 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 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, 2005
Ingredients
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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