SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Citric AcidSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for oily skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by glycolic acid, citric acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, and salicylic acid, which offer potent keratolytic and seboregulating actions to address oily shine.
- The high concentrations of glycolic acid and salicylic acid work synergistically to exfoliate and decongest, offering excellent treatment for acne and aging concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing ingredients like Sodium Hydroxide.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviewsThis dual-action serum is widely praised by adults with oily and combination skin for simultaneously treating cystic acne and smoothing fine lines. While highly effective at reducing sebum and clearing congestion, users note it can be drying and may cause an initial "purge" period before results become visible. The summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Clears stubborn acne Mostly Mentioned
- “cystic acne shrinking”
- “no new pimples”
- “kept acne at bay”
- “reduced to nothingness”
- “clearing up skin”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin looked smoother”
- “fades red marks”
- “even tone”
- “pores less visible”
- “refines skin surface”
Reduces excess oil Often Mentioned
- “felt less oily”
- “regulation of sebum”
- “inhibits excess sebum”
- “cuts through oil”
- “less shiny by midday”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “improves fine lines”
- “compliments on no wrinkles”
- “skin looks younger”
- “diminishes signs of aging”
- “smoother forehead”
Drying or irritating Sometimes Noted
- “skin feeling parched”
- “drying acne products”
- “strong alcohol content”
- “not for sensitive skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey”
- “splurge-worthy”
- “waste of money”
- “investment product”
Strong chemical scent Sometimes Noted
- “alcohol fumes hit nostrils”
- “strong smell”
- “smells like chemicals”
- “ugh alcohol”
- “fumes hit your nostrils”
Initial skin purging Rarely Noted
- “tiny bit of purging”
- “worse before better”
- “breakouts initially”
- “purging period”
- “brought bumps to surface”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, target.com, acne.org, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense one of the best fits for oily skin?
SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense is one of the best fits for oily skin because its blend of glycolic acid, citric acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, and salicylic acid helps clear away oily shine and unclog pores. This mix works deeply to smooth and treat acne and aging concerns safely, without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid, citric acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, and salicylic acid make this serum a great fit for your oily skin by helping to control oily shine and clear clogged pores. These ingredients work together to exfoliate the skin safely while keeping irritation very low.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is best to start using it once a week, and you can carefully use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with retinol on alternate nights to prevent irritation. This routine helps manage oily shine and blemishes while keeping your skin calm.
American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your skin feels comfortable and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. It helps clear clogged pores and control oily shine without irritation, and daily use can significantly reduce skin oiliness.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, but an initial round of skin purging may happen as it clears out your skin. The blend of acids helps control oily shine and manages breakouts safely without harsh risks of irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Ingredients
Alcohol Denat, Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycolic Acid, Diisopropyl Adipate, Octadecenedioic Acid, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-10, Salicylic 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
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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