Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum for oily skin
Mandelic Acid
Sodium Hyaluronate
Panthenol
Glycerin
Sodium Hydroxide
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best moisturizers 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this serum effectively addresses oily shine and acne-prone concerns with mandelic acid for mild chemical exfoliation and keratolytic action, complemented by panthenol and glycerin for hydration and barrier repair.
- The formulation's focus on exfoliation and hydration makes it a strong choice for managing excess oil and maintaining skin balance.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.9Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsIt is very effective at clearing breakouts and improving skin texture, with many users noting its quick absorption and gentle feel. Some users occasionally experience dryness or find the price point high.
Highlights
Clears acne breakouts Mostly Mentioned
- “Only one thing has kept all of the cystic acne away and it has been this product right here!!”
- “She no longer struggles with recurring breakouts.”
- “It helped me get rid of my closed comedones.”
- “I was breaking out less frequently, and the blemishes that did occur were much easier to manage.”
Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “So gentle and I have sensitive dehydrated skin.”
- “It's gentle on my skin, lightweight, and not at all sticky.”
- “The redness in my face has toned down significantly.”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “My skin feels smoother and less textured after using.”
- “Within the first week, my skin felt much smoother.”
- “It's been great for evening out my skin tone and keeping texture away.”
- “Gently smooths bumpy, uneven texture.”
Absorbs very quickly Sometimes Noted
- “The serum absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky, tacky or tight.”
- “It's very watery... soaks into my skin super fast, and doesn't leave any uncomfortable residue.”
- “I found the texture to be watery and it sank nicely into the skin.”
- “The product itself is a very runny serum and absorbs into the skin rather quickly.”
Can cause dryness Rarely Noted
- “I experienced some slight dryness after 3 days of continued use.”
- “So drying if you use it too often, definitely not meant for every day use.”
- “I find this too harsh for daily use.”
Expensive price point Rarely Noted
- “At just under an ounce, this is a splurge, no way around it.”
- “Expensive 60%”
- “I did a lot to get my hand on it”
Requires additional moisturizer Rarely Noted
- “I wouldn't rely on this mandelic serum to act as a main hydrator.”
- “You will want to layer a moisturizer on top of it to get that dewiness.”
- “Slightly present on skin... does best with a night cream on top.”
Sources: lovi.care, sofiepavittface.com, violetgrey.com, tnuck.com, skinsort.com, forbes.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum a great fit for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit because it uses mandelic acid to gently clear away dead skin and manage excess oily shine, while glycerin and panthenol keep your skin hydrated and balanced. It also has an excellent safety profile and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Mandelic acid makes this serum a great fit for oily skin by providing mild chemical exfoliation to clear away excess oil and breakouts. At the same time, glycerin and panthenol help keep the skin balanced by providing essential hydration and supporting the skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Mandelic Acid do for oily skin?
Mandelic acid helps clear active breakouts and smooth uneven skin tone for oily skin with fewer side effects than many other acids. It is generally well-tolerated and works effectively to keep skin calm and clear.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine, after cleansing and before moisturizing. It is used once a week to start, and can be used 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 them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm and balanced. Using them at different times helps prevent irritation while still keeping your skin smooth and clear.
How often should I use this serum?
Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well, you can carefully use it more often. It helps clear away oily shine and acne-prone concerns while keeping your skin balanced.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is a great fit for oily skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts or clogging. Its mandelic acid helps gently clear pores while panthenol and glycerin keep skin balanced and hydrated without irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
This serum is unlikely to be suitable for the thin skin around the eyes because active exfoliating treatments are generally meant for the face rather than delicate areas. It may be used on the body for targeted breakouts, but you would need a larger amount of product to cover those areas effectively.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A 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, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.
BMJ Open, 2018Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Moisturizer 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 dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Mandelic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silanetriol, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel
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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