IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Serum for acne-prone skin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin, this serum effectively targets acne, blemishes, and breakouts with salicylic acid and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, which provide moderate exfoliation and antioxidant support to address dark spots and even skin tone.
- Niacinamide and glycerin work synergistically to help regulate sebum production and offer soothing benefits, enhancing the overall efficacy for your skin concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of beneficial components.
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.
Questions and answers
What makes IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Dark Spots Serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it contains salicylic acid to target breakouts and dark spots while providing gentle exfoliation. Niacinamide and glycerin help calm the skin and keep oil balanced, and the formula has an excellent safety profile with very low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because it contains salicylic acid and 3-O-ethyl ascorbic acid, which help clear breakouts and fade dark spots. Niacinamide and glycerin also work together to calm your skin and keep oil balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid helps acne-prone skin by reducing dark spots and fighting inflammation. This ingredient is generally well-suited for skin prone to breakouts, as it targets pigmentation while supporting overall skin health.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps things simple and safe around sun exposure. It helps clear breakouts and dark spots while keeping skin calm, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol product, or by alternating the nights you use each one. Because this combination may cause dryness or irritation, using them on alternate nights or introducing them slowly helps your skin adjust comfortably.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is best used in your evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly increasing frequency only if your skin tolerates it well. Salicylic acid and vitamin C help clear breakouts and dark spots while niacinamide and glycerin soothe the skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it uses salicylic acid and vitamin C to help clear breakouts and dark spots without harsh ingredients that cause irritation. Niacinamide and glycerin also work together to keep oil in check and keep your skin calm and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, geraniol, and citronellol).
What the research says
Twice 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, 2023A 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, 2020Niacinamide 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 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, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Topical 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, 2022Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010A 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, 2017The 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, 2001A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Peg Ppg Polybutylene Glycol-8 5 3 Glycerin, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Caffeine, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ppg-6-Decyltetradeceth-30, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Citrate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Potassium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Tocopherol
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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