Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Ascorbic Acid
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid
Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone
Tocopherol Vitamin E
Pinus Pinaster Bud Extract Bark
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 benefits for your oily skin, as Ascorbic Acid and Tocopherol provide antioxidant activity and aid in sebum regulation, while Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid offers hydration. The formula lacks targeted ingredients to directly address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The serum provides general skincare advantages, including brightening and smoothing texture, which are supportive but not primary solutions for your specific concerns.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Tocopherol and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 4.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users report this serum effectively brightens dull complexions and evens skin tone, with many seeing radiance within weeks. Its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture is often appreciated, even by those with sensitive skin. Some users note a sticky finish, and a smaller number experience issues with the product oxidizing or an unpleasant smell.
Highlights
Brightens complexion Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looks more radiant”
- “gave me an instant glow”
- “illuminated my dull face”
- “complexion looks brighter”
Evens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “lightened my sun spots”
- “faded acne scars”
- “skin tone is much more even”
- “reduced dark spots”
Smoother texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother”
- “texture is refined”
- “face feels plump”
- “softens rough patches”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs immediately”
- “soaks right in”
- “lightweight and non-greasy”
- “layers well under makeup”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “didn't sting my face”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no redness or irritation”
- “gentle formula”
Sticky finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a sticky film”
- “feels tacky to the touch”
- “hair sticks to my face”
- “residue doesn't dry down”
Oxidation issues Rarely Noted
- “turned orange in a month”
- “oxidized quickly”
- “stained my pillow yellow”
- “product went bad fast”
Packaging flaws Rarely Noted
- “dropper leaks everywhere”
- “messy to apply”
- “bottle design is poor”
- “hard to dispense drops”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused whiteheads”
- “broke me out”
- “gave me tiny bumps”
- “slight burning sensation”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like hot dog water”
- “metallic scent”
- “weird earthy smell”
- “strong chemical odor”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, dermstore.com, vichyusa.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
Vichy LiftActiv Vitamin C Serum offers moderate benefits for oily acne-prone skin by providing antioxidant support and brightening, but it lacks targeted ingredients to directly address breakouts. To truly fit this skin type, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and propolis that help control excess oil and actively clear blemishes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Ascorbic acid and tocopherol help regulate oil and provide antioxidant benefits, while hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid offers gentle hydration for oily skin. To truly fit oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide and propolis that directly target breakouts and blemishes while controlling excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
What does Vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out texture, and improve uneven spots for oily acne-prone skin. It may also help fade marks left behind by blemishes.
What does Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid helps hydrate oily acne-prone skin without clogging pores, keeping it soft and smooth. It is generally well tolerated and unlikely to cause irritation when used daily.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product that includes targeted ingredients to directly address acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum in your morning routine before your moisturizer and sunscreen, keeping your retinol for the evening routine. This serum is unlikely to irritate your skin, but since it lacks ingredients that directly target breakouts, oily acne-prone skin needs a treatment containing targeted anti-acne ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits your oily acne-prone skin on an average level, so you can safely use it in the evening as part of your routine. It helps brighten your skin and keep it hydrated, but an oily acne-prone skin type of this fit also needs targeted ingredients to directly address acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026
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 your oily skin, as it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients to directly clear blemishes, this skin type needs formulas with active blemish-fighting ingredients to properly manage breakouts.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Profhilo gel combined with Dysport Botox significantly improved skin hydration, skin thickness, and GAIS scores compared to Dysport Botox injection alone in 19 participants seeking neck rejuvenation.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026Topical 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, 2022Topical 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, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A xanthan gum and alginate-based bioadhesive film loaded with pycnogenol provides sustained drug release within 24 hours, achieves a safe maximum concentration of ~ 0.2 mg/mL for keratinocytes, and absorbs simulated wound fluid, demonstrating suitability for topical wound treatment.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Topical treatment with Pinus brutia bark extract cream significantly accelerated incision wound healing in albino rats, demonstrating a 35% decrease in MDA and a 46.8% increase in SOD activity compared to the control group.
Die Pharmazie, 2013Pretreatment with pycnogenol significantly inhibited interferon-gamma-induced adherence of T cells and expression of ICAM-1 in human HaCaT keratinocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner by suppressing Stat1 activation.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2000
Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Alcohol Denat, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth-23, Neohesperidin Dihydrochalcone, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Pinus Pinaster Bud Extract Bark
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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