Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum for combination skin
Alpha Arbutin
Tranexamic Acid
Niacinamide
Mushroom Complex
6 Brighteners
Peptides
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 brightening for your combination skin due to the presence of tranexamic acid and alpha-arbutin, which help to even skin tone and regulate melanogenesis. Niacinamide further supports seboregulation, offering some benefit for oily shine.
- While the formula provides general hydration and soothing effects, it lacks targeted ingredients for significant oil control, which is your main concern.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers frequently report this serum effectively brightens skin and reduces hyperpigmentation like acne scars and melasma, with many appreciating its gentle, soothing, and lightweight formula suitable for sensitive skin. Some users find the price high and the results take longer than anticipated.
Highlights
Boosts radiance Often Mentioned
- “gives skin an instant dewy glow”
- “enhancing my glow”
- “ignites your complexion”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “scars visibly lightened after I started using this”
- “pigmentation faded to nothing within just a couple of days”
- “dark spots seem to be slightly lighter after 3 weeks”
Gentle and soothing Often Mentioned
- “feels super soothing, doesn't trigger redness”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “sinks easily into damp skin”
- “lightweight but luxurious texture”
- “layers well under makeup”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “price definitely hurts”
- “pretty pricey”
- “expensive, not sure if it worth it”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “still not impressed with the results”
- “need to use longer to see if there's results”
- “not sure if it helps”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “rashes popped up on my neck”
- “breakouts”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “gives a weird fermented stench”
- “serum stinks a little”
- “smell is brownish/fermented”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, sephora.sg, revolve.com, lovelyskin.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Allies of Skin Tranexamic & Arbutin Advanced Brightening Serum work for combination skin?
This serum works moderately well for combination skin because it helps even skin tone and supports oil control, though it lacks targeted ingredients for significant oil control. To work best for this skin type, a treatment needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage oily shine while providing balanced hydration without excess oiliness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Tranexamic acid and alpha arbutin help even out skin tone, while niacinamide helps manage oily shine for your combination skin. To be a better fit, a treatment for this skin needs ingredients like zinc PCA or propolis for stronger oil control and balance.
What does Alpha Arbutin do for combination skin?
Alpha arbutin helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone while keeping your skin looking bright and balanced. It is unlikely to cause heavy irritation, making it gentle enough for both dry and oily areas.
What does Tranexamic Acid do for combination skin?
Tranexamic acid helps fade dark spots and uneven areas across different parts of combination skin while improving overall brightness. This ingredient is generally well-tolerated and may help target unwanted pigment without causing widespread irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and adds safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the serum first and following with your retinol after it absorbs. This product is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin, but combining active ingredients may occasionally increase dryness so watch how your skin feels.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is suitable for evening use, starting once a week and gradually increasing frequency if your skin tolerates it well. It provides safe brightening and hydration, though combination skin also needs targeted oil-control ingredients to properly balance oily shine.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is safe for your combination skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, breakouts, or purging due to the absence of harsh ingredients. However, because combination skin needs targeted oil control, this type of product works best when it also includes ingredients that balance oil and keep pores clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide 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, 2002Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023Aziderm cream, Neostrata Pigment Lightening Gel, and an arbutin 5% formulation significantly reduced skin pigmentation in healthy female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, 2005Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide 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, Niacinamide, Ganoderma Lucidum Extract Ferment Filtrate Lentinus Edodes Extract Ferment Filtrate, C13-15 Alkane, Tranexamic Acid, Glycerin, Alpha-Arbutin, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Palmaria Palmata Extract, Asparagopsis Armata Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Pea, Hydrolyzed Pea Protein, Bisabolol, Panthenol, Tocopherol, Arginine Lysine Polypeptide, Glucose, Pentapeptide-34 Trifluoroacetate, 2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, C14-22 Alcohols, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Hydrolysate Starch, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Propanediol, Sorbitan Caprylate, Carbomer, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Succinate, Sodium Chloride, Sorbic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol
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
How does it fit your skin?
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