Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum for combination skin
Propolis Extract
Niacinamide
Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract
Betaine Salicylate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Average
- SuperiorCombination 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 exfoliation and anti-inflammatory benefits for your combination skin, as betaine salicylate and niacinamide work to clear pores and reduce redness.
- The formula provides general hydration and soothing effects, though it lacks stronger ingredients specifically for managing oily shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
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 29.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely celebrated for delivering a "glass skin" finish, effectively calming acne-prone and sensitive skin while providing lightweight hydration. Users with oily and combination skin particularly value its ability to balance sebum and minimize pores without feeling heavy, though results on hyperpigmentation can be subtle and require consistent long-term use.
Highlights
Radiant glow effect Mostly Mentioned
- “gives a glass skin look”
- “leaves a healthy dewy shine”
- “skin looks plump and radiant”
- “instant glow after application”
Calms redness & acne Often Mentioned
- “reduced my redness significantly”
- “calmed my active breakouts”
- “soothed irritated skin overnight”
- “great for hormonal acne”
Elegant texture Often Mentioned
- “thick but absorbs quickly”
- “honey texture without the stickiness”
- “lightweight on the skin”
- “layers well under makeup”
Pore & oil control Sometimes Noted
- “pores look smaller”
- “helped control my T-zone oil”
- “skin feels balanced”
- “texture is much smoother”
No visible changes Sometimes Noted
- “did nothing for my hyperpigmentation”
- “just a basic hydrator”
- “saw no difference after a whole bottle”
- “overhyped”
Packaging/size issues Sometimes Noted
- “dropper doesn't reach the bottom”
- “finished it too quickly”
- “bottle is tiny for the price”
- “hard to get the last drops out”
Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny whiteheads”
- “broke me out in cystic acne”
- “skin reacted to the propolis”
- “clogged my pores”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “left my face feeling sticky”
- “too tacky for daytime”
- “hair sticks to my face”
- “felt heavy on my oily skin”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, stylevana.com, yesstyle.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum work for combination skin?
Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum works for combination skin by offering moderate exfoliation and soothing hydration, though other products fit it better. Because it lacks stronger ingredients for managing oily shine, a product of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide and propolis or zinc PCA to regulate oiliness and keep skin clear without causing excess oiliness or dryness.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Betaine salicylate and niacinamide help clear pores and reduce redness for your combination skin. To work even better for this skin type, a treatment needs ingredients like zinc PCA or higher concentrations of niacinamide and propolis to manage oily shine and regulate oiliness.
What does Propolis Extract do for combination skin?
Propolis extract helps calm redness and keeps breakouts under control while supporting skin healing, making it a great match for combination skin. It works to balance different areas of the face by soothing dry patches and calming oily zones without clogging pores.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. A combination skin routine like this needs ingredients that balance oil and shine while keeping skin calm and hydrated.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and waiting a few minutes before putting on your retinol. This product is safe for your skin and helps soothe redness, though this type of routine for combination skin needs extra ingredients to control oily shine.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine once a week to start, and you may slowly use it more often if your skin tolerates it well. A product of this type needs extra ingredients to help manage oily shine on combination skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts for your combination skin, as it has a very low risk of breakouts and a safe formulation. However, because it lacks stronger ingredients specifically for managing oily shine, combination skin needs oil-controlling ingredients like clay or salicylic acid in other steps of your routine.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2018Topical propolis application significantly reduced postoperative pain, hemorrhage, and accelerated wound healing in patients undergoing tonsillectomy compared to a control group.
Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, 2018Topical treatment with ethanol propolis extract resulted in complete mycological and clinical cure in 56.25% of patients with onychomycosis, demonstrating non-toxicity and effective antifungal activity against Trichophyton spp. both in vitro and in patients.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018Topical 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 application of Lotus corniculatus seed extract reduced skin sebum contents and area in 30 subjects with oily skin compared with a vehicle control by inhibiting lipogenesis through the LA and DHT pathways.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2023Topical 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, 2019
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, 2022A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Propolis Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Octanediol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
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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