COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence for acne-prone skin
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
PanthenolSuperior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for acne-prone skin.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin as galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide effectively target inflammation and sebum production, addressing your acne, blemishes, and breakouts. Panthenol and glycerin provide essential hydration, balancing both oily and dry areas.
- The formulation's high concentration of galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide also contributes to excellent skin tone balancing and brightening, further enhancing your complexion.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol.
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.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dehydrated, or rough skin frequently praise this essence for its ability to deliver a "glass skin" glow and improve texture without leaving a heavy residue. While the majority find it deeply hydrating and gentle, a notable minority experience breakouts—specifically those prone to fungal acne—or report seeing no significant changes in pigmentation.
Highlights
Lightweight hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs very quickly”
- “hydrating without grease”
- “perfect for layering”
- “plumps the skin”
- “no heavy feeling”
Brightens dull skin Often Mentioned
- “Gives a healthy glow”
- “skin looks more radiant”
- “helped with dullness”
- “faded acne scars”
- “evened out skin tone”
Gentle formula Often Mentioned
- “No fragrance”
- “didn't irritate sensitive skin”
- “soothing application”
- “great for redness”
- “calms inflammation”
Smoothes skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Softens rough patches”
- “skin feels smoother”
- “improves skin barrier”
- “glass skin effect”
- “reduced dry flakes”
Lack of results Sometimes Noted
- “Did nothing for me”
- “no change in dark spots”
- “just expensive water”
- “saw no difference”
- “waste of money”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Triggered fungal acne”
- “gave me closed comedones”
- “caused small bumps”
- “broke me out immediately”
- “worsened my acne”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “Felt tacky afterwards”
- “sticky residue”
- “took long to dry”
- “left a film”
- “clashed with moisturizer”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, ulta.com, yesstyle.com, soco.id, fiftyshadesofsnail.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence one of the best fits for acne-prone skin?
This essence is an ideal fit because galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide help calm inflammation and control oil, which tackles breakouts and uneven tone on acne-prone skin. Panthenol and glycerin also supply light hydration to balance dry and oily spots safely without irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide make this treatment a great fit for acne-prone skin because they effectively target inflammation and calm breakouts. Panthenol and glycerin also help by providing lightweight hydration to balance oily and dry areas without clogging pores.
What does Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate do for acne-prone skin?
Galactomyces ferment filtrate helps keep acne-prone skin calm and smooth by reducing redness and evening out dark spots left behind by breakouts. It also helps manage daily changes in pore size so your skin stays clearer and more balanced.
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.
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid extra safety concerns around sun exposure.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this essence alongside a retinol routine by applying the treatment after your cleansing steps and before your moisturizer. This product is unlikely to cause irritation for acne-prone skin, as it relies on soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol to keep the face calm.
How often should I use this treatment?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is gentle on acne-prone skin and helps balance oil while keeping your face calm and smooth.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This treatment is one of the best fits for acne-prone skin because galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide help calm redness, balance oil, and soothe breakouts. Its safety profile is excellent with no harsh ingredients, meaning it is unlikely to cause irritation, though a few reviewers have mentioned minor breakouts.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A 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 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, 2017Niacinamide 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, 2002A combination serum containing galactomyces ferment filtrate, dexpanthenol, and Centella asiatica effectively treated post-acne hyperpigmentation in subjects with colored skin by significantly increasing lightness scores in Fitzpatrick skin type V and reducing the melanin index in Fitzpatrick skin type IV compared to placebo.
Skinmed, 2021Topical 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, 2002Application of Galactomyces ferment filtrate skin care formula significantly reduced the net values and daily fluctuation of facial pore area, roughness, and redness in young Japanese women.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Galactomyces ferment filtrate promotes epidermal interconnectivity, barrier development, cell adhesion, keratinocyte differentiation and proliferation, and protects cellular bioenergetics against stress in keratinocytes and ex vivo skin explants compared to untreated controls.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Galactomyces ferment filtrate activates AHR and NRF2, upregulates filaggrin and terminal differentiation markers, exhibits antioxidative activity, promotes antiinflammatory IL-37, and downregulates CDKN2A, IL-33, CXCL14, and IL6R in epidermal keratinocytes.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 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, 2005Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012Moisturizer 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, 2020
Ingredients
Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Glycerin, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Ethyl Hexanediol, Adenosine
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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