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COSRX Galactomyces 95 Tone Balancing Essence for oily acne-prone skin

Superior

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best serums for oily acne-prone skin.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin and acne concerns is provided by galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide, which effectively target oil production and inflammation while smoothing texture.
  • Panthenol and sodium hyaluronate further support barrier repair and hydration, ensuring your skin remains balanced and comfortable.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 5.1k+ reviews

Based 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 oily acne-prone skin?

This essence is an excellent fit because galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide target oil and redness while smoothing texture. Panthenol and sodium hyaluronate also help keep your skin balanced and comfortable. The formula is unlikely to cause irritation due to its soothing ingredients.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Which ingredients make this essence a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Galactomyces ferment filtrate and niacinamide make this essence a great fit by targeting oil production and inflammation while smoothing texture. Panthenol and sodium hyaluronate further help balance and comfort your skin without causing irritation.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

What does Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate do for oily acne-prone skin?

Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate helps calm redness, smooth rough spots, and balance oily skin while keeping it hydrated. It also helps fade dark spots left behind by acne and supports a clear, even look.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2022

What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Where does this essence go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This essence goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because it helps manage oil and soothe inflammation without causing irritation.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

Can I use this essence with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this essence with retinol by applying the essence first and following with your retinol once it is absorbed. This helps keep your oily skin balanced and comfortable while minimizing potential irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

How often should I use this essence?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine. It helps keep your skin balanced and calm without causing irritation.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Can this essence clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This essence is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing ingredients and lacks harsh components that typically cause irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from using it.

Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2021American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Is this essence fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Application 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, 2021
  • A 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, 2017
  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2002
  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
  • A 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, 2021
  • Galactomyces 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, 2024
  • Galactomyces 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, 2022
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • 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, 2017
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Moisturizer 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, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic 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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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