🇨🇦Canada

Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even 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 anti-aging benefits for your combination skin, as glutathione and baicalin work to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment and Sodium Hyaluronate provide hydration and barrier support.
  • The formula is safe for your combination skin, with Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment acting as a soothing agent, and it offers general hydration without harsh ingredients.
  • While beneficial for hydration and anti-aging, the serum lacks specific ingredients to effectively target and control your oily shine.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

Users frequently highlight the serum's elegant, non-sticky texture and its ability to provide immediate, deep hydration, leaving skin soothed and glowing. Many also appreciate its effectiveness in calming redness and plumping the skin. A significant number of reviewers, however, question the product's value, finding the high price point unjustified given the perceived lack of dramatic anti-aging results compared to more affordable options.

Highlights

  • Superior texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs almost immediately”
    • “leaves no residue”
    • “silky but not pore-clogging”
    • “glides across face”
  • Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
    • “extremely expensive”
    • “waste of money”
    • “not worth the price tag”
    • “ridiculously priced”
  • Deep hydration Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels refreshed”
    • “very hydrating and plumps”
    • “cool drink of water”
    • “relieves dry tight skin”
  • Calming and soothing Sometimes Noted
    • “calmed down redness”
    • “skin feels calmer”
    • “good for sensitive skin”
    • “reduced inflammation”
  • Radiance and glow Sometimes Noted
    • “noticeably brighter”
    • “gives baby soft skin”
    • “youthful radiance”
    • “skin looks healthy”
  • Lack of results Sometimes Noted
    • “don't see any difference”
    • “didn't achieve flawless skin”
    • “no miracle results”
    • “just a moisturizer”
  • Basic ingredients Rarely Noted
    • “just a hyaluronic serum”
    • “can get cheaper dupes”
    • “paying for the brand”
    • “basic ingredients list”

Sources: lovi.care, spacenk.com, sephora.com, nordstrom.com, cultbeauty.com, mecca.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum a great fit for combination skin?

Dr. Barbara Sturm Super Anti-Aging Serum is a great fit for your combination skin because glutathione and baicalin help minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while Sodium Hyaluronate and Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment keep your skin hydrated and calm. It has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients, though it lacks specific ingredients to control oily shine.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Glutathione and baicalin work to minimize fine lines and wrinkles, while Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment and Sodium Hyaluronate provide hydration and support your skin barrier. These ingredients are generally safe and soothing, helping to improve smoothness and moisture without harsh additives.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

What does Baicalin do for combination skin?

Baicalin helps balance combination skin by fighting daily environmental damage and smoothing out rough spots, leaving your face feeling soft and calm. Because it works gently on various skin areas, it is unlikely to cause irritation while supporting a clear and even look.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014

Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid extra sun sensitivity, though some serums can also be used in the morning.

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

Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to hydrate and soothe your combination skin, followed by your retinol. This routine helps deliver anti-aging benefits while keeping your skin calm.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

How often should I use it?

You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin, and you can also use it in the morning or twice a day if your skin tolerates it well.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it provides gentle hydration without harsh ingredients. The formula features soothing ingredients that help keep skin calm.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
  • Motor baicalin encapsulated in bio-vesicles enhanced water solubility, stability, transdermal penetration, antioxidant activity, and clinical skin antiaging efficacy compared to liposome baicalin and baicalin raw material.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • Facial masks containing low-temperature extracted Portulaca oleracea protect sensitive skin from photothermal stimulation and improve skin barrier function during photorejuvenation.

    Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2025
  • Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • 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 nighttime topical antioxidant containing resveratrol, baicalin, and vitamin E significantly improved fine lines, wrinkles, firmness, elasticity, laxity, hyperpigmentation, radiance, roughness, and dermal thickness in subjects with mild to moderately photodamaged skin over 12 weeks.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014
  • Core-shell gellan-transfersomes loading baicalin achieved high skin deposition (~11% in whole skin, ~8% in dermis) and improved baicalin efficacy by providing complete skin restoration and inhibiting inflammatory markers in mice.

    Nanomedicine, 2018
  • Glycyrrhizin micellar nanocarriers significantly improved topical penetration and follicular accumulation of baicalin in porcine skin, enhanced human dermal papilla cell proliferation, and promoted hair recovery through Wnt/β-catenin pathway activation and upregulation of VEGF, α-MSH, and IL-10.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2022
  • Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
  • Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025
  • RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.

    American Journal of Surgery, 2005
  • Topical purslane at 5% and 10% concentrations achieved alleviation of symptoms and lesion remission comparable to topical 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide in 34 subjects with oral lichen planus over 90 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2023
  • Portulaca oleracea extract ameliorated skin barrier damage and inflammation induced by combined exposure to glycolic acid and UVB in HaCaT cells.

    Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2022
  • Topical application of a crude extract of Portulaca oleracea accelerates wound healing by decreasing wound surface area and increasing tensile strength in Mus musculus JVI-1, with the greatest contraction achieved at a single dose of 50mg compared to other dosages.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2003

Ingredients

Water, Butylene Glycol, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Propanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Baicalin, Glutathione

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 10 Oct 2026

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