iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum for oily skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Asiaticoside
Menthol
Pantothenic AcidAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 hydration and soothing for your oily skin, with sodium hyaluronate providing humectant action and menthol offering a cooling sensation, though it does not specifically target oily shine.
- The presence of pantothenic acid supports seboregulation, which is beneficial for oily skin, while Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid contribute to overall skin health.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, and Madecassic Acid.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised as a "drink of water" for the skin, excelling at soothing irritation, redness, and sunburns while providing lightweight hydration. It is particularly favored by users with acne-prone and sensitive skin for its ability to calm inflammation without clogging pores, though some find it insufficient for extremely dry skin types.
Highlights
Soothing & Cooling Mostly Mentioned
- “Instantly cools”
- “calms redness”
- “soothes sunburn”
- “great after shaving”
- “relieves irritation”
Lightweight Hydration Often Mentioned
- “Drink of water”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-greasy”
- “lightweight texture”
- “instant hydration”
High price Often Mentioned
- “Just expensive”
- “pricey”
- “costly for size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “luxury price point”
Acne-Safe Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't clog pores”
- “helps clear skin”
- “great for acne-prone”
- “calms breakouts”
- “reduces inflammation”
Versatile Use Sometimes Noted
- “Good for travel”
- “mixes with foundation”
- “layers well”
- “use after retinol”
- “heals post-procedure”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “Not enough alone”
- “need more hydration”
- “too watery”
- “dried out skin”
- “just okay”
Menthol sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Menthol stings”
- “too minty”
- “irritated eyes”
- “strong scent”
- “sensitizing for some”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “Slightly sticky”
- “tacky finish”
- “runny consistency”
- “feels like water”
- “residue left”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, dermstreet.com, dermluxe.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does iS Clinical Hydra-Cool work for oily skin?
iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum offers moderate hydration and a cooling sensation for your oily skin, though it does not specifically target oily shine. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide to help regulate oil production, alongside soothing components that maintain balance without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium hyaluronate provides moderate hydration while pantothenic acid supports oil control, and ingredients like asiaticoside, asiatic acid, and madecassic acid help soothe the skin safely. A moisturizing treatment for oily skin also needs components like niacinamide to regulate oil and minimize pores, allantoin for soothing, or lightweight ceramides to maintain balance without greasiness.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
What does Asiaticoside do for oily skin?
Asiaticoside helps soothe redness and calm oily skin while supporting overall skin barrier health. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may help keep the skin balanced by easing inflammation.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums may also be used in the morning or twice a day. An average fit for oily skin like this one needs oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight hydration to help manage shine and keep skin balanced.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your oily skin a cooling sensation and light hydration before your retinol product. This helps keep skin comfortable while using stronger treatments, though an oily skin type also needs ingredients that target excess shine and balance oil production.
Neuroscience Letters, 1995International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well when used in the evening as part of your routine. An oily skin type needs lightweight hydrating treatments that also help control shine and manage excess oil.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains no harsh or heavy ingredients and is generally safe for daily use. However, a product for this skin type needs oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight hydration that specifically targets oily shine.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this serum around the eyes and on the body, as its gentle ingredients are safe for these areas. However, because the skin around the eyes is very thin, be careful with the cooling menthol to avoid any discomfort.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Neuroscience Letters, 1995
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.
Neuroscience Letters, 1995Asiatic acid-loaded solid lipid microparticles stabilized with poloxamer-188 reduced porphyrin intensity, enhanced skin barriers, and improved skin hydration and brightness in fifteen participants with mild-to-moderate acne.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024The novel high-payload nanosuspension system of Centella asiatica extract increased skin accumulation of asiatic acid, madecassic acid, and asiaticoside by 5-, 4-, and 4.5-fold respectively compared to a marketed cream in porcine skin, with no local skin irritation in normal rats.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2021Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Topical 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, 2019Moisturizer 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 treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Treatment with an asiaticoside-containing cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks significantly improved periorbital wrinkles in 65% of 27 female volunteers compared to a vehicle control cream.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Coadministration of 40% topical L-menthol with 10% trans-cinnamaldehyde reduced spontaneous pain intensity, neurogenic inflammation, primary and secondary mechanical hyperalgesia, and heat hyperalgesia, but not cold hyperalgesia, in 14 healthy volunteers.
The Journal of Pain, 2016Topical application of menthol-based cooling gel decreased intramuscular temperature by 1.9 °C and increased cutaneous blood flow by 0.3 ml/min in healthy males compared to placebo gel.
International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2018Topical L-menthol and trans-cinnamaldehyde administered individually and in combination on the volar forearm of healthy volunteers induced distinct somatosensory and vasomotor effects, where L-menthol reduced the axon-reflex-flare and altered the mechanical hyperalgesia caused by trans-cinnamaldehyde.
European Journal of Pain, 2014Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012A comprehensive topical regimen incorporating niacinamide, Pro-Xylane, and panthenol following PicoWay laser treatment decreased transepidermal water loss, increased hydration and skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles and redness, and improved skin tone in 88 Chinese females compared to a standard care control group.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2026Formulations containing 1.0% and 5.0% panthenol decreased transepidermal water loss after 30-day applications on healthy subjects compared to control and vehicle.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011
Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better
A 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, 2024A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantothenic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Asiaticoside, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Blue 1 Ci 42090
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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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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