SOME BY MI Yuja Niacin Blemish Care Serum for combination skin
Yuja Extract
Niacinamide
Glutathione
Arbutin
Licorice Root ExtractHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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
- This serum is highly suitable for your combination skin, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum production to address oily shine, while arbutin works to reduce hyperpigmentation and even skin tone. Citrus Junos Fruit Extract and Panthenol further support skin clarity and hydration, complementing your skin's needs.
- The formulation is designed to brighten and improve skin tone, offering relevant benefits for your primary concern of oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no harsh or prohibited ingredients, ensuring no risk of irritation for your combination skin.
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 900+ reviewsThis serum is highly effective at brightening dull skin and fading dark spots and hyperpigmentation, with users frequently noting its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture and refreshing citrus scent. It is particularly well-suited for oily, combination, and sensitive skin types. Some users with dry skin found it necessary to layer with a moisturizer, and a small number reported minimal results or slight irritation.
Highlights
Lightweight, fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “It's lightweight, absorbs instantly, and makes my skin feel hydrated all day.”
- “I love how quickly this serum sinks in - I don't have a lot of time to wait around in the mornings.”
- “It's super lightweight, absorbs quickly, and my sensitive skin hasn't reacted negatively to it at all.”
- “Its light, weightless gel texture absorbs instantly without leaving a sticky or greasy residue.”
Brightens dull skin Often Mentioned
- “My skin looks visibly brighter, too.”
- “I can definitely see it brightened my skin a lot and helped me reduce the redness of acne scars.”
- “When I started to use the product my skin is brighter and no more pimples.”
- “Yuja Niacin Blemish serum rejuvenated my dull, tired skin giving it a fresh dewy feel and look.”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “This serum brightened my dark spots and evened out my skin tone beautifully.”
- “I especially noticed a difference in those stubborn dark spots that seemed impossible to get rid of.”
- “The 82.3% Yuja extract has worked wonders in brightening my complexion and fading dark spots.”
- “Go to serum at night for fading blemishes, the right percentage of Niacinamide for my skin.”
Refreshing citrus scent Sometimes Noted
- “The product has a gel consistency and a refreshing citrus scent.”
- “It has a refreshing citrus scent that uplifts your mood whether you are using the serum during the day or at night.”
- “Good serum, has a nice scent!”
- “The refreshing citrus scent is just an added bonus.”
Minimal dramatic results Rarely Noted
- “My results are pretty minimal to be very honest. My acne scars are still present, my freckles haven't changed in the slightest.”
- “I did NOT have the results nearly as dramatic and drastic as SOME BY MI claims.”
- “The previous serums I've tried that have less drastic claims as this serum actually worked significantly better.”
- “I truly question the validity of all their advertisements about this serum as these results don't seem reasonably obtainable.”
Needs extra moisturizer Rarely Noted
- “Those with dry skin paired it with a heavier moisturizer for added hydration.”
- “I have dry skin and needed to follow up with a thick cream.”
- “It's lightweight but not moisturizing enough on its own for winter.”
- “Needs to be layered with other hydrating products if you have dry skin.”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “After using this serum for a few days, I got a few pimples.”
- “I wouldn't apply this over active breakouts due to potentially irritating ingredients such as peppermint extract and citrus peel oil.”
- “Vitamin C can sometimes trigger sensitivity in some people.”
- “Irritation potential: high.”
Sources: lovi.care, gopicky.com, lemon8-app.com, kbeautyhobbit.com, boniik.com.au, littlewonderland.eu, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SOME BY MI Yuja Niacin Blemish Care Serum a great fit for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oily shine, while arbutin and glutathione work to brighten dark spots and even out your skin tone. Yuja extract and panthenol also support clear hydration without feeling heavy, and the gentle formula is very unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit for your combination skin because niacinamide helps balance oily shine while arbutin targets dark spots and uneven tone. Ingredients like Yuja extract, licorice root extract, and panthenol further support overall clarity and keep the skin nicely hydrated.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Yuja Extract do for combination skin?
Yuja extract helps brighten dull areas and adds a healthy glow while keeping oily spots balanced. It is packed with vitamin C to refresh combination skin without feeling heavy.
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 serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and avoids extra safety concerns around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following with your retinol on alternate nights or separate times of day to keep your combination skin calm. Niacinamide helps regulate oily shine while supporting your skin barrier, making this a great pairing.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it once a day or a few times a week depending on how your skin feels. Niacinamide and other key ingredients help improve skin tone and clarity with an excellent safety profile, making it a great fit for your combination skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for your combination skin. The safety profile is excellent with no harsh ingredients, meaning it carries a very low risk of irritation or pore-clogging.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
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, 2025Niacinamide 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, 2002Topical 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, 2002Topical 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, 2014A 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, 2017Citrus junos callus extract decreased melanin content in melanocytes 1.85-fold compared with arbutin and promoted the proliferation of and procollagen synthesis by human fibroblasts by 154% and 176% at 500 μg/mL.
Molecules, 2017Yuja-peel fractions (ethyl acetate, hexane, and butanol) inhibited MMP expression, induced moisturizing factors filaggrin and serine palmitoyltransferase, and decreased melanin content in UVB-irradiated HaCaT, HDF, and α-MSH-treated B16F10 cells.
Antioxidants, 2022Upcycled low-molecular-weight anionic peptides from Citrus junos seeds protected UVR-irradiated keratinocytes and reconstructed skin tissue by scavenging reactive oxygen species, reducing paracrine cytokines, inhibiting melanin synthesis and TRP-2 expression, and increasing filaggrin, laminin-5, and type I collagen expression.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2024Topical 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, 2005Glutathione 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, 2024Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel 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, 2005A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
Ingredients
Citrus Junos Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Propanediol, C12-14 Pareth-12, Water, Trehalose, C12-14 Pareth-7, Carbomer, Citrus Junos Peel Oil, Tromethamine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Adenosine, Coptis Chinensis Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Agrimonia Eupatoria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cellulose Gum, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Disodium Edta, Arbutin, Perilla Frutescens Leaf Extract, Xylitylglucoside, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Saussurea Involucrata Extract, Glucose, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Peppermint Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Panthenol, Glutathione, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Maltodextrin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract Avocado Fruit Extract, Pancratium Maritimum Extract, Folic Acid, Biotin, Pyridoxine, Tocopherol, Cyanocobalamin, Linoleic Acid, Thiamine Hcl, Beta-Carotene, Riboflavin, Inositol, Limonene, Linalool
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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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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