Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum for acne-prone skin
Ascorbic Acid
Squalane
White Shiitake Mushroom Extract
Licorice Root Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
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
- Offers excellent brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, as 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract work to treat dark spots and regulate melanogenesis.
- The inclusion of Squalane provides emollient action, which is highly suitable for combination skin, while Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract offers moderate benefits for your acne and blemishes.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is frequently praised for its lightweight, milky texture that hydrates while effectively brightening dull complexions and fading acne scars over time. Many with sensitive skin find it gentle and non-irritating, although a subset of users experienced no visible changes in pigmentation or suffered severe allergic reactions like redness and swelling.
Highlights
Brightens complexion Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter”
- “gives you glowing skin”
- “visible brightening instantly”
- “boost of brightness”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “drastically decreased my acne scars”
- “sun spots lightening”
- “diminish of my brown spots”
- “fades dark spots effectively”
Hydrating texture Often Mentioned
- “feels very hydrating”
- “not at all sticky”
- “lightweight and fast absorbing”
- “glides on my skin”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “no reaction”
- “didn't irritate my skin”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for results”
- “not the most affordable”
- “quite spendy”
- “pricey for the amount”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “saw no difference”
- “didn't do much for dark spots”
- “cannot say it has lighten”
- “spots would still linger”
Allergic reactions Rarely Noted
- “swollen and red under eyes”
- “patches of red dry skin”
- “blistered and painful”
- “severe allergic reaction”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “pump stops working”
- “hard to get last bit”
- “messy to open”
- “bad packaging”
Sources: lovi.care, biossance.com, influenster.com, sephora.ph, cultbeauty.com, spaceNK.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Dark Spot Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it contains white shiitake mushroom extract to help calm blemishes, along with squalane to keep skin soft without feeling heavy. It is also very safe to use since it avoids harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it includes Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, which helps calm breakouts and blemishes. Additionally, the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation since it leaves out harsh ingredients.
What does Vitamin C do for acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out uneven tones, and fade dark spots left behind by breakouts. It is also packed with antioxidants that may help protect acne-prone skin from everyday environmental stress.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine for acne-prone skin, placed after cleansing and before moisturizing for extra safety around sun exposure. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps fade dark spots while caring for blemishes.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this vitamin C treatment in the morning and your retinol at night to avoid overwhelming your skin. This product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, and some people may also use it in the morning or twice a day. It is a great fit for your acne-prone skin, helping to brighten dark spots and calm blemishes safely without harsh ingredients.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because it is formulated without harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts. The squalane and mushroom extract help keep your skin calm and balanced while addressing dark spots and blemishes safely.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.
Polymers, 2023A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Lentinan reduced benzo(a)pyrene-induced oxidative stress, malondialdehyde levels, and inflammatory cytokine production while increasing antioxidant enzyme activities in human keratinocytes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Shiitake mushroom ethanol extract exhibited moderate antioxidant capacity, 51.99% elastase inhibition, concentration-dependent collagenase suppression, and non-toxicity in human keratinocytes, supporting its safe incorporation into stable topical anti-aging skin-care formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Combining 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, 2025Topical 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Squalane, Lentinus Edodes Mycelium Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Citric Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Citrate, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.