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Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster for oily acne-prone skin

Superior

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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 for your oily, acne-prone skin as salicylic acid and lactic acid work synergistically to exfoliate and reduce acne lesions, while niacinamide regulates sebum production and calms inflammation.
  • The inclusion of chlorella vulgaris extract and thymol further supports blemish control and skin clarity, enhancing the overall efficacy for your specific concerns.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

This booster is highly praised for its ability to rapidly clear stubborn spots and prevent future breakouts, particularly for those with oily, combination, or acne-prone skin. While most users find it gentle and non-drying, a small subset of individuals with highly sensitive skin may experience stinging or dryness.

Highlights

  • Fast-acting results Mostly Mentioned
    • “Cleared my face so quick”
    • “Spots gone in days”
    • “Works in 2 days”
  • Effective spot treatment Often Mentioned
    • “Clears stubborn spots”
    • “Works like a treat”
    • “Best spot treatment”
  • Non-drying formula Often Mentioned
    • “Doesn't dry out skin”
    • “Gentle on my skin”
    • “No irritation”
  • Easy to layer Sometimes Noted
    • “Invisible under makeup”
    • “Layers under moisturizer”
    • “Not sticky”
  • Can cause dryness Sometimes Noted
    • “Dries out skin”
    • “Need to use moisturizer”
    • “A bit drying”
  • Inconsistent effectiveness Rarely Noted
    • “Didn't find it worked”
    • “Doesn't make huge difference”
    • “Just ok”
  • Potential stinging Rarely Noted
    • “Caused major stinging”
    • “Feels like intensive astringent”
    • “Too strong”

Sources: lovi.care, dermalogica.com, dermalogica.co.nz, lovelyskin.com, spacenk.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?

Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Booster is an exceptional fit because salicylic acid and lactic acid work together to clear dead skin and reduce breakouts, while niacinamide helps control oil and calm redness. Chlorella vulgaris extract and thymol further support skin clarity, making the formula safe and well-tolerated for your skin type.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

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

Salicylic acid and lactic acid make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin because they work together to clear away dead skin and reduce breakouts, while niacinamide helps control oil and calms redness. Ingredients like chlorella vulgaris extract and thymol also support blemish control to keep your skin clear.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

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 serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting at once a week and gradually increasing if your skin tolerates it well.

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

You can use this treatment with retinol by applying this product in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, but introduce them slowly to keep your skin calm. Using active ingredients together may increase the likelihood of dryness or irritation, so it helps to alternate nights or use one in the morning and one at night.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024American Family Physician, 2012

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment goes in your evening routine, starting at once a week and slowly working up to more often if your skin handles it well. Salicylic acid and lactic acid help clear breakouts and smooth your skin while being safe for daily use once your routine builds up to it.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

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

This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your oily, acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid and lactic acid help clear out pores while niacinamide calms inflammation. It has a great safety profile with no harsh ingredients that could trigger irritation, though a moderate amount of dryness may happen.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024BioMed Research International, 2020

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
  • Gel-phosphatidylcholine-thymol-loaded nanostructured lipid carriers increased skin hydration, decreased water loss, and reduced skin sebum in healthy volunteers compared to baseline.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024
  • Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.

    Antioxidants, 2021
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010
  • 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
  • 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
  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004
  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992
  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Lipid extracts of Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis protect Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts against UVA-induced oxidative stress and 2-propanol-induced IL-6 expression in vitro.

    Food Science and Technology International = Ciencia Y Tecnologia de Los Alimentos Internacional, 2026
  • Oral and topical administration of ROQUETTE Chlorella sp. at higher doses significantly reduced skin inflammation scores and improved the healing process and duration of skin wounds in mice compared to untreated models.

    Anti-inflammatory & Anti-allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2014
  • Resilient factor (RF, an aqueous extract fraction of Chlorella) suppressed PMA- and UVB-induced MMP1 production, protein, and gene expression, prevented UVB-suppressed elastin protein, and increased pro-collagen mRNA expression in human skin fibroblasts compared to untreated controls.

    European Journal of Dermatology, 2008

Ingredients

Water, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Niacinamide, Salicylic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Polysorbate 20, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Thymol, Terpineol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone, Lecithin, Pullulan, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Propanediol, Gluconolactone, Silica, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol

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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