Image Skincare the MAX™ Stem Cell Serum for skin with dark spots
Pyrus Malus Extract Cell Fruit Culture
Sodium Hyaluronate
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for skin with dark spots; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin, with ingredients like Sodium Hyaluronate and Tocopheryl Acetate providing essential hydration and antioxidant protection.
- The formulation effectively addresses pigmentation concerns and promotes skin firming through the synergistic action of Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and peptides such as Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- Apply this serum as part of your PM routine starting 3x/week and build up to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toning, but before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute for it to absorb.
- Apply the serum on dry skin to help fade pigmentation effectively.
- Avoid the eye area and always use SPF 30+ during the day.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers with mature, dry, or environmentally stressed skin frequently praise this serum for its hydrating, firming, and smoothing effects, which target fine lines and improve elasticity for a more youthful appearance. Some users note that consistent, long-term use is necessary to see the full benefits.
Highlights
Firms and tightens Often Mentioned
- “smooths and tightens my skin”
- “improves elasticity and skin structure”
- “skin looks firmer”
- “restores resilience”
Reduces fine lines Often Mentioned
- “makes my fine lines less noticeable”
- “drastically reduces fine lines”
- “diminishes the appearance of fine lines”
- “smooths expression lines”
Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
- “light, smooth texture absorbs quickly”
- “easily absorbed”
- “fast-absorbing formula”
- “lightweight and easy to layer”
Hydrates and smooths Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin soft and refined”
- “alleviate the uneven dryness visually”
- “skin becomes smooth”
- “adds just the right balance”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “among the most expensive products”
- “serum that costs so much”
- “simpler serums may provide comparable results at a lower price”
- “results are gradual rather than dramatic for the price”
Faulty pump Rarely Noted
- “bad bottle dispenser”
- “it dispenses unevenly”
- “spurts out across the bathroom counter”
- “have to scoop it off the surface”
Slow to show Rarely Noted
- “not a miracle serum by any means”
- “results take 6-12 weeks”
- “not overnight wonder”
- “truly don't see much of a difference”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstreet.com, skinmart.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes the MAX Stem Cell Serum a great fit for skin with dark spots?
This serum is a great fit because it includes Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, which effectively address pigmentation concerns and help promote a firm, smooth look. It also has a very safe profile with soothing ingredients and no harsh elements, making it unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for skin with dark spots?
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate makes this serum a great fit for skin with dark spots because it helps fade pigmentation. It also contains peptides and plant extracts that help smooth and calm your skin while keeping it safe from irritation.
What does Apple Fruit Cell Culture Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Apple fruit cell culture extract helps refresh and brighten skin with dark spots by supporting a more even look. Plant extracts of this type often provide antioxidants that protect against daily environmental stress.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for skin with dark spots?
Hyaluronic acid is unlikely to directly fade dark spots, but it helps keep dry and uneven skin plump and deeply hydrated. To effectively target dark spots, this type of skin needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C or niacinamide alongside your hydrator.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, which keeps application simple and safe around sun exposure. Using it at night helps the ingredients target dark spots effectively while avoiding any daytime sensitivity.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying your retinol product first and following with this treatment, or by using retinol on alternating nights. This helps minimize potential dryness or irritation while still letting the peptides and vitamin C ingredients address your dark spots. Because this formula contains gentle and soothing ingredients, it is unlikely to cause discomfort when layered thoughtfully into your routine.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine, applied once a day for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is a great fit for your skin, as ingredients like Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and peptides effectively address pigmentation concerns and firm the skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts or lead to purging on skin with dark spots because it has an excellent safety profile and lacks harsh ingredients. Soothing plant extracts further help keep skin calm and clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009A novel facial serum containing apple stem cell extract, pro-collagen lipopeptide, creatine, and urea improved mitochondrial function in human senescent cultured fibroblasts and demonstrated anti-wrinkle, dermal density, and skin elasticity benefits in 32 women with sensitive skin applied twice daily for 28 days compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2016Topical 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, 2019Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated 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, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical 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, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Sucrose Palmitate, Polysorbate 20, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pyrus Malus Extract Cell Fruit Culture, Plankton Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Rice Bran Protein, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Algae Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Flower Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Phaseolus Radiatus L Callus Extract, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Leontopodium Alpinum Meristem Cell Culture, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract, Argania Spinosa Extract Cell Sprout Culture, Superoxide Dismutase, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Arabidopsis Thaliana Extract, Lecithin, Butylene Glycol, Peg-8 Smdi Copolymer, Pullulan, Glycine Soja Protein Soybean Protein, Isomalt, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Sodium Dextran Sulfate, Citric Acid, Pvp, Disodium Edta, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, 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.
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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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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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