iS Clinical Active Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract
Arbutin
Willow Bark Extract
Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this serum effectively treats acne lesions and blemishes with willow bark extract and saccharum officinarum extract, which exfoliate and decongest pores.
- Glycerin and willow bark extract also provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits for your oily skin and acne concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum as a "holy grail" multitasker that effectively targets adult acne while simultaneously smoothing fine lines and uneven texture. While the potent "tingling" sensation confirms its activity for most, the high price point and potential for dryness are common considerations for new users.
Highlights
Clears Acne & Breakouts Mostly Mentioned
- “breakouts have been less severe and fewer”
- “helps prevent breakouts”
- “cystic acne is gone”
- “eradicate blackheads”
Improves Texture & Tone Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “pores look smaller”
- “glows after 2 days”
High Price Point Often Mentioned
- “expensive for small bottle”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “investment product”
- “pricey but worth it”
Anti-Aging Benefits Sometimes Noted
- “softens fine lines”
- “boosts collagen production”
- “skin looks younger”
- “diminished wrinkles”
Fast Visible Results Sometimes Noted
- “results within a couple of days”
- “woke up and skin looked rested”
- “immediate results”
- “overnight difference”
Intense Tingling Sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burns a little”
- “strong tingle at first”
- “stings upon application”
- “sensation was too much”
Drying for Some Rarely Noted
- “can be drying”
- “need a good moisturizer after”
- “skin felt tight”
- “flaking around nose”
Risk of Counterfeits Rarely Noted
- “received fake product”
- “color was yellow not clear”
- “smelled different than usual”
- “bottle looked off”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, brainsstreet.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes iS Clinical Active Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because it uses willow bark extract and saccharum officinarum extract to exfoliate and clear out congested pores for oily skin. It also provides soothing benefits and lightweight hydration with glycerin, and it is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because willow bark extract and saccharum officinarum extract help clear pores and treat blemishes. Glycerin and willow bark extract also provide supportive hydration and soothing benefits, and the product is unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Sugarcane Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sugarcane Extract provides natural glycolic acid, which helps clear out pores and keep oily, acne-prone skin smooth and calm. Regular use of this ingredient manages excess oil and improves breakouts safely and effectively.
What does Bilberry Fruit Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Bilberry fruit extract helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing oxidative stress and protecting skin cells from daily environmental damage. It works well to keep the skin balanced and is unlikely to clog pores.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it before your moisturizer and keeping a safe gap from your retinol step to help avoid any irritation.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine, starting once a week to see how your skin responds. People who tolerate it well and see good results may carefully use it more often.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses willow bark extract and saccharum officinarum extract to gently exfoliate and clear out congested pores. It has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients, making it a great fit for keeping oily skin clear and smooth.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2017Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Fermented bilberry extract improved wrinkle depth, skin smoothness, roughness, firmness, elasticity, antioxidant capacity, and complexion evenness compared to a placebo in 66 subjects over 84 days.
Nutrients, 2024Topical application of oil-in-water creams containing wild bilberry leaves extract and seeds oil produced significant beneficial effects on the skin of healthy human volunteers.
Antioxidants, 2021Bilberry fruit extract incorporated into chitosan-based hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities, supporting their potential use in topical anti-aging preparations.
Antioxidants, 2024A 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, 2025A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical treatment with 2% Salix alba bark extract cream improved dark circles, skin microcirculation, and elasticity in 29 subjects over 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2023White button mushroom extract treatment increased VEGF densities, EGF, PCNA, and collagen fibers, while decreasing apoptotic cells and limiting TGF-beta and CD4 reactions in ICR mice and chorioallantoic culture, indicating beneficial effects on skin regeneration and injury.
Microscopy Research and Technique, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit, Triethanolamine, Willow Bark Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Arbutin, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract, Menthol, 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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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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