🇩🇪Germany

iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it 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 due to the presence of Asiaticoside and Asiatic Acid with anti-inflammatory action and seboregulation, though the concentrations of sodium hyaluronate and asiaticoside offer only moderate moisturizing and treating benefits.
  • The serum provides general skincare benefits like hydration, which is supportive for your skin, but the ingredients are not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing menthol.

How to apply

  • Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
  • Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.8Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

This serum is widely praised as a "drink of water" for the skin, excelling at soothing irritation, redness, and sunburns while providing lightweight hydration. It is particularly favored by users with acne-prone and sensitive skin for its ability to calm inflammation without clogging pores, though some find it insufficient for extremely dry skin types.

Highlights

  • Soothing & Cooling Mostly Mentioned
    • “Instantly cools”
    • “calms redness”
    • “soothes sunburn”
    • “great after shaving”
    • “relieves irritation”
  • Lightweight Hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Drink of water”
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “non-greasy”
    • “lightweight texture”
    • “instant hydration”
  • High price Often Mentioned
    • “Just expensive”
    • “pricey”
    • “costly for size”
    • “wish it was cheaper”
    • “luxury price point”
  • Acne-Safe Sometimes Noted
    • “Doesn't clog pores”
    • “helps clear skin”
    • “great for acne-prone”
    • “calms breakouts”
    • “reduces inflammation”
  • Versatile Use Sometimes Noted
    • “Good for travel”
    • “mixes with foundation”
    • “layers well”
    • “use after retinol”
    • “heals post-procedure”
  • Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
    • “Not enough alone”
    • “need more hydration”
    • “too watery”
    • “dried out skin”
    • “just okay”
  • Menthol sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “Menthol stings”
    • “too minty”
    • “irritated eyes”
    • “strong scent”
    • “sensitizing for some”
  • Texture issues Rarely Noted
    • “Slightly sticky”
    • “tacky finish”
    • “runny consistency”
    • “feels like water”
    • “residue left”

Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, dermstreet.com, dermluxe.com, walmart.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does iS Clinical Hydra-Cool work for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, providing light hydration and soothing benefits, though it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. A product of this type needs effective ingredients like Niacinamide and Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid that provide excellent benefits for acne and hydration without clogging pores, along with humectants and skin-repairing ingredients to enhance vitality and balance.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

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

Asiaticoside and asiatic acid make this serum a good fit for your oily skin because they help calm redness and balance oil. To work best for acne-prone skin, a moisturizing treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide or hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid that specifically target breakouts while keeping your skin balanced and hydrated without clogging pores.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

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

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Asiaticoside do for oily acne-prone skin?

Asiaticoside helps manage oily acne-prone skin by calming redness and supporting skin healing. It works to improve overall skin health while maintaining a very safe profile with little chance of irritation.

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2021Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

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. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing actives to help keep pores clear.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin calm and hydrated, followed by your retinol. This product is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this serum?

Apply this treatment serum in your evening routine, as treatments fit best there for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. People who tolerate this serum well and see good results can carefully use it more often, such as twice a day.

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

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it has a very safe formula without harsh ingredients and includes soothing menthol. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for blemishes and breakouts, this skin type needs products with stronger acne-fighting and oil-balancing ingredients.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

This serum is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients. However, a product of this type needs richer moisturizers and targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to properly care for oily acne-prone skin.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Asiatic acid-loaded solid lipid microparticles stabilized with poloxamer-188 reduced porphyrin intensity, enhanced skin barriers, and improved skin hydration and brightness in fifteen participants with mild-to-moderate acne.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2024

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

  • 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

  • Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.

    Neuroscience Letters, 1995

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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

  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020

  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008

  • Coadministration of 40% topical L-menthol with 10% trans-cinnamaldehyde reduced spontaneous pain intensity, neurogenic inflammation, primary and secondary mechanical hyperalgesia, and heat hyperalgesia, but not cold hyperalgesia, in 14 healthy volunteers.

    The Journal of Pain, 2016

  • Topical application of menthol-based cooling gel decreased intramuscular temperature by 1.9 °C and increased cutaneous blood flow by 0.3 ml/min in healthy males compared to placebo gel.

    International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2018

  • Topical L-menthol and trans-cinnamaldehyde administered individually and in combination on the volar forearm of healthy volunteers induced distinct somatosensory and vasomotor effects, where L-menthol reduced the axon-reflex-flare and altered the mechanical hyperalgesia caused by trans-cinnamaldehyde.

    European Journal of Pain, 2014

  • Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012

  • A comprehensive topical regimen incorporating niacinamide, Pro-Xylane, and panthenol following PicoWay laser treatment decreased transepidermal water loss, increased hydration and skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles and redness, and improved skin tone in 88 Chinese females compared to a standard care control group.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2026

  • Formulations containing 1.0% and 5.0% panthenol decreased transepidermal water loss after 30-day applications on healthy subjects compared to control and vehicle.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011

Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Pantothenic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol, Asiaticoside, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Blue 1 Ci 42090

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Germany.

How does it fit your skin?

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