MARY & MAY 6 Peptide Complex Serum for acne-prone skin
Copper Tripeptide-1
Hexapeptide-11
Hexapeptide-9
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it 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
- This serum offers excellent plumping and firming for your combination skin due to multiple peptides like copper tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, which support collagen stimulation and skin regeneration.
- While it provides general hydration and soothing benefits, it lacks targeted ingredients to address your specific concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation from 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with diverse skin types consistently praise this serum for its lightweight hydration and ability to plump the skin without irritation. While it is not a miracle cure for deep wrinkles, the majority of users report smoother skin texture, improved elasticity, and a reduction in fine lines after consistent use.
Highlights
Lightweight & fast-absorbing Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly without stickiness”
- “watery texture sinks right in”
- “perfect for layering”
- “leaves no greasy residue”
Gentle & non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “great for my sensitive skin”
- “no stinging or redness”
- “fragrance-free and soothing”
- “didn't break me out”
Hydrating & plumping Often Mentioned
- “skin feels bouncy and soft”
- “plumps up fine lines”
- “provides a nice glow”
- “keeps skin moist all day”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “better than expensive brands”
- “great price point”
- “affordable peptide option”
- “high quality for the cost”
Subtle or slow results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't see drastic changes”
- “takes months to notice difference”
- “good for maintenance but not a facelift”
- “no miracle for deep wrinkles”
Consumed quickly Rarely Noted
- “bottle finished in 3 weeks”
- “skin drinks it up so I use a lot”
- “small bottle for the amount needed”
Rare skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused tiny red bumps”
- “broke me out on forehead”
- “slight itching after application”
- “triggered fungal acne”
Texture too watery Rarely Noted
- “runs down my face quickly”
- “hard to control the dropper”
- “wish it was slightly thicker”
- “feels like water”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, skinsort.com, reddit.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Mary & May 6 Peptide Complex Serum work for acne-prone skin?
This serum works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts. A product of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA, along with hydrating agents, to properly balance and care for this skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum works for acne-prone skin because it contains copper tripeptide-1 and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4, which help support skin regeneration. However, it lacks targeted ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that are needed to effectively clear breakouts and control oiliness in this skin type.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005
What does Copper Tripeptide-1 do for acne-prone skin?
Copper Tripeptide-1 helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation and supporting overall skin repair. Because this is a weaker match for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydrators to calm irritation without clogging pores.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
What does Hexapeptide-11 do for acne-prone skin?
Hexapeptide-11 is a peptide that may help improve skin elasticity and support overall skin health. For acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and lightweight hydrators that help calm redness and keep the skin barrier strong.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. While it provides hydration and is safe for your skin, acne-prone skin needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to work best.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, applying the treatment after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer in your evening routine. This peptide-packed formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on your skin, helping to firm while your retinol targets breakouts.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it once a day or a few times a week as your skin tolerates it. It is unlikely to cause irritation on your acne-prone skin, though this type of skin needs a treatment with targeted breakout-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep pores clear.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Acta Biomaterialia, 2025
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin since it has no harsh ingredients, though a product of this type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to truly clear this skin.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical palmitoyl pentapeptide (pal-KTTKS) provided significant improvement versus placebo control in the reduction of wrinkles and fine lines in Caucasian female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005A functionalized dendrimer nanocarrier delivers active ingredients into the dermis and enhances collagen production in human dermal fibroblasts by co-delivering all-trans retinol and palmitoyl pentapeptide-4.
Acta Biomaterialia, 2025The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026Topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin caused no significant reduction in erythema or objective improvement in wrinkles compared to controls, but significantly increased patient satisfaction regarding overall skin quality.
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006A novel regimen combining a hydroxy acid-based scrub and copper tripeptide serum significantly reduced adherent scalp flaking by 61.24%, increased hair density by 12.48%, increased hair thickness by 25.36%, and improved scalp skin hydration by 76.24% in adults with mild to moderate dandruff over 15 days.
Cureus, 2024Copper applied transdermally as a tripeptide on human skin ex vivo permeated the tissue and was retained in amounts potentially effective for treating inflammatory diseases.
Inflammation Research, 2010Hexapeptide-11 activated proteasome, autophagy, chaperones, and antioxidant response genes, protected fibroblasts against oxidative-stress-mediated premature cellular senescence, and improved skin elasticity in human subjects.
Redox Biology, 2015Hexapeptide-11 reversibly downregulated ATM and p53 protein expression in intrinsically aged fibroblasts, extrinsically aged fibroblasts, and extrinsically aged dermal papillae cells at concentrations between 0.1% and 1.0% in vitro, thereby influencing the onset of cellular senescence.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013Topical treatment with cyclized hexapeptide-9 significantly reduced wrinkles and roughness in crow's feet and forehead compared to vehicle, and generally outperformed retinol in healthy volunteers with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A chemically synthesized homotrimeric collagen peptide exhibited high purity, a stable triple-helical conformation, and excellent thermal stability, while safely enhancing collagen and elastin synthesis in fibroblasts in vitro and increasing skin collagen content, improving skin structure, and enhancing microvessel density in BALB/c mice in vivo.
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 2025The addition of soybean peptide and collagen peptide to normal human dermal fibroblasts increased collagen synthesis and gene expression related to collagen formation, with the highest collagen levels observed when both peptides were added together compared to individual additions.
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 2012A 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, 2026
Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycereth-26, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Arginine, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Adenosine, Caprylyl Glycol, Copper Tripeptide-1, Hexapeptide-11, Hexapeptide-9, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1
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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