Murad Targeted Pore Corrector for skin with dark spots
Hyaluronic Acid
Squalane
Curcuma Kwangsiensis Extract
Lactic Acid
GlycerinHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- 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
- Offers high suitability for your normal skin due to the humectant action of Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin, complemented by the emollient properties of Squalane, which also provides excellent pore correction through gentle exfoliation with Lactic Acid.
- While it provides general hydration and soothing benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively address your main goal of pigmentation.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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 report this product effectively blurs pores and smooths skin texture immediately, acting as a primer for a flawless makeup base and mattifying the T-zone. While many appreciate its instant cosmetic effects, some note that the pore-minimizing benefits are temporary and not a long-term solution.
Highlights
Instant pore blurring Mostly Mentioned
- “blurs the pores”
- “pore reduction instantly”
- “open pore blending in”
Smooth texture Often Mentioned
- “lightweight formula”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “satin-cream texture”
Expensive for size Often Mentioned
- “expensive”
- “pricey”
- “tiny tube”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “lays well under makeup”
- “improves wear of makeup”
- “smooth base”
Precise applicator Sometimes Noted
- “loved the applicator”
- “easy application”
- “smooth applicator”
Temporary results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't notice huge changes”
- “results didn't last all day”
- “temporary fix”
Not effective for all Rarely Noted
- “didn't work”
- “no difference”
- “little iffy about results”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “strong smell”
- “smell is the only thing I don't like”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, murad.com, spacenk.com, johnlewis.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Murad Targeted Pore Corrector a great fit for skin with dark spots?
Murad Targeted Pore Corrector is a great fit for your skin because it offers high suitability through the hydrating action of hyaluronic acid and glycerin, along with squalane to keep skin soft and smooth. It also helps improve pores through gentle exfoliation with lactic acid while remaining very safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This treatment is a good fit because Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin keep skin hydrated, Squalane keeps it soft, and Lactic Acid gently exfoliates for pore correction. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target dark spots, which requires active brighteners like vitamin C, niacinamide, or retinoids.
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.
What does Squalane do for skin with dark spots?
Squalane helps keep skin soft and smooth, but it is unlikely to directly fade dark spots on its own. For hyperpigmentation, this type of product needs added brightening ingredients like vitamin C or antioxidants to help even out skin tone.
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is safe for normal skin and unlikely to cause irritation.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment in the evening after your cleanser and toner, but apply your retinol first and let it absorb before putting this on. This product is unlikely to irritate your skin, though it may not give you the pigment-fading results you want.
How often should I use this treatment?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, starting once a week and gradually increasing frequency if your skin tolerates it well. It is unlikely to irritate normal skin, helping keep pores clear with lactic acid while providing hydration.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your skin, and it is generally safe with no risks of irritation. It helps keep your skin smooth and hydrated while providing gentle exfoliation.
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
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, 2017Topical 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical application of curcumin or turmeric treats various skin conditions by leveraging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023Topical formulations of curcumin target oxidative damage and inflammation to improve wound healing in animal models.
Drug Discovery Today, 2017A curcumin-loaded spanlastic anti-aging gel utilizing formula F5 incorporated into 2% HPMC E50 demonstrated sustained release action, compatibility, and the ability to penetrate skin layers to a depth of about 112.5 um without signs of irritation.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024Application 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, 2004Topical 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, 1992A 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, 2020The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Polysilicone-11, Squalane, Propanediol, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Cetyl Alcohol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Curcuma Kwangsiensis Extract, Curcuma Wenyujin Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Glycine Soja Extract, Soybean Extract, Germ Extract, Lysine, Proline, Urea, Yeast Amino Acids, Trehalose, Inositol, Taurine, Betaine, Lactic Acid, Mannose, Polyglyceryl-3 Laurate, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Mannose Phosphate, Laureth-12, Barium Sulfate, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Carbonate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Glycerin, Lauric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Dehydroacetic Acid, Copper Sulfate, Potassium Sorbate
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
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