Pixi Vitamin-C Serum for sensitive skin
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin, the Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid provide antioxidant benefits and support collagen synthesis, addressing your concerns with redness and irritation.
- The inclusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Panthenol further soothes and hydrates, enhancing the product's efficacy for your sensitive skin.
- The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components.
How to apply
- Use your serum in the PM routine, starting 3 times a week before building up to daily use if your skin is happy.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏱ for it to soak in.
- Since your skin is sensitive and easily irritated, apply the serum on completely dry skin to help keep it calm.
- Always do a patch test before your first use and avoid getting the serum too close to your eyes .
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsThe serum is a popular choice for achieving a brighter complexion and improved skin texture. Many users with normal, combination, or oily skin appreciate its quick absorption and gentle formula. Some individuals, however, report a heavy or sticky residue and potential sensitivity due to added fragrance and essential oils.
Highlights
Absorbs quickly Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin.”
- “Sinks in very quickly.”
- “Absorbs quick, I don't need to wait about for this to dry.”
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “My skin looked visibly clearer and brighter.”
- “Improved brightness and skin texture within weeks.”
- “With in 4 weeks my pigmentation reduced visibly.”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “This serum is light and absorbs fairly quickly.”
- “Light on skin and make you feel clean and healthy.”
- “It's very light on the skin making it perfect for all skin types.”
Pleasant citrus scent Sometimes Noted
- “This whole vitamin-c collection smells absolutely amazing.”
- “Has a light, pleasant citrus scent.”
- “It also has a really delicious Grapefruit scent.”
Fragrance and essential oils Sometimes Noted
- “Absolutely not a fan of all the fragrance added.”
- “Definitely avoid this [if you avoid fragrance].”
- “Addition of essential oils... not great for sensitised/angry skins.”
Heavy or sticky feel Sometimes Noted
- “I just could not get past this heavy feel.”
- “Some note it feels sticky.”
- “It leaves this oily feeling on my skin which I do not enjoy.”
Pilling under makeup Rarely Noted
- “It doesn't work with my makeup at all.”
- “It turns clumpy under my moisturiser and foundation.”
- “Doesn't seem to ball up”
Rapid oxidation Rarely Noted
- “Sadly oxidizes pretty quickly.”
- “Light yellow started to turn to orange.”
- “Because of the colouring I can't tell when this oxidises.”
Sources: lovi.care, doctoranne.de, shopwithkendallyn.com, kherblog.com, youtube.com, cvs.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Pixi Vitamin-C Serum a great fit for sensitive skin?
Pixi Vitamin-C Serum is a great fit for sensitive skin because it pairs vitamin C and ferulic acid with calming ingredients like aloe vera and panthenol that soothe and hydrate. This combination helps keep your skin soft and smooth while addressing redness and irritation without harsh ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
This serum is a great fit for sensitive skin because it includes aloe and panthenol to calm and hydrate, alongside vitamin C and ferulic acid to help soothe redness and irritation. These gentle, nourishing components work together safely to keep your skin feeling comfortable and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Vitamin C do for sensitive skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out fine lines, and fade dark spots. Clinical studies show it is generally safe and well-tolerated when improving overall skin quality.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Ferulic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Ferulic acid helps calm sensitive skin by defending against everyday environmental damage like sun and pollution, while supporting the skin barrier to keep it strong. It is unlikely to irritate when formulated well, and products for sensitive skin benefit from soothing antioxidants and gentle barrier-repairing ingredients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing, to keep things simple and safe around sun exposure.
Can I use it with niacinamide, and in what order?
Yes, you can use Pixi Vitamin-C Serum with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and letting it absorb before applying this treatment. Using them together is generally safe for your skin, though combining strong active ingredients may occasionally cause mild tingling.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this serum in your evening routine once a week to start, and if your skin feels comfortable, you may carefully use it more often. The soothing ingredients help keep redness and irritation unlikely.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it lacks heavy or harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like aloe and panthenol. However, because it contains retinol, you may experience mild purging or flaking when you first start using it.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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, 2022Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Topical ferulic acid-containing formulations effectively reduce skin erythema, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging in adults compared to baseline or alternative conditions.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025A 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, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Topical 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, 2019Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Grapefruit Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lemon Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract Mandarin Orange Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Beta-Carotene, Lecithin, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Peppermint Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Retinol, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Punica Granatum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Sorbate, Citric Acid, 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
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