Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum for acne-prone skin
Blackberry Extract
Retinol
Squalane
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
BisabololSuperior
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin, as Retinyl Linoleate and Retinol regulate desquamation while Glycerin provides humectant action to balance oil production and prevent dryness.
- The inclusion of Bisabolol and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice further soothes your skin, complementing the potent acne-fighting benefits of Retinol and Retinal for reduced inflammation and blemishes.
- This formula is safe for your acne-prone skin, free from harsh ingredients and containing soothing agents that minimize irritation risk.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised as a gentle yet effective entry-level retinol that clears acne and smooths texture without the irritation typical of stronger retinoids. While many users with sensitive skin report excellent results in fading dark spots and reducing breakouts, a notable minority experienced adverse reactions to the fragrance or found the formula too weak for advanced needs.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “gentle enough for nightly use”
- “no sensitivity or dryness”
- “didn't irritate my skin”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “spots shrank and faded”
- “skin cleared up a ton”
- “noticed less acne”
- “breakouts way less noticeable”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter”
- “texture feels smoother”
- “faded dark spots”
- “pores look smaller”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “sinks in instantly”
- “lightweight texture”
- “not sticky or tacky”
- “layers well under moisturizer”
Hydrating formula Sometimes Noted
- “milky hydrating serum”
- “moisturizing for a retinol”
- “leaves skin dewy”
- “doesn't dry me out”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is overpowering”
- “smells artificial”
- “hate the added fragrance”
- “irritating for fragrance-sensitive”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused worst breakout”
- “bad reaction”
- “cystic acne flared up”
- “skin purged badly”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “a bit too pricey”
- “expensive for the amount”
- “price is high”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Too weak Rarely Noted
- “nowhere near clinical strength”
- “didn't see crazy results”
- “too gentle for me”
- “better for beginners”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, glowrecipe.com, kohls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum one of the best fits for acne-prone skin?
This serum is one of the best fits because retinol regulates shedding while glycerin balances oil and prevents dryness. Additionally, soothing ingredients like bisabolol and aloe leaf juice help reduce inflammation and keep irritation low.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Retinol and retinyl linoleate help clear blemishes by regulating skin shedding, while glycerin adds moisture to prevent dryness. Additionally, ingredients like bisabolol and aloe leaf juice calm redness and irritation to keep your skin comfortable.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
What does Blackberry Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Blackberry extract helps calm red and irritated acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation. It also helps fight skin damage from the sun and everyday stress that can make breakouts worse.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2015Food Research International, 2019
What does Retinol do for acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and clearing pores to reduce breakouts. It regulates skin growth and fights inflammation, though it may cause some mild peeling or stinging when you first start using it.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
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. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep your skin safe around sun exposure while working on blemishes.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
It is best to use vitamin C in your morning routine and this serum at night to help prevent irritation on acne-prone skin. Using them at different times of day allows both ingredients to work effectively without overwhelming your skin.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this treatment serum in the evening once a week to start, and gradually use it more often if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results. This formula is safe for acne-prone skin, using soothing ingredients to help minimize the irritation risk typically associated with retinoids.
Facial Plastic Surgery, 2014Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts and is a superior fit for acne-prone skin because ingredients like retinol regulate skin shedding while soothing agents help calm irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from this product, and its gentle formula minimizes the risk of clogged pores.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017A 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 application of blackberry extract protects SKH-1 mice skin from chronic UVB-induced oxidative damage and inflammation by reducing hyperplasia, inflammatory cell infiltration, oxidative markers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and modulating MAP kinase and NF-kappaB signaling pathways.
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 2015A blackberry and dill extract combination synergistically increased skin elasticity and induced elastogenesis compared to each ingredient alone and placebo.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Tropical highland blackberry juice reduced UVB-mediated DNA damage and increased apoptosis in human epidermal keratinocytes and a reconstituted skin equivalent model.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2013Strawberry and blackberry crude extracts, anthocyanin-enriched fractions, and proanthocyanidin-enriched fractions demonstrated anti-inflammatory effects through ROS reduction, gene expression inhibition, and NO suppression, while anthocyanin fractions promoted fibroblast migration in vitro.
Food Research International, 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, 2018Squalane 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 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Squalane, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Ectoin, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Blackberry Fruit Extract, Bisabolol, Retinyl Linoleate, Epilobium Angustifolium Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Tocopheryl Acetate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Retinal, Hibiscus Sabdariffa Fruit Extract, Retinol, Tocopherol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Sorbitan Isostearate, Erythritol, Citric Acid, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycine Soja Oil, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum
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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