Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Blackberry Extract
Retinol
Squalane
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
BisabololSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for oily acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin and acne concerns is provided by retinol and retinal, which effectively regulate sebum and promote blemish reduction, complemented by ectoin and bisabolol for anti-inflammatory action.
- The inclusion of retinyl linoleate further aids in desquamation regulation, enhancing the overall efficacy for managing breakouts and oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring soothing ingredients like Bisabolol and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice with no harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
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 oily acne-prone skin?
Glow Recipe Blackberry Retinol Blemish Serum is one of the best fits because retinol and retinal help control oil and clear breakouts, while ectoin and bisabolol calm redness and irritation. It also has a very safe profile for your skin with soothing ingredients and no harsh substances.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol and retinal help regulate oil and clear breakouts, while ectoin and bisabolol calm redness and irritation. Retinyl linoleate also supports blemish control by helping smooth skin turnover.
What does Blackberry Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Blackberry Extract helps keep oily, acne-prone skin calm and clear by fighting off everyday stress that can lead to breakouts. It is unlikely to feel heavy or greasy, making it a great lightweight addition to your daily routine.
What does Retinol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps oily acne-prone skin by clearing up breakouts and smoothing the skin, though it may occasionally cause some mild scaling or stinging. This ingredient works by addressing the root causes of acne, making it a reliable choice for keeping pores clear and skin smooth.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2018
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. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C, but it is best to apply vitamin C in the morning and save this treatment for your evening routine to keep your skin calm. Using them at different times of day helps your skin adjust and prevents irritation while you manage breakouts and oiliness.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment is designed for your evening routine, starting at once a week and gradually increasing as your skin adjusts well. Retinol and retinal help regulate oil and clear breakouts safely, while soothing ingredients like bisabolol and aloe leaf juice keep skin calm.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is one of the best fits for your oily acne-prone skin because it uses retinol and retinal to regulate oil and help clear breakouts, while soothing ingredients like bisabolol and aloe leaf juice keep irritation low. Reviewers rarely complain about breakouts, and the formula is safe and unlikely to clog your pores.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
What the research says
A 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, 2018A 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
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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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