iS Clinical Active Serum for oily skin
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract
Arbutin
Willow Bark Extract
Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best serums for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 excellent treatment for acne and uneven skin tone on your oily skin due to Saccharum Officinarum Extract and Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract providing effective chemical exfoliation.
- The presence of Willow Bark Extract further aids in skin renewal, making it highly suitable for managing oiliness.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum as a "holy grail" multitasker that effectively targets adult acne while simultaneously smoothing fine lines and uneven texture. While the potent "tingling" sensation confirms its activity for most, the high price point and potential for dryness are common considerations for new users.
Highlights
Clears Acne & Breakouts Mostly Mentioned
- “breakouts have been less severe and fewer”
- “helps prevent breakouts”
- “cystic acne is gone”
- “eradicate blackheads”
Improves Texture & Tone Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “pores look smaller”
- “glows after 2 days”
High Price Point Often Mentioned
- “expensive for small bottle”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “investment product”
- “pricey but worth it”
Anti-Aging Benefits Sometimes Noted
- “softens fine lines”
- “boosts collagen production”
- “skin looks younger”
- “diminished wrinkles”
Fast Visible Results Sometimes Noted
- “results within a couple of days”
- “woke up and skin looked rested”
- “immediate results”
- “overnight difference”
Intense Tingling Sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burns a little”
- “strong tingle at first”
- “stings upon application”
- “sensation was too much”
Drying for Some Rarely Noted
- “can be drying”
- “need a good moisturizer after”
- “skin felt tight”
- “flaking around nose”
Risk of Counterfeits Rarely Noted
- “received fake product”
- “color was yellow not clear”
- “smelled different than usual”
- “bottle looked off”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, brainsstreet.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes iS Clinical Active Serum a great fit for oily skin?
iS Clinical Active Serum is a great fit because it offers excellent treatment for acne and uneven skin tone on your oily skin through chemical exfoliation from Saccharum Officinarum Extract and Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract. The willow bark extract further helps with skin renewal and manages oiliness safely without irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Saccharum Officinarum Extract and Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract make this serum a great fit by providing effective chemical exfoliation for acne and uneven skin tone on oily skin. Willow Bark Extract further helps with skin renewal to manage oiliness, and the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
What does Sugarcane Extract do for oily skin?
Sugarcane extract is a natural source of glycolic acid that helps clear dead skin and excess oil from pores to keep oily skin smooth and clear. This type of ingredient exfoliates the skin while helping maintain moisture balance, making it a good fit for managing shine and breakouts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The British Journal of Dermatology, 2001
What does Bilberry Fruit Extract do for oily skin?
Bilberry fruit extract helps oily skin by using its natural plant compounds to reduce redness and manage skin pigment. This ingredient is generally well tolerated, though a lightweight formula is best to avoid feeling heavy on oily skin.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Start by using it once a week, and if your oily skin handles it well, you can carefully use it more often.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying them on alternate nights to prevent irritation on oily skin. Using them together may be too harsh since both ingredients actively renew the skin.
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. It helps clear acne and uneven skin tone while managing oiliness safely without causing irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your oily skin because it contains ingredients that provide effective chemical exfoliation and manage oiliness without irritation. It has a great safety profile for oily skin, though an intense tingling sensation may sometimes happen.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Combined sequential treatment with microneedling and 35% glycolic acid peels caused a significant improvement in superficial and moderately deep acne scars, skin texture, and postacne pigmentation in thirty patients compared to thirty patients receiving microneedling alone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Fermented bilberry extract improved wrinkle depth, skin smoothness, roughness, firmness, elasticity, antioxidant capacity, and complexion evenness compared to a placebo in 66 subjects over 84 days.
Nutrients, 2024Topical application of oil-in-water creams containing wild bilberry leaves extract and seeds oil produced significant beneficial effects on the skin of healthy human volunteers.
Antioxidants, 2021Bilberry fruit extract incorporated into chitosan-based hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities, supporting their potential use in topical anti-aging preparations.
Antioxidants, 2024Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024White button mushroom extract treatment increased VEGF densities, EGF, PCNA, and collagen fibers, while decreasing apoptotic cells and limiting TGF-beta and CD4 reactions in ICR mice and chorioallantoic culture, indicating beneficial effects on skin regeneration and injury.
Microscopy Research and Technique, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit, Triethanolamine, Willow Bark Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Arbutin, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol
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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