ISDIN Flavo-C Serum for sensitive skin
Ascorbic Acid
Ginkgo Biloba
Lactic Acid
Propylene GlycolHigh
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- 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
- Offers excellent antioxidant protection and skin brightening due to the presence of ascorbic acid and ginkgo biloba leaf extract, which are highly suitable for your normal skin type and offer general skincare benefits.
- While the formula provides antioxidant protection from Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract and Ascorbic Acid, these ingredients are mostly supportive and not directly targeted at your primary concerns of redness and irritation.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis serum is highly regarded for its ability to brighten dull skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and smooth fine lines, making it particularly effective for mature, dehydrated, or sun-damaged complexions. The formula is frequently praised for being lightweight and fast-absorbing, and for providing significant hydration. A small number of users with sensitive skin have reported experiencing irritation or redness.
Highlights
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “My hyperpigmentation has lightened and skin looks more even, even shines more.”
- “Gives a flawless and illuminating results.”
- “I've seen good results with skin brightening, hydration and smoothing of fine lines.”
- “This boosts collagen and makes the face brighter and tones the skin.”
Hydrates and smooths Often Mentioned
- “I am more on a dehydrated side and this helps me look hydrated and smooth.”
- “Helps reduce wrinkles and hydrate all day and all night.”
- “I've seen good results with skin brightening, hydration and smoothing of fine lines.”
- “Feel vibrant and refreshed with supple, moisturized skin.”
Lightweight, fast-absorbing Sometimes Noted
- “I like how it is light not thick... love it.”
- “The serum absorbs quickly so you can apply your moisturizer right away.”
- “Its lightweight formula absorbs quickly, making it an excellent addition to any morning skincare routine.”
- “No scent....which I like. The serum absorbs quickly.”
Frustrating packaging Rarely Noted
- “I like the actual product, but the packaging is awful, I've already lost three bottles the applicator pops off.”
- “I had been using the Flavo-C ampoules and loved the serum inside. But I've nicked myself one too many times while snapping the glass top off.”
- “The serum is too thick for me and I feel I waste a lot of the product when tipping the vial.”
- “Challenging packaging.”
Irritates sensitive skin Rarely Noted
- “I think the serum is too strong for my face as it has burned and left very rough and a peeling face.”
- “When i put the Day and night cream on it stings so I am afraid I am not able to use this product.”
- “Super Irritating... Most Vitamin C serums oxidize and leave a yellow/orange cast on face.”
- “If you have sensitive skin, you might experience some redness after the first application.”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “While I do like the product, the smell is very off-putting.”
- “It's a very strong, unpleasant herbal-like scent.”
- “It is so bad that I emailed customer service to see if it was in fact spoiled.”
- “So I'm holding my nose and continuing to use it up.”
Sources: lovi.care, judge.me, dermapproved.com, newbeauty.com, walmart.com, frenchpharmacy.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes ISDIN Flavo-C a great fit for sensitive skin?
ISDIN Flavo-C Serum is a great fit because it is safe for sensitive skin since it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. It also provides great antioxidant protection and helps brighten your skin using ascorbic acid and ginkgo biloba leaf extract.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for sensitive skin?
Ascorbic acid and ginkgo biloba leaf extract make this serum a great fit by offering strong antioxidant protection and brightening benefits. The formula is safe for sensitive skin because it avoids harsh ingredients that may cause irritation.
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.
What does Ginkgo Biloba Extract do for sensitive skin?
Ginkgo biloba extract helps calm sensitive skin by reducing redness and irritation and protecting against everyday stress. It is unlikely to cause trouble and may help make skin feel more comfortable.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This product goes in the evening routine as a treatment step, used once a week to start. It is safe for sensitive skin as it lacks harsh ingredients, though the active ingredients focus on antioxidant protection rather than calming redness.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum alongside retinol, but it is best to apply retinol in your evening routine and this treatment at a separate time or with caution to keep your sensitive skin calm. Using active ingredients like vitamin C and retinol together may increase the likelihood of stinging or redness, so separating them helps your skin stay comfortable.
How often should I use it?
Use this treatment once a week in your evening routine to see how your sensitive skin reacts, and carefully increase frequency if you tolerate it well. Antioxidant serums like this help improve skin brightness and smoothness while maintaining a safe profile for delicate skin.
Can this serum 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, pore-clogging ingredients. While it contains an active exfoliant that can sometimes lead to mild purging, the gentle formula has a very low risk of causing irritation.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical application of Ginkgo biloba cream for two weeks reduced wrinkles and improved skin shape, texture, and tautness in human volunteers compared to baseline.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2023Topical 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, 2022A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015A cosmetic formulation combining green tea and Ginkgo biloba extracts synergistically improved skin elasticity and skin barrier function in 48 volunteers compared to individual extracts.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Laricitrin 3-rutinoside isolated from Ginkgo biloba fruits inhibited TNF-alpha-stimulated ROS generation, suppressed MMP-1 secretion, protected against collagen degradation, and diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8 in normal human dermal fibroblasts.
Antioxidants, 2023Application 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, 2020Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.
Cutis, 1988A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.
Veterinary Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Propylene Glycol, Water, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, 2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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