Mario Badescu Drying Patch for oily skin
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 blemish reduction for your oily skin due to salicylic acid and Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, which effectively decongest pores and reduce acne lesions.
- Niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract provide moderate oil control and exfoliation, addressing your oily shine concerns while soothing the skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents.
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
★4.1Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThe Mario Badescu Drying Patch is highly effective for shrinking and flattening small blemishes overnight, especially for those with oily or combination skin. Users frequently praise its discreet, thin design that can be worn under makeup. However, some reviewers note that it does not function as a traditional hydrocolloid patch and may not be as effective for deep or cystic acne, with a moderate number of users reporting limited effectiveness or expecting different results.
Highlights
Fast-acting results Mostly Mentioned
- “Shrinking blemishes overnight”
- “Works wonders quickly”
- “Flattening by morning”
Discreet/Invisible Often Mentioned
- “Virtually invisible”
- “Can wear under makeup”
- “Unseen throughout the day”
Easy to use Often Mentioned
- “Simple application process”
- “Peel, stick, and relax”
- “Convenient for on-the-go”
Reduces redness Sometimes Noted
- “Calms redness and irritation”
- “Niacinamide helps redness”
- “Visibly balances skin”
Limited effectiveness Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't work at all”
- “Less noticeable changes”
- “Useless for my skin”
Not hydrocolloid Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't pull gunk out”
- “Expecting hydrocolloid effects”
- “Not for drawing impurities”
Price/Value Rarely Noted
- “Not worth the price”
- “Wish more in pack”
- “Expensive for quantity”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused red patches”
- “Burned my face”
- “Mild skin reaction”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, mariobadescu.com, cultbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Mario Badescu Drying Patch a great fit for oily skin?
Mario Badescu Drying Patch is a great fit for oily skin because it decongests pores and reduces acne spots with salicylic acid and tea tree extract. It also helps control oily shine and soothes the skin using niacinamide and Centella Asiatica extract, while remaining gentle and safe to use.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this patch a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and tea tree extract make this patch a great fit because they help clear out clogged pores and reduce pimples. Niacinamide and centella asiatica extract help calm the skin and keep oily shine under control.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this patch go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This patch goes in the evening routine, placed after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing. Treatments with actives are best used in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying it after your cleanser and before your moisturizer, but you should use them on alternate nights to keep your skin calm and lower the chance of irritation.
How often should I use this patch?
Apply this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Salicylic acid and tea tree extract help clear pores and reduce blemishes safely without irritation.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This product is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it contains salicylic acid and tea tree extract to clear out pores and reduce blemishes. It is also well tolerated and designed to be safe for your skin type without harsh ingredients.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this patch fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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 post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 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, 2022Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Acrylates Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butylene Glycol, Pvp, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Niacinamide, Water, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Laureth-7, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Phytosphingosine, Madecassoside
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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