Shiseido Future Solution LX Legendary Enmei Ultimate Luminance Serum for acne-prone skin

Legendary Enmei Extract
Niacinamide
2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid
Tocopheryl Acetate
Hydrolyzed Silk
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
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
- Offers moderate skin brightening for your combination skin due to the presence of 2-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, which helps even skin tone, while glycerin and betaine provide humectant action. The formula also offers general hydration and antioxidant support beneficial for acne and blemishes.
- While the serum provides supportive care for acne and blemishes, it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids for direct treatment of breakouts.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum for delivering immediate hydration and a visible glow, often noting softer, smoother skin texture by the next morning. While the high price point is a frequent contention, many find the luxurious feel and brightening effects on dullness and fine lines to be worth the investment.
Highlights
Instant radiance Mostly Mentioned
- “complexion is brighter”
- “makes face glow”
- “luminous skin”
- “radiant look”
Extremely high price Mostly Mentioned
- “insanely high price”
- “splurge”
- “costly”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “deeply moisturizing”
- “dewy mask”
- “keeps me hydrated”
- “plumps skin”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels soft”
- “smoother texture”
- “visibly supple”
- “refined pores”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “wrinkles are softened”
- “young looking”
- “firming effect”
- “lines less visible”
Luxurious feel Sometimes Noted
- “silky embrace”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight formula”
- “non-greasy finish”
Fragrance concerns Rarely Noted
- “delicately fragranced”
- “strong scent”
- “contains butylphenyl methylpropional”
- “fragrance allergen”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see difference”
- “haven't used long enough”
- “no anti-aging results yet”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “packaging needs work”
- “heavy bottle”
- “pump dispenses too much”
Texture preference Rarely Noted
- “runnier than thought”
- “watery consistency”
- “too thin”
- “liquid texture”
Sources: lovi.care, shiseido.com, sephora.in, macys.com, nordstrom.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Shiseido Legendary Enmei Ultimate Luminance Serum work for acne-prone skin?
This serum works moderately well for acne-prone skin by offering general hydration and antioxidant support, though it lacks targeted breakout treatments like salicylic acid or retinoids. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc, and soothing extracts that control oil and target breakouts while keeping the skin balanced and calm.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Pharmaceutics, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum works for acne-prone skin because it contains niacinamide and vitamin C to help even skin tone, along with glycerin and betaine to keep skin soft and hydrated. However, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids, as well as soothing additions like propolis or zinc PCA, to better manage breakouts and control oiliness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Pharmaceutics, 2024
What does Legendary Enmei Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Legendary Enmei Extract helps acne-prone skin by supporting a calm and clear complexion without clogging pores. This botanical ingredient works gently to soothe irritation and keep skin feeling soft and balanced throughout the day.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment serum goes in the evening routine, after cleansing and before moisturizing, for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. While this product provides supportive care for blemishes, acne-prone skin of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids for direct treatment of breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol product. This product is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, but a treatment for this skin type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids for direct treatment of breakouts.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well in your evening routine, and some people may also use it in the morning or twice a day. It is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation. However, because this product offers only an average fit for acne-prone skin, a product of this type for this skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids to directly treat breakouts.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging, but it lacks direct blemish-fighting ingredients. Acne-prone skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids to properly treat breakouts.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, limonene, hexyl cinnamal, citronellol, and geraniol) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
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, 2017L-ascorbic acid and betaine-based therapeutic deep eutectic system significantly enhanced transdermal delivery through porcine skin compared to ascorbic acid alone or physical mixture, and reduced aging markers while inducing an even skin tone in humans.
Pharmaceutics, 2024Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical 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 an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Bacterial cellulose wound dressing containing silk sericin and PHMB improved wound quality and reduced pain compared to Bactigras in patients with split-thickness skin graft donor-site wounds.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018A bacterial nanocellulose wound dressing incorporating polyhexamethylene biguanide and sericin showed no skin irritation in healthy volunteers and significantly promoted wound healing with lower wound size and higher collagen formation in full-thickness rat wounds compared to controls.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2016Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005
Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Peg-8, Dipropylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Betaine, Niacinamide, Peg Ppg-17 4 Dimethyl Ether, Peg-20, Piperidinepropionic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Dimethylacrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Crosspolymer, Dimethicone, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Isostearic Acid, 2-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Aminopropyl Dimethicone, Sodium Metabisulfite, Lauryl Betaine, Linalool, Disodium Edta, Alcohol, Sodium Citrate, Limonene, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Carthamus Tinctorius Flower Extract, Benzyl Benzoate, Citric Acid, Prunus Speciosa Leaf Extract, Angelica Acutiloba Root Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Garcinia Mangostana Bark Extract, Isodonis Japonicus Stalk Extract Leaf, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Kaempferia Galanga Root Extract, Hydrolyzed Silk, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.