ZO Skin Health Growth Factor Serum for acne-prone skin
Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate
Adenosine Triphosphate
Beta-Glucan
Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract
Hydrolyzed Sericin
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even 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
- This formulation offers high suitability for your combination skin, as Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate provide antioxidant activity and support your skin barrier function, addressing your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The presence of Panthenyl Triacetate and Ethyl Linoleate further supports skin health and offers visible anti-aging effects, complementing the primary treatment benefits.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly regarded by users with aging, dry, and sensitive skin for its hydrating and plumping effects, visibly reducing fine lines. The lightweight gel formula is frequently praised for restoring the skin's moisture barrier and improving texture. However, some users with acne-prone skin report breakouts, and the high price is a common concern.
Highlights
Lightweight gel Mostly Mentioned
- “The lightweight gel feels refreshing upon application”
- “Glides effortlessly on the skin, leaving no greasy residue”
- “Absorbs within seconds, leaving no greasy or sticky residue”
- “Feels so light weight and leaves your face feeling hydrated”
Hydrating, plumping Often Mentioned
- “Skin truly feels plumped and nourished”
- “Super hydrating and leaves the skin smooth and plump”
- “Helps hydrate dry patches and leave skin feeling supple”
- “Leaves my skin hydrated and bouncy”
Very expensive Often Mentioned
- “Premium pricing might not suit budget-conscious buyers”
- “Expensive for 1 oz”
- “Well worth the money... but it's so expensive”
- “Pricey but it's money well spent”
Gentle, soothing Sometimes Noted
- “Gentle enough for sensitive skin; no irritation”
- “Seemed to calm my skin rather than aggravate it”
- “Reduces minor irritation, ideal for sensitive skin types”
- “Calming aloe scent provided a spa-like experience”
Reduces lines Sometimes Noted
- “Softened the appearance of fine lines”
- “Annoying fine lines on my forehead and around my eyes looked diminished”
- “Helped with hydration and my fine lines”
- “Helps visibly reduce fine lines and wrinkles over consistent use”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “Effects do take time”
- “Requires patience; results are visible only after several weeks”
- “Deeper wrinkles remained largely unchanged, at least in the short term”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “The growth serum broke me out like I haven't broken out since high school”
- “Ingredient in it that commonly breaks people out: dimethicone”
- “Some individuals may experience increased acne or new blemishes”
Faulty pump Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenser to be somewhat finicky”
- “Dispensing an even amount of product can be tricky”
- “Excess product dispensed often leads to waste”
Pills under makeup Rarely Noted
- “User found that it pills under a foundation”
- “Dimethicone may contribute to pilling”
- “Pilling may occur when layered with products”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, reddit.com, whatsinmyjar.com, skinsort.com, dermapproved.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes ZO Growth Factor Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
ZO Skin Health Growth Factor Serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because ingredients like Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate help protect against damage while supporting your skin barrier to address blemishes and breakouts. The formula also has an excellent safety profile, meaning it is unlikely to cause irritation on your skin.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture and Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate help protect your skin and support your skin barrier. These ingredients work to keep your skin calm while addressing blemishes and breakouts without causing irritation.
What does Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate do for acne-prone skin?
Dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate is typically found in anti-aging formulas rather than acne treatments, which are better served by ingredients like niacinamide that help calm redness and balance oily skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004
What does Adenosine Triphosphate do for acne-prone skin?
Adenosine triphosphate helps supply the energy skin cells need to function properly and stay healthy. It is unlikely to directly clear breakouts, but it supports overall skin recovery.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment serum is used in the evening routine, as part of the PM steps. Applying it at night provides extra safety around sun exposure and keeps the routine simple for your skin.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this serum with retinol, applying the treatment after your retinol to keep your skin calm and smooth. This product has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients, making it unlikely to cause irritation when paired with other active steps.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum fits well into your routine for acne-prone skin when you apply it in the evening. It has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients, making it unlikely to cause irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on acne-prone skin because it has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients. The formula helps protect and support your skin without irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Oleyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A novel anti-aging serum containing acetyl hexapeptide-8, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, gluconolactone, niacinamide, and laminaria extract significantly increased anti-aging biomarkers and improved static and dynamic wrinkles as well as skin quality in clinical studies.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Treatment with a bioactive complex of Panthenyl triacetate and Ethyl linoleate at 3% protected human skin biopsies against UV-induced protein oxidation by 72% with pre-treatment and 78% with post-treatment, while also stimulating the expression of protein repairing enzymes compared to UV-irradiated controls.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Optimum liposomal film formulations containing coenzyme Q10 and d-panthenyl triacetate provided complete wound closure after 24 hours and were safe on fibroblast and keratinocyte cells in in vitro assays.
Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2021A 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, 2016The application of a vitamin B12 and adenosine triphosphate complex improved skin radiance, elasticity, and texture in human participants.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2024Direct delivery of intracellular adenosine triphosphate using ATP-encapsulated fusogenic small unilamellar lipid vesicles accelerated wound healing, improved granular tissue development, re-epithelialization, and increased vascular endothelial growth factor expression compared to lipid vesicles alone in adult nude mice.
American Journal of Surgery, 2007A self-powered chloroplast-driven nanophotosystem consisting of Chlorella-derived nanothylakoid units and hyaluronic acid microneedles increased mitochondrial biogenesis, adenosine triphosphate generation, and NAD(P)H pools in senescent fibroblasts, leading to increased collagen synthesis and alleviated skin photoaging.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2026Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022Angelica sinensis essential oil at 5%-10% demonstrated significant anti-acne effects comparable to adapalene gel with reduced side effects in mice by suppressing Cutibacterium acnes and downregulating IL-1β.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2026An Angelica sinensis extract containing 1% ligustilide demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-senescence, matrix-supportive, and antimicrobial effects in human keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2026Topical application of Angelica sinensis extract induced noticeable hair regrowth, restored hair shaft lengths and follicle size, and decreased apoptotic cells in C57BL/6 mice.
The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, 2014Bacterial 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, 2018Topical 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, 2005Silk sericin-releasing bacterial nanocellulose gel demonstrated improved mechanical properties, controlled sericin release, non-cytotoxicity on L929 and HaCaT cells, and non-irritancy in subcutaneous tissue compared to a commercially available paper mask.
BMC Biotechnology, 2014
Ingredients
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dipropylene Glycol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Peg-12 Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Sodium Phosphate, Panthenyl Triacetate, Magnesium Sulfate, Hydrolyzed Sericin, Ethyl Linoleate, Buddleja Davidii Meristem Cell Culture, Angelica Polymorpha Sinensis Root Extract, Dipeptide Diaminobutyroyl Benzylamide Diacetate, Lactobacillus Panax Ginseng Root Extract Ferment Filtrate, Disodium Acetyl Glucosamine Phosphate, Acetyl Tyrosine, Dimethiconol, Oleyl Alcohol, Proline, Parfum, Tocopherol, Beta-Glucan, Adenosine Triphosphate, Hydrolyzed Protein, Sodium Chloride, Xanthan Gum, 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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