Biossance Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum for oily skin
Squalane
Lactic Acid
Glycerin
Lavender Oil
Acacia Senegal GumAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other products fit it better.
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 moderate exfoliation for your oily skin due to lactic acid, which helps smooth texture and balance hydration without exacerbating oiliness, complemented by squalane for emollient action.
- While the serum provides general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, its primary function of moderate exfoliation is not directly targeted at reducing oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is highly effective at smoothing rough texture and brightening dull skin, often overnight, without causing dryness. Most users, including those with sensitive skin, find it gentle and hydrating. A moderate number of users dislike the herbal scent and find the product expensive, while a low number report experiencing irritation or breakouts.
Highlights
Smoothes skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “smooths out rough skin”
- “baby soft results”
- “bumps are gone”
- “refined my texture”
Brightens complexion Often Mentioned
- “woke up glowing”
- “skin looks luminous”
- “radiant next morning”
- “removed dullness”
Gentle and hydrating Often Mentioned
- “no irritation at all”
- “didn't dry me out”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “moisturizing feel”
Fades dark spots Sometimes Noted
- “acne scars faded”
- “helped with pigmentation”
- “evened skin tone”
- “spots look lighter”
Herbal scent disliked Sometimes Noted
- “smells a bit funny”
- “strong lavender scent”
- “off-putting smell”
- “scent is weird”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “investment product”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused tiny bumps”
- “purging period”
- “woke up with zits”
Causes irritation Rarely Noted
- “burned my face”
- “caused red blotches”
- “stings upon application”
- “too strong for me”
Sources: lovi.care, biossance.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Biossance Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum work for oily skin?
Biossance Squalane + Lactic Acid Resurfacing Night Serum works moderately well for your oily skin, helping smooth texture and balance hydration without exacerbating oiliness, though it does not directly target oily shine. To work best for oily skin, this type of product needs ingredients like niacinamide that control excess oil and reduce shine while keeping the skin comfortable.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Lactic acid helps smooth texture and balance hydration on oily skin without making it greasy, while squalane softens the skin. A product of this type for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ferulic acid, and zinc PCA to control excess oil and reduce shine.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
What does Lactic Acid do for oily skin?
Lactic acid helps manage oily skin by significantly reducing oil production and pore size while improving moisture levels. It supports a clearer and smoother look through gentle surface renewal.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
Apply this serum in the evening after cleansing and toning, followed by your moisturizer. Because oily skin needs a product that directly targets excess oil and shine rather than just moderate exfoliation, an effective routine for this skin type requires oil-reducing and mattifying ingredients.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
This serum works for your oily skin, but because it provides moderate exfoliation, it is best used on nights when you do not apply retinol to keep your skin calm and comfortable. To better manage oily shine and reduce oiliness, oily skin needs an exfoliant treatment focused specifically on oil control rather than general texture smoothing.
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this serum once a week in the evening, and if your skin handles it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This approach helps you safely introduce the lactic acid and squalane without causing irritation.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a low risk of doing so and is safe for your skin type without harsh ingredients. However, because it is an exfoliant, it may occasionally lead to mild purging as it helps smooth texture.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Application 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, 2020The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Acacia gum and carbopol hydrogel wound dressings containing gentamicin showed faster wound healing, well-developed fibroblasts, and blood capillaries compared to open wounds in swiss albino mice.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013Barley beta-glucan films formulated with sorbitol and acacia gum demonstrated suitable mechanical properties and stimulated in vitro keratinocytes growth.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2023Gum arabic and beta-cyclodextrin microencapsulated peony seed oil emulsion protected against ultraviolet radiation by inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, increasing cell viability from 54.75% to 92.69% in UVB-damaged HaCaT cells, and repairing 95.56% of UVB-damaged skin within 7 days in animal experiments through regulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2026
Why other products fit oily skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Niacinamide 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
Acacia Senegal Gum, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Olivate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycerin, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Lespedeza Capitata Stem Extract Leaf, Linalool, Phenoxyethanol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Propanediol, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Olivate, Squalane, Water, Xanthan Gum
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
How does it fit your skin?
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