Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Sodium HyaluronateHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 high brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, as Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ascorbic Acid provide potent antioxidant and brightening effects that also support collagen synthesis.
- The formulation is well-suited for oily shine with Zinc PCA helping to regulate sebum production, and the absence of harsh ingredients ensures no irritation for your combination skin.
- This serum is safe for your skin, containing no prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum for its gentle formulation that brightens and hydrates without irritating sensitive skin. A significant number of reviewers feel the high price tag is not justified by the subtle results, with some noting they achieved similar effects with more affordable alternatives.
Highlights
Gentle on Skin Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't irritate my sensitive skin”
- “no stinging upon application”
- “gentle yet effective”
Very Expensive Mostly Mentioned
- “price tag is out of budget”
- “overpriced”
- “too expensive for the results”
Brightens Complexion Often Mentioned
- “skin looks brighter”
- “gives a healthy glow”
- “reduced pigmentation”
Elegant Texture Often Mentioned
- “sinks in quickly”
- “milky texture”
- “not sticky or heavy”
Hydrating & Plumping Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels softer”
- “hydrated and plump”
- “leaves face feeling supple”
Subtle/Slow Results Sometimes Noted
- “didn't do anything”
- “no major change”
- “hasn't blown me away”
Caused Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “appearance of imperfections”
- “caused small bumps”
- “minor breakout at start”
Runny Consistency Rarely Noted
- “serum is runny”
- “watery texture”
- “dispenser drips easily”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, bluemercury.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Dr. Barbara Sturm The Good C Vitamin C Serum a great fit for combination skin?
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
This serum is a great fit for your combination skin because Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate and Ascorbic Acid brighten your skin tone and support collagen, while Zinc PCA helps control oily shine without causing irritation.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for combination skin?
Aloe vera leaf juice helps keep combination skin hydrated by increasing water content without making it oily. It also helps calm redness and supports skin recovery.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment in your morning routine and your retinol product at night. This helps you get the brightening benefits of vitamin C while avoiding potential irritation from mixing potent actives at the same time.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in your evening routine, and some people also use it in the morning or twice a day. Antioxidants like these serve as a low-risk mainstay intervention for improving skin tone and texture.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for combination skin, as it has a safe formulation without harsh ingredients and includes Zinc PCA to help keep oily shine under control. Reviewers rarely mention breakouts, and the gentle ingredients help keep your skin calm and clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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 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, 2020Topical 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 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, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Topical 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Lactobacillus Portulaca Oleracea Extract Ferment, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil Apricot Kernel Oil, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Olea Europaea Leaf Extract Olive Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Terminalia Ferdinandiana Fruit Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Zinc Pca, Phenoxyethanol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Glycerides, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides, Sodium Sulfite, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sclerotium Gum, 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.
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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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