Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Retinol Alternative
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Collagen Amino Acids
Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
Stevia Rebaudiana Stem Extract Leaf
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 benefits for your oily skin, with ingredients like Pentylene Glycol and Glycerin providing humectant action to support hydration, and Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract aiding in collagen synthesis for improved elasticity.
- While it provides general skincare benefits, the formula is not specifically targeted for your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is generally safe for your oily skin, though the presence of fragrance and alcohol carries a slight risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis serum is highly praised for its ability to deliver retinol-like anti-aging results—such as reduced fine lines, improved firmness, and refined skin texture—without causing the irritation, redness, or dryness common in more aggressive treatments. It is particularly favored by those with sensitive or dry skin who seek a hydrating, lightweight formula that integrates easily into daily routines to promote a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “No stinging, no redness”
- “Gentle for sensitive skin”
- “No irritation”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Keeps my face super moisturized”
- “Skin feels hydrated”
- “Supports moisture levels”
Retinol-like results Often Mentioned
- “Retinol-like benefits without irritation”
- “Helped my fine lines”
- “Skin feels renewed”
Improves skin firmness Sometimes Noted
- “Skin looks a bit firmer”
- “Helps skin feel firm”
- “Improved skin elasticity”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs so quickly”
- “Not sticky”
- “Lightweight water-like serum”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Wish it came in a bigger bottle at a smaller price”
- “Worth the price tag”
Not for everyone Rarely Noted
- “No match for retinol”
- “Bakuchiol can be too much during a flare”
Product longevity Rarely Noted
- “5 pumps 2 times daily doesn't last”
- “Wish it came in a bigger bottle”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Quite strong scent”
- “Contains fragrance”
- “May sting on reactive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum works moderately well for your oily skin by offering hydration and firmness, but it is not specifically targeted for acne and blemishes. Fragrance and alcohol in the formula also carry a slight risk of irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs products with ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C to control excess oil, clear breakouts safely, and provide balanced hydration without heavy or clogging components.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Pentylene glycol and glycerin help support hydration, while Padina pavonica thallus extract aids elasticity for oily skin. A product of this type for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or vitamin C to target acne and control excess oil comfortably.
What does Bakuchiol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Bakuchiol helps clear up oily, acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without the heavy scaling or stinging often caused by other similar ingredients. Using bakuchiol twice a day may also improve dark spots left behind by breakouts while keeping skin smooth and calm.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015
What does Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract helps calm your skin and may speed up the healing of breakouts while reducing redness. For oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type also needs oil-controlling ingredients and gentle exfoliants to keep pores clear and smooth.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin needs treatment products that specifically target blemishes and breakouts while helping to control excess oil.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C, applying the vitamin C first in the morning and this treatment in the evening. Fragrance and alcohol in the formula carry a slight risk of irritation for oily skin, so watch how your skin reacts.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works best in your evening routine, starting at once a week to see how your skin responds. Because it is not specifically targeted for acne and contains fragrance and alcohol, an oily and acne-prone skin needs a treatment that specifically targets breakouts and controls oil while keeping potential irritation low.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause purging, but it is not specifically targeted for breakouts and acne-prone skin. It is generally safe for oily skin, though fragrance carries a slight risk of irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-controlling properties.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, citronellol, and geraniol).
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, 2017Topical retinoids improve global assessment scores and reduce lesion counts compared to vehicle in patients with acne vulgaris, with adapalene demonstrating a superior tolerability profile and benzoyl peroxide combination optimizing results.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.
Health Science Reports, 2025Cichorium intybus extract leads to smooth skin and positive excitement in treated subjects, evokes positive emotions in a person caressing them, and induces Staphylococcus epidermidis to secrete bioactive post-biotics that promote neurotransmitter release.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Spirulina, Palmaria palmata, Cichorium intybus, and Medicago sativa extracts alone or combined present no in vitro toxicity or irritant potential, and provoke no skin barrier alteration or irritation in twenty human subjects.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2019A topical mixture of tocopherol acetate, L-menthol, and stevioside promoted hair growth more effectively than tocopherol acetate or L-menthol alone in C57BL/6 mice.
Pharmaceutics, 2020
Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better
A 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, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lysine Aspartate, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Maris Aqua Sea Water Eau De Mer, Stevia Rebaudiana Stem Extract Leaf, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Linalool, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Sodium Benzoate
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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