🇫🇷France

Pixi Vitamin-C Serum for acne-prone skin

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

  • Offers high suitability for your combination skin as Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid provide antioxidant benefits and mild exfoliation, addressing your concerns for acne and blemishes by supporting cell turnover.
  • The inclusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Tocopherol further soothes your skin, while Retinol aids in managing breakouts.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.

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

★4.3Overall rating based on 900+ reviews

The serum is a popular choice for achieving a brighter complexion and improved skin texture. Many users with normal, combination, or oily skin appreciate its quick absorption and gentle formula. Some individuals, however, report a heavy or sticky residue and potential sensitivity due to added fragrance and essential oils.

Highlights

  • Absorbs quickly Often Mentioned
    • “Absorbs fairly quickly into the skin.”
    • “Sinks in very quickly.”
    • “Absorbs quick, I don't need to wait about for this to dry.”
  • Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
    • “My skin looked visibly clearer and brighter.”
    • “Improved brightness and skin texture within weeks.”
    • “With in 4 weeks my pigmentation reduced visibly.”
  • Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
    • “This serum is light and absorbs fairly quickly.”
    • “Light on skin and make you feel clean and healthy.”
    • “It's very light on the skin making it perfect for all skin types.”
  • Pleasant citrus scent Sometimes Noted
    • “This whole vitamin-c collection smells absolutely amazing.”
    • “Has a light, pleasant citrus scent.”
    • “It also has a really delicious Grapefruit scent.”
  • Fragrance and essential oils Sometimes Noted
    • “Absolutely not a fan of all the fragrance added.”
    • “Definitely avoid this [if you avoid fragrance].”
    • “Addition of essential oils... not great for sensitised/angry skins.”
  • Heavy or sticky feel Sometimes Noted
    • “I just could not get past this heavy feel.”
    • “Some note it feels sticky.”
    • “It leaves this oily feeling on my skin which I do not enjoy.”
  • Pilling under makeup Rarely Noted
    • “It doesn't work with my makeup at all.”
    • “It turns clumpy under my moisturiser and foundation.”
    • “Doesn't seem to ball up”
  • Rapid oxidation Rarely Noted
    • “Sadly oxidizes pretty quickly.”
    • “Light yellow started to turn to orange.”
    • “Because of the colouring I can't tell when this oxidises.”

Sources: lovi.care, doctoranne.de, shopwithkendallyn.com, kherblog.com, youtube.com, cvs.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Pixi Vitamin-C Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit because ascorbic acid and ferulic acid provide antioxidant benefits and mild exfoliation that help clear blemishes by supporting cell turnover. The formula also includes aloe vera and vitamin E to soothe your skin, along with retinol to help manage breakouts safely.

Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid provide antioxidant benefits and mild exfoliation that help clear blemishes by supporting cell turnover. Retinol also aids in managing breakouts, while Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Tocopherol soothe your skin with an excellent safety profile that is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

What does Vitamin C do for acne-prone skin?

Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out uneven tones, and fade dark spots left behind by breakouts. It is also packed with antioxidants that may help protect acne-prone skin from everyday environmental stress.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2024

What does Ferulic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Ferulic acid helps protect acne-prone skin from UV damage and may reduce redness and dark spots left behind after breakouts clear. Combining it with supportive treatments can also improve skin texture and tone while helping calm inflammation.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine, after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with niacinamide, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this serum with niacinamide by applying niacinamide first and following with this vitamin C treatment. This combination helps brighten your skin and manage breakouts while keeping irritation unlikely thanks to calming ingredients like aloe vera.

Clinical Pharmacology, 2018

How often should I use this serum?

This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and is used in the evening routine. You should start using it once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because Ascorbic Acid, Ferulic Acid, and Retinol support cell turnover and help manage breakouts without harsh ingredients. It has an excellent safety profile with calming components like Aloe Barbadensis, so it is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A topical antioxidant solution of 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha-tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid provides significant photoprotection against solar-simulated UV radiation in human skin compared to its vehicle.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008
  • Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
  • 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, 2018
  • Topical 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, 2003
  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
  • Topical ferulic acid-containing formulations effectively reduce skin erythema, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging in adults compared to baseline or alternative conditions.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2018
  • Topical 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, 2010
  • Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2006
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
  • Topical 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, 2019
  • Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.

    Journal of Controlled Release, 2018

Ingredients

Water, Ascorbic Acid, Ethoxydiglycol, Propanediol, Glycerin, Grapefruit Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lemon Peel Extract, Citrus Nobilis Fruit Extract Mandarin Orange Fruit Extract, Ferulic Acid, Tocopherol, Caffeine, Microcitrus Australis Fruit Extract, Microcitrus Australasica Fruit Extract, Beta-Carotene, Lecithin, Citrus Glauca Fruit Extract, Panthenol, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Grapefruit Fruit Extract, Citrus Junos Peel Extract, Peppermint Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Retinol, Xanthan Gum, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Punica Granatum Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Polysorbate 20, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

Buy online

Prices checked 15 Oct 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for France.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.