SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense for oily acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Capryloyl Salicylic Acid
Citric AcidSuperior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best serums for oily acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which effectively exfoliate and regulate oil production to address your acne and blemishes.
- The inclusion of capryloyl salicylic acid and citric acid further enhances pore cleansing and texture refinement, supporting your goal of reducing oiliness and shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing salicylic acid.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviewsThis dual-action serum is widely praised by adults with oily and combination skin for simultaneously treating cystic acne and smoothing fine lines. While highly effective at reducing sebum and clearing congestion, users note it can be drying and may cause an initial "purge" period before results become visible. The summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Clears stubborn acne Mostly Mentioned
- “cystic acne shrinking”
- “no new pimples”
- “kept acne at bay”
- “reduced to nothingness”
- “clearing up skin”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “skin looked smoother”
- “fades red marks”
- “even tone”
- “pores less visible”
- “refines skin surface”
Reduces excess oil Often Mentioned
- “felt less oily”
- “regulation of sebum”
- “inhibits excess sebum”
- “cuts through oil”
- “less shiny by midday”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “improves fine lines”
- “compliments on no wrinkles”
- “skin looks younger”
- “diminishes signs of aging”
- “smoother forehead”
Drying or irritating Sometimes Noted
- “skin feeling parched”
- “drying acne products”
- “strong alcohol content”
- “not for sensitive skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey”
- “splurge-worthy”
- “waste of money”
- “investment product”
Strong chemical scent Sometimes Noted
- “alcohol fumes hit nostrils”
- “strong smell”
- “smells like chemicals”
- “ugh alcohol”
- “fumes hit your nostrils”
Initial skin purging Rarely Noted
- “tiny bit of purging”
- “worse before better”
- “breakouts initially”
- “purging period”
- “brought bumps to surface”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, target.com, acne.org, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SkinCeuticals Blemish + Age Defense one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
This product is an excellent fit because glycolic acid and salicylic acid effectively exfoliate and regulate oil production to address your acne and blemishes. Capryloyl salicylic acid and citric acid further enhance pore cleansing and texture refinement, helping to reduce oiliness and shine with a low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid and salicylic acid make this serum a great fit because they exfoliate the skin and help control extra oil. Capryloyl salicylic acid and citric acid also clear out pores and smooth your skin texture to reduce shine and breakouts.
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and soothing breakouts. It exfoliates the surface to keep pores clear and leaves the skin feeling smooth.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Dermatologic Surgery, 2014
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine. Lovi routines put treatments like serums and active ampoules in the evening for 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 first and following with your retinol on alternate nights or separate steps to avoid irritation. Because both products actively renew the skin, alternating them helps your oily, acne-prone skin stay clear and smooth without becoming overly sensitive.
American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
How often should I use it?
Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin feels comfortable and stays clear, you may carefully use it more often. Daily application of a serum with these acids is shown to reduce skin oiliness and help control acne.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum helps clear pores and control oil for oily acne-prone skin, though initial skin purging may uncommonly occur when you start using it. Ingredients like salicylic acid and glycolic acid gently exfoliate to address breakouts while keeping the skin safe from harsh irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Ingredients
Alcohol Denat, Water, Methylpropanediol, Glycolic Acid, Diisopropyl Adipate, Octadecenedioic Acid, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Citric Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-10, Salicylic Acid
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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