Sunday Riley C.E.O. 15% Vitamin C Brightening Serum for acne-prone skin
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate Ascorbic Acid
Squalane
Phytosterols
Glycolic Acid
Saccharide IsomerateHigh
- 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 excellent brightening for your combination skin due to tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid, which effectively exfoliate and even skin tone while supporting barrier repair.
- The formula provides moderate exfoliation for your acne and blemishes, promoting skin renewal without causing irritation.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dull, dry, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum for its rich, creamy texture that hydrates while delivering a visible "lit-from-within" glow. Many report significant fading of acne scars and hyperpigmentation without the irritation common to other Vitamin C products, though a minority of users found the high price point unjustifiable for the results achieved.
Highlights
Brightens and evens tone Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves complexion glowing”
- “faded my acne scars”
- “skin looks noticeably brighter”
- “got rid of dullness”
Hydrating creamy texture Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “non-greasy but moisturizing”
- “feels like a lotion”
- “plumps my skin”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “way too expensive”
- “hard to justify the price”
- “luxury splurge only”
- “wallet hurts buying this”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “no tingling sensation”
Pleasant citrus scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like fresh oranges”
- “delicious citrus scent”
- “smells spa-like”
- “uplifting fragrance”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “can't get the last bit out”
- “bottle design is wasteful”
- “have to unscrew to use”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me tiny white bumps”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “broke me out immediately”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “dark spots didn't fade”
- “glorified moisturizer”
- “expected more for the money”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, spacenk.com, sephora.com, ulta.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Sunday Riley C.E.O. Brightening Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because it provides moderate exfoliation to help with blemishes and promote skin renewal without causing irritation. It is safe for your skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, and it effectively evens your skin tone while supporting barrier repair.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate and glycolic acid make this serum a great fit for your acne-prone skin by gently clearing blemishes and evening your skin tone without causing irritation. These ingredients help renew your skin while keeping it calm and smooth.
What does Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate do for acne-prone skin?
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate is generally suitable for acne-prone skin because it provides antioxidant protection and helps calm irritation without clogging pores. When used in this skin type, this form of vitamin C helps keep the skin smooth and balanced while defending against environmental stress.
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, placed after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Starting it once a week is best for acne-prone skin, and you can slowly use it more often if your skin tolerates it well.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use retinol at night and this serum in the morning to prevent irritation. This product helps smooth and brighten acne-prone skin safely while promoting skin renewal.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and is safely used in the evening routine. Start using it once a week, and if your skin feels calm and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit and is unlikely to cause breakouts on your acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and uses gentle exfoliating components that promote skin renewal. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the formula supports a smooth, clear complexion safely.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
A 3-in-1 anti-aging topical night serum-in-oil applied once daily decreased wrinkles by 11%, increased skin firmness by 8%, reduced redness by 70%, and improved overall skin quality and complexion in 103 female subjects over 28 to 84 days compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A combination of dermapen and glycolic acid peel significantly decreased acne scar grades and resulted in higher patient satisfaction compared to either monotherapy in 30 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2022Squalane 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, 2025Topical application of soybean phytosterols improves skin barrier recovery compared to a vehicle control in human volunteers with tape-stripped skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2008Topical application of a formulation containing niacinamide and soy phytosterols recovered about 95% of skin barrier integrity eight days after tape stripping in vivo.
Current Drug Delivery, 2016Topical application of phytosterols and ceramides on healthy skin blocked the UV-induced down-regulation of COL1A1 and COL1A2 expression, while all four tested preparations inhibited the UV-induced up-regulation of MMP-1.
Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2008Repeated 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, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025Formulations containing saccharide isomerate significantly improved transepidermal water loss, sebum secretion, and scalp flaking compared to a placebo formulation in an adult Chinese population affected by dandruff scalp.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Squalane, Peg-8 Beeswax, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Ppg-12 Smdi Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Acetamidoethoxyethanol, Jojoba Esters, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Glycine Soja Sterols, Tocopherol, Glycolic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Phytate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Chlorphenesin, Alba Cera, Glycerin, Isosqualane, C30 Hydrocarbons, Saccharide Isomerate, Limonene, Linalool
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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