AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Squalane
Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract
Glutathione
Rice Bran ExtractHigh
- 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
- This serum offers excellent brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, as niacinamide and glutathione effectively target dark spots and inflammation associated with acne and blemishes.
- The inclusion of sodium hyaluronate and squalane provides essential hydration and barrier support, complementing the active ingredients without overwhelming combination skin.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, with no 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 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lightweight serum is highly recommended for acne-prone and sensitive skin, effectively calming redness and gradually fading post-acne marks without causing irritation. It also hydrates and brightens the complexion. Users should note that consistent, long-term application is necessary to see significant results on dark spots, and it may not be potent enough for older or deeper hyperpigmentation.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Beautiful gel-like texture”
- “Absorbs almost instantly”
- “Never feels sticky”
Fades acne marks Often Mentioned
- “Old acne marks fade”
- “Fades the dark spots really well”
- “Significant reduction in redness”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't irritate”
- “Calmed my troubled spots”
- “No reaction”
Slow results Often Mentioned
- “Takes a while”
- “Not an overnight fix”
- “Slow and steady process”
Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels brighter”
- “Gives a healthy glow”
- “Overall complexion was healthier”
Layers well Sometimes Noted
- “Sits well under makeup”
- “No pilling”
- “Non-sticky finish”
Ineffective for old scars Sometimes Noted
- “Did nothing for hyperpigmentation”
- “Better for new scars only”
- “Not strong enough for melasma”
Breakouts (rare) Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out”
- “Caused closed comedones”
- “Gave me cystic-like welts”
Herbal scent Rarely Noted
- “Smells like rosemary”
- “Scent is too herbal”
- “Dislike the tea tree smell”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump stops working”
- “Hard to get last drops”
- “Opaque bottle hides amount”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, sokoglam.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes AXIS-Y Dark Spot Correcting Glow Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because niacinamide and glutathione help fade dark spots and calm inflammation, while squalane and sodium hyaluronate add lightweight moisture. Its gentle formulation is safe and unlikely to irritate acne-prone skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin because niacinamide and glutathione target dark spots and inflammation, while squalane and sodium hyaluronate provide lightweight hydration without overwhelming your skin. It also has a safe formulation with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
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, as treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. The formula contains niacinamide and squalane to help brighten dark spots and keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without feeling overwhelmed.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum alongside a retinol, applying the serum after your retinol and before your moisturizer to help keep acne-prone skin calm and hydrated. Using a gentle routine with this approach is unlikely to cause irritation and may help reduce dark spots and redness.
How often should I use this serum?
This treatment serum works best in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. You can use it daily, as the gentle formula with niacinamide and squalane is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014
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 acne-prone skin because it relies on lightweight hydrators like squalane that support your skin without overwhelming it. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the formula avoids harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Glutathione at 500 mg/day orally or 2.0% topically may brighten skin color in sun-exposed areas measured by melanin index, though current evidence remains inconclusive.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Plant-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 a sea buckthorn fruit extract formulation significantly reduced skin sebum secretion in 10 healthy human volunteers compared to the control base over an 8-week period.
Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences, 2010Topical emulsions containing Hippophae rhamnoides and Cassia fistula plant extracts significantly reduced skin sebum contents compared to placebo in patients with grade I and grade II acne vulgaris.
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2014Topical application of a 5% Hippophae rhamnoides oil-in-water emulsion significantly improved skin hydration (p=0.0003) and transepidermal water loss (p=0.0087) compared to a placebo base formulation in 13 healthy male subjects over 84 days.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2014Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005Topical gel and cream formulations containing niosomes entrapped with rice bran bioactive compounds improved skin hydration, lightening, thickness, roughness, and elasticity in 30 human volunteers over 28 days compared to baseline.
Pharmaceutical Biology, 2012Gel and cream formulations containing rice bran bioactive compounds entrapped in niosomes increased in vitro antioxidant activity (ORAC values of 20-28 micromol TE/g versus 16-18 micromol TE/g for placebo), enhanced lipid peroxidation inhibition in human sebum by about 1.5 times, and improved in vivo human skin hydration by approximately 3 to 30% depending on the measurement technique.
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 2011Stirring Nukadoko fermented rice bran beds by hand leads to temporary settlement of microorganisms on human skin with quick shedding.
FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Erythritol, Butylene Glycol, Squalane, Rice Bran Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Hippophae Rhamnoides Fruit Extract, Acerola Fruit Extract, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Chlorphenesin, Arginine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer, Glutathione, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Allantoin, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf
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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