Elemis ULTRA SMART PRO-COLLAGEN COMPLEX SERUM for acne-prone skin
Punica Granatum Seed Oil
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50
Heptapeptide-15
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it 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 moderate plumping for your combination skin due to Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50 and Heptapeptide-15, which improve volume and elasticity, though these peptides do not directly address your acne concerns.
- Hyaluronic Acid and Chondrus Crispus provide hydration beneficial for combination skin, but offer limited support for active breakouts.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, this serum is highly effective for individuals with mature or dehydrated skin looking to target deep-set wrinkles, loss of firmness, and dullness. Users frequently report a noticeable improvement in skin plumpness, radiance, and overall texture after consistent use.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Intense boost of hydration”
- “feels hydrating immediately”
- “plumps the skin”
Very expensive Mostly Mentioned
- “Worth every penny but expensive”
- “very expensive for amount”
- “pricey”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “Feel a difference in skin texture”
- “skin looks refined”
- “smoother skin”
Reduces visible lines Often Mentioned
- “Nearly relaxed deep creases”
- “visibly smooths fine lines”
- “less wrinkly”
Fast-absorbing formula Sometimes Noted
- “Melts easily into skin”
- “silky finish”
- “absorbs quickly”
Short product life Sometimes Noted
- “Container only lasted 2 weeks”
- “ran out quickly”
No visible results Rarely Noted
- “Saw no discernible difference”
- “disappointed”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, nordstrom.com, lovelyskin.com, trustpilot.com, timetospa.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Elemis Ultra Smart Pro-Collagen Complex Serum work for acne-prone skin?
Elemis Ultra Smart Pro-Collagen Complex Serum is an average fit for acne-prone skin because its peptides and hyaluronic acid hydrate and plump without directly tackling breakouts. To work well for this skin, a treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that target blemishes while keeping skin balanced and calm.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is an average fit for your acne-prone skin because while its hyaluronic acid and peptides help plump and hydrate, they do not directly target breakouts. Treatments that fit this skin better need ingredients like niacinamide and zinc to clear blemishes and control oiliness without causing irritation.
What does Pomegranate Seed Oil do for acne-prone skin?
Pomegranate seed oil helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and swelling. Its antioxidant properties also protect the skin and may improve healing.
Molecules, 2023International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017
What does Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50 do for acne-prone skin?
Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50 helps acne-prone skin by improving the skin barrier and reducing acne symptoms. It may also help decrease oiliness and keep skin smooth.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, following the general rule to place treatments at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Acne-prone skin requires a product of this type that also includes ingredients to target breakouts and clear pores.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your skin hydration, and following with retinol once it absorbs. This routine helps nourish your skin while keeping the risk of irritation low.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works for your acne-prone skin in the evening, when Lovi routines put treatments for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. This product offers moderate hydration and plumping, but an acne-prone skin of this type needs targeted blemish-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly manage breakouts.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain active exfoliating ingredients, but its rich oils and moderate plumping ingredients may feel heavy on acne-prone skin. While it provides hydration, it does not directly target breakouts, so acne-prone skin needs lightweight formulas with clarifying ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep pores clear.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Application of a cosmetic cream containing Punica granatum seed oil and Croton lechleri resin extract increased dermis thickness, hydration, and elasticity in subjects with striae distensae after 6 weeks.
Drug Design, Development and Therapy, 2017Pomegranate seed oil extract, Avocom-M, and TROSYD reduced levels of cyclooxygenase-2, lipid peroxidation, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, elastase, collagenase, and nitric oxide, improving biochemical status in rats and ameliorating skin inflammation in human volunteers.
Molecules, 2023Pomegranate seed oil stimulated human keratinocyte proliferation while pomegranate peel extract stimulated type I procollagen synthesis and inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 production in human dermal fibroblasts compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2006
Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A 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 H2o, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-50, Heptapeptide-15, Chondrus Crispus, Hyaluronic Acid, Petroselinic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Carotol, Daucol, Tocopherol
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.