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ilso Super Melting Serum Softener for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

ilso Super Melting Serum Softener

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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

  • Suitable for combination skin, the Sebum Remove Complex and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract offer moderate pore cleansing and seboregulation, though they do not directly address your acne concerns.
  • Centella Asiatica Extract provides general soothing benefits, which are supportive but not specialized for your primary goal of managing breakouts.
  • The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients or irritation risks.

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 1.8k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin find this product highly effective for removing sebum and blackheads, often describing the process as satisfying and gentle enough for sensitive skin. However, achieving optimal results typically requires additional tools and can make the routine time-consuming.

Highlights

  • Effective sebum removal Mostly Mentioned
    • “melts blackheads away”
    • “gunk comes out”
    • “pores look cleaner”
    • “removed stubborn whiteheads”
    • “satisfying extraction”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
    • “no stinging”
    • “soothing formula”
    • “safe for sensitive skin”
    • “doesn't rip skin”
    • “calming sensation”
  • Requires extra tools Often Mentioned
    • “need scraper tool”
    • “pads not included”
    • “bought tool separately”
    • “need cotton pads”
    • “hard without applicator”
  • Smoother skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “nose feels smooth”
    • “soft skin”
    • “better makeup application”
    • “glass skin effect”
    • “texture improved”
  • Incomplete extraction Sometimes Noted
    • “deep blackheads remained”
    • “didn't get everything”
    • “surface level only”
    • “some gunk left”
    • “multiple uses needed”
  • Time consuming process Sometimes Noted
    • “takes 15 minutes”
    • “multi-step process”
    • “requires prep time”
    • “long wait”
    • “tedious routine”
  • Versatile application Rarely Noted
    • “use on chin”
    • “great for forehead”
    • “better than strips”
    • “target specific areas”
    • “customizable usage”
  • Mild irritation Rarely Noted
    • “skin peeled later”
    • “slight redness”
    • “high pH dryness”
    • “tingling sensation”
    • “over-exfoliation risk”

Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, instyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does the Super Melting Serum Softener work for acne-prone skin?

This treatment works moderately well for acne-prone skin by gently cleansing pores and helping calm the skin, though it does not target breakouts directly. For this skin, a treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that tackle acne and blemishes directly while keeping the skin balanced.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023

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

This serum works for acne-prone skin because the Sebum Remove Complex and papaya extract help clean out pores and balance oil, while centella extract helps calm the skin. This treatment is an average fit because it does not directly target breakouts, so a treatment for this skin needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that provide excellent skincare benefits for acne and blemishes without irritation.

Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023

What does Sebum Remove Complex do for acne-prone skin?

Sebum Remove Complex helps manage acne-prone skin by clearing out pores and calming angry spots. This kind of product needs ingredients that control oil and soothe redness to keep skin clear and smooth.

Experimental Dermatology, 2019Phytotherapy Research, 2021

What does Centella Asiatica Extract do for acne-prone skin?

Centella asiatica extract helps calm angry skin, reduces redness, and supports healing for breakouts. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin clarity when used consistently.

Molecules, 2023Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020

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 typically used at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It works for acne-prone skin, though this skin type usually fits products that directly target breakouts with specialized blemish-fighting ingredients better.

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

You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying the treatment first in your evening routine, as the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on your skin. To properly manage acne breakouts, an acne-prone routine also needs specialized active ingredients that directly target blemishes.

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment fits into your evening routine once a week to start, as this frequency helps your skin adjust safely. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. Acne-prone skin needs a product of this type to include targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing actives that directly manage breakouts.

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

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin because its formula avoids harsh ingredients and is safe for your skin type. However, it does not directly target acne or breakouts, so acne-prone skin typically needs products with specialized blemish-clearing ingredients to properly manage breakouts.

What the research says

  • Incorporating 1, 2, and 5 percent papain into starch- and carboxymethyl cellulose-based films preserved proteolytic and skin exfoliation activity while improving mechanical properties and water solubility compared to control films, with immobilized enzyme maintaining stability for up to 90 days.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023

  • Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.

    Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

  • Chitosan-based hydrogels loaded with asiaticoside-rich Centella asiatica extract achieved controlled drug release, skin permeability, antimicrobial activity, and synergistic wound healing effects in an in vitro model.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023

  • Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.

    Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016

  • A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.

    Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015

  • Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.

    Molecules, 2020

Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Sebum Remove Complex, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

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

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