🇮🇪Ireland

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few serums fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 high suitability for your combination skin as Ascorbic Acid and Ferulic Acid provide antioxidant and brightening effects, addressing oily shine and supporting collagen synthesis.
  • The inclusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf and Chamomile Flower Extract further enhances its benefits by soothing the skin.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
  • Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 22.7k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this serum for its ability to brighten dull complexions and fade acne scars without irritating sensitive skin. While the lightweight, hydrating texture is a hit for most, a minority of users find the finish slightly tacky or experience breakouts.

Highlights

  • Brightens and evens Mostly Mentioned
    • “visibly improves sun damaged skin”
    • “brightening dark spots from blemish scars”
    • “skin looks fresh and rested”
  • Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
    • “didn't sting my skin”
    • “no irritation unlike other serums”
    • “gentle for sensitive skin”
  • Lightweight feel Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “not greasy like others”
    • “feels light weight”
  • Improves acne Sometimes Noted
    • “works on acne-prone skin”
    • “acne and congestion virtually gone”
    • “smoother, softer skin”
  • Tacky finish Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves a slight tacky feeling”
    • “bit sticky right after”
    • “sticky and didn't fully absorb”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “gave me horrible cystic acne”
    • “massive breakout of cysts”
    • “caused excess dryness”
  • Lacks potency Rarely Noted
    • “didn't do anything for my skin”
    • “no significant changes”
    • “end result isn't quite as impressive”
  • Scent disliked Rarely Noted
    • “too fragranced”
    • “smell was too strong”
    • “grapefruit extract is a potential allergen”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, target.com, ulta.com, madhippie.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum a great fit for combination skin?

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is a great fit because ascorbic acid and ferulic acid brighten the skin and address oily shine while supporting collagen. Aloe and chamomile further soothe the skin, and the formula has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Ascorbic acid and ferulic acid make this serum a great fit by providing antioxidant and brightening benefits that help manage oily shine while supporting firmness. Additionally, aloe leaf and chamomile extract help soothe the skin safely without irritation.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

What does Ascorbic Acid do for combination skin?

Ascorbic acid helps brighten combination skin, smooth fine lines, and provide antioxidant protection against environmental damage. This ingredient is generally well-suited for combination skin when formulated properly, though individual tolerance can vary.

Experimental Dermatology, 2003Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and helps avoid extra sun sensitivity.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the vitamin C first in the morning for brightening and protection, and your retinol at night. This routine helps manage combination skin while avoiding irritation because the serum is gentle and includes soothing ingredients.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

How often should I use it?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Antioxidant serums like this are generally well tolerated and may be used daily to help brighten and protect your skin.

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and calming components like aloe and chamomile help keep the skin clear.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A topical antioxidant solution of 15% L-ascorbic acid, 1% alpha-tocopherol, and 0.5% ferulic acid provides significant photoprotection against solar-simulated UV radiation in human skin compared to its vehicle.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008
  • Pretreatment with a topical antioxidant mixture of vitamin C, ferulic acid, and phloretin attenuated ultraviolet-induced sunburn cell formation, thymine dimer formation, matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression, p53 protein expression, and the suppression of CD1a-expressing Langerhans cells in human skin compared to vehicle control.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2003
  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • Treatment with 14% ferulic acid and 12% l-ascorbic acid significantly reduced pigmentation and erythema while improving hydration and elasticity in 20 women with photoaged skin, with neither acid proving definitively more effective overall though ascorbic acid showed slightly greater skin lightening.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • Combining fractional microneedle radiofrequency with a topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced wrinkle severity by 29.9% versus 18.0%, increased elasticity by 12.9% versus 2.3%, and improved aesthetic outcomes in 31 participants compared to radiofrequency and placebo.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
  • Topical ferulic acid-containing formulations effectively reduce skin erythema, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging in adults compared to baseline or alternative conditions.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Glucomannan isolated from Candida utilis suppressed UVB-induced decreases in keratinocyte viability and apoptosis in vitro, and decreased UV-induced skin erythema formation in human volunteers in vivo.

    Carbohydrate Research, 2008
  • A novel Konjac glucomannan/silver nanoparticle composite sponge exhibited good antibacterial activity and effectively accelerated wound healing, promoted fibroblast growth, and accelerated epithelialization in animal models while demonstrating good cytocompatibility with L929 cells.

    Carbohydrate Polymers, 2018
  • Carboxymethyl konjac glucomannan-chitosan composite sponges possessed high swelling ratio, proper water vapor transmission rate, and good biocompatibility, and effectively healed full-layer skin defect wounds in male ICR mice compared to untreated conditions.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2018
  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Deionized Water Water, Ascorbic Acid Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Anisate, Salvia Sclarea, Grapefruit, Sodium Hyaluronate, Amorphophallus Konjac Root Powder, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf, Vitamin E Tocotrienol, Ferulic Acid, Chamomile Flower Extract Recutita Matricaria Flower Extract, Sodium Phytate, Xanthan Gum, Hydroxyethylcellulose

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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Prices checked 4 Nov 2026

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