celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Tranexamic Acid
MelatoninHigh
- 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 and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, as niacinamide and tranexamic acid target hyperpigmentation and inflammation to improve clarity. Spearmint extract and bisabolol further soothe and refine pores, enhancing overall skin texture.
- The formulation is highly suitable for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, providing relevant benefits for improving skin clarity.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients for your combination skin.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its lightweight, non-sticky texture and ability to fade post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation without irritation. While effective for brightening and evening skin tone, many users noted that pore-tightening results were subtle or unnoticeable compared to the brightening effects.
Highlights
Lightweight non-sticky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs incredibly fast”
- “no sticky feeling”
- “lightweight fresh formula”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “marks faded faster than expected”
- “visibly fading blemishes”
- “reduced redness and pigmentation”
Gentle non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation or sensitivity”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no stinging”
Hydrating glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “gives an amazing glow”
- “skin looks luminous”
Minimal pore improvement Sometimes Noted
- “didn't notice pore reduction”
- “pores don't look different”
- “no dramatic change in pores”
Slow visible results Sometimes Noted
- “results take time”
- “not dramatic yet”
- “gradual improvement”
Not moisturizing enough Rarely Noted
- “need to layer for dry skin”
- “light hydration only”
- “not enough for winter”
Potential irritants Rarely Noted
- “reaction to spearmint extract”
- “caused a breakout”
- “slight tingling sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, celimax.us, skinsort.com, stylevana.com, oliveyoung.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because niacinamide and tranexamic acid target inflammation to improve clarity, while spearmint extract and bisabolol soothe and refine pores for your acne-prone skin. It is very unlikely to cause irritation as it lacks harsh ingredients.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, tranexamic acid, spearmint extract, and bisabolol make this serum a great fit by helping to calm breakouts, fade dark spots, and soothe the skin. These ingredients target inflammation and improve clarity safely without harshness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
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 Tranexamic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Tranexamic acid helps calm red marks left behind by breakouts and reduces inflammatory bumps like pimples on acne-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to improve uneven skin tone without significant side effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure, while helping target breakouts and dark spots safely.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first and following it with your retinol. Because this product is gentle and soothing, it is unlikely to cause irritation when combined with your retinol routine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is a great fit for acne-prone skin, helping to brighten dark spots and calm breakouts safely without harsh ingredients.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores since it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that trigger irritation. Niacinamide and spearmint extract help soothe skin and improve clarity while keeping breakouts under control.
Is it 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, 2002Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010Topical Berberis integerrima root extract combined with spearmint essential oil significantly reduces lesion counts and mGAGS scores in patients with mild to moderate facial acne, with effectiveness comparable to 1% clindamycin topical solution.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, 2005Application of 12.5% melatonin cream significantly reduced natural sunlight-induced erythema compared to placebo and no treatment in healthy volunteers, while lower doses (0.5% and 2.5%) showed no difference.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2016Cosmetic formulations containing lycopene and melatonin showed significant differences in skin sebum content, hydration, elasticity, erythema index, and melanin index compared to control in 36 healthy women.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2020Topical application of 12.5% melatonin reduced erythema induced by natural sunlight compared to placebo and no treatment in participants with an erythema reaction, without causing significant effects on cognition.
Danish Medical Journal, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, 12-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Vinyl Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Sorbitan Oleate, Spearmint Extract, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bisabolol, Hyaluronic Acid
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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