iS Clinical Active Serum for dry skin
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Vaccinium Myrtillus Extract
Arbutin
Willow Bark Extract
Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract
Low
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the serums alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 exfoliation for your dry skin due to willow bark extract and saccharum officinarum extract, which help decongest pores, but lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal hydration.
- Glycerin and butylene glycol provide some hydration, which is beneficial for dry or flaky skin, but the overall formulation does not fully address your primary concerns.
- The product is safe for your dry skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that would cause irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
- Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this serum as a "holy grail" multitasker that effectively targets adult acne while simultaneously smoothing fine lines and uneven texture. While the potent "tingling" sensation confirms its activity for most, the high price point and potential for dryness are common considerations for new users.
Highlights
Clears Acne & Breakouts Mostly Mentioned
- “breakouts have been less severe and fewer”
- “helps prevent breakouts”
- “cystic acne is gone”
- “eradicate blackheads”
Improves Texture & Tone Often Mentioned
- “skin feels softer”
- “smooths skin texture”
- “pores look smaller”
- “glows after 2 days”
High Price Point Often Mentioned
- “expensive for small bottle”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “investment product”
- “pricey but worth it”
Anti-Aging Benefits Sometimes Noted
- “softens fine lines”
- “boosts collagen production”
- “skin looks younger”
- “diminished wrinkles”
Fast Visible Results Sometimes Noted
- “results within a couple of days”
- “woke up and skin looked rested”
- “immediate results”
- “overnight difference”
Intense Tingling Sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burns a little”
- “strong tingle at first”
- “stings upon application”
- “sensation was too much”
Drying for Some Rarely Noted
- “can be drying”
- “need a good moisturizer after”
- “skin felt tight”
- “flaking around nose”
Risk of Counterfeits Rarely Noted
- “received fake product”
- “color was yellow not clear”
- “smelled different than usual”
- “bottle looked off”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, brainsstreet.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
Why is iS Clinical Active Serum a weak match for dry skin?
iS Clinical Active Serum is a weak match for your dry skin because it offers only moderate exfoliation and lacks sufficient softening ingredients for optimal hydration. A treatment for dry skin needs rich, soothing ingredients that provide deep hydration and support the skin barrier, such as ceramides, peptides, and niacinamide.
Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for dry skin?
This serum is a weak match for your dry skin because it lacks sufficient soft, moisturizing ingredients to provide optimal hydration and fully address your skin needs. A treatment for dry skin needs rich, soothing ingredients that provide deep hydration and support the skin barrier, such as ceramides, niacinamide, peptides, or vitamin C.
What does Sugarcane Extract do for dry skin?
Sugarcane Extract helps smooth dry skin by gently sweeping away dead flakes so moisturizers can sink in better. It is unlikely to irritate when used in moderation, making skin feel soft and refreshed.
What does Bilberry Fruit Extract do for dry skin?
Bilberry fruit extract helps hydrate dry skin while improving its smoothness and overall texture. It also provides antioxidant protection that supports a healthy complexion and keeps skin feeling soft.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, starting once a week so your skin can adjust. A product for this skin needs rich softening ingredients that add deep hydration to properly soothe and comfort dry areas.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
This serum may be used in your routine, but dry skin needs a product that includes plenty of rich hydrating and softening ingredients to keep your skin smooth and comfortable.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment once a week in the evening, as dry skin needs extra rich, softening ingredients and soothing hydrators like ceramides and plant oils to stay comfortable.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as it contains ingredients that help clear out pores without harsh or irritating substances. However, because it lacks enough rich moisturizing ingredients, a treatment of this type needs added heavy hydrating creams and nourishing oils to keep dry skin comfortable and soft.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
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, 2017Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Fermented bilberry extract improved wrinkle depth, skin smoothness, roughness, firmness, elasticity, antioxidant capacity, and complexion evenness compared to a placebo in 66 subjects over 84 days.
Nutrients, 2024Topical application of oil-in-water creams containing wild bilberry leaves extract and seeds oil produced significant beneficial effects on the skin of healthy human volunteers.
Antioxidants, 2021Bilberry fruit extract incorporated into chitosan-based hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities, supporting their potential use in topical anti-aging preparations.
Antioxidants, 2024A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024White button mushroom extract treatment increased VEGF densities, EGF, PCNA, and collagen fibers, while decreasing apoptotic cells and limiting TGF-beta and CD4 reactions in ICR mice and chorioallantoic culture, indicating beneficial effects on skin regeneration and injury.
Microscopy Research and Technique, 2012
Why other serums fit dry skin better
Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.
Annals of Dermatology, 2019Treatment 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit, Triethanolamine, Willow Bark Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Arbutin, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract, Menthol, Phenoxyethanol
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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