AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Salicylic Acid Bha
Glycolic Acid Aha
4-Terpineol
Ceramide NpHigh
- 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 blemish treatment for your acne-prone combination skin, as salicylic acid and glycolic acid work to exfoliate and decongest pores, while niacinamide and Centella Asiatica Extract provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
- The formulation's moderate concentrations of these active ingredients support skin health and regulate desquamation, aligning well with your skin's needs.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica Extract and Green Tea Extract, with no harsh or prohibited substances.
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 800+ reviewsUsers with acne-prone, oily, and sensitive skin praise this lightweight gel for effectively reducing redness and calming active breakouts without drying out the skin. While many experience fast results and appreciate the hydrating ceramide capsules, some find the bottle size too small and note that it may take time to see significant changes on stubborn blemishes.
Highlights
Gentle & non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “hydrating ceramide capsules”
- “doesn't dry skin”
- “soothing sensation”
- “no irritation”
Effective acne relief Often Mentioned
- “reduces pimple size”
- “calms active breakouts”
- “flattens bumps”
- “clears blemishes overnight”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “non-sticky gel”
- “layers well”
- “lightweight formula”
Small product size Often Mentioned
- “tiny bottle”
- “finished quickly”
- “wish it was bigger”
- “small quantity”
Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation”
- “gentle formula”
- “suitable for sensitive skin”
- “calms redness”
Slow results Sometimes Noted
- “not an overnight fix”
- “took a few days”
- “didn't see difference”
- “slow progress”
Absorption issues Rarely Noted
- “takes time to absorb”
- “leaves wet layer”
- “sticky if overapplied”
- “capsules take time to melt”
Scent/applicator Rarely Noted
- “mild tea tree scent”
- “dropper is small”
- “hard to dispense”
- “herbal smell”
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Questions and answers
What makes AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment a great fit for acne-prone skin?
AXIS-Y Spot The Difference Blemish Treatment is a great fit for acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and glycolic acid help clear pores, while niacinamide and Centella Asiatica extract calm redness. Its moderate active ingredients support skin health safely without harsh substances.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and glycolic acid make this treatment a great fit by clearing out clogged pores, while niacinamide and centella asiatica extract help calm angry, blemish-prone areas.
BioMed Research International, 2020Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
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 Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing unwanted side effects. It works by gently clearing out pores and lowering oil production to keep breakouts away.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Experimental Dermatology, 2019
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps your routine simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this treatment with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol by applying the retinol first, followed by this treatment, or by alternating the nights you use each product. Combining exfoliating acids with retinol can sometimes cause irritation, so introducing them slowly helps your skin adjust safely.
How often should I use this treatment?
Use this treatment in your evening routine once a week to start, as exfoliating products require a gradual buildup. If your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This treatment is a great fit for acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and glycolic acid help clear out pores, while niacinamide and Centella Asiatica calm the skin. It is unlikely to clog pores or cause new breakouts, and any initial purging helps clear congestion safely.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this treatment fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2016A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Topical 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, 2005Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Repeated 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, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017A foam formulation of 2% 4-terpineol killed common ocular microorganisms within 60 seconds and at 14 and 28 days without causing skin or ocular irritation in human subjects.
BMJ Open Ophthalmology, 2018Topical tea tree oil and terpinen-4-ol produce good clinical outcomes in the management of Demodex blepharitis.
Cornea, 2022Topical treatment with Australian tea tree oil and terpinen-4-ol effectively moderates human demodicosis by lowering mite counts, relieving symptoms, and modulating the inflammatory immune response.
Parasitology, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Glycereth-26, Niacinamide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Althaea Rosea Flower Extract, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Ficus Carica Fruit Extract, Ulmus Davidiana Root Extract, Amaranthus Caudatus Seed Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Monarda Didyma Leaf Extract, Hydrangea Macrophylla Leaf Extract, Mentha Aquatica Extract, Sasa Quelpaertensis Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Camphor Leaf Extract, Cryptomeria Japonica Leaf Extract, Pinus Pinaster Bud Extract Bark, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Chamaecyparis Obtusa Water, Trehalose, Octyldodeceth-16, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tromethamine, C12-14 Pareth-12, Butylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Ceramide Np, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, 4-Terpineol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Rhizome Licorice Root Rhizome, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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