Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Recovery Serum for acne-prone skin
Avocado
Ceramides
Niacinamide
Allantoin
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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
- Offers moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts as niacinamide and bisabolol help soothe inflammation and support your skin barrier function. Glycerin and avocado oil provide excellent moisturization, which is beneficial for combination skin.
- Multiple ceramides in moderate concentrations further aid in barrier repair, contributing to overall skin health.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like allantoin and bisabolol.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 3.3k+ reviewsWhile many find it hydrating and calming, a subset of users with acne-prone skin experienced breakouts, and others felt it wasn't moisturizing enough on its own for very dry skin.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “milky and absorbs fast”
- “not sticky or heavy”
- “layers well under makeup”
- “feels like a drink of water”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “immediate reduction in redness”
- “great for post-workout flush”
- “soothed maskne irritation”
Soothing & calming Often Mentioned
- “healed my damaged barrier”
- “stopped the stinging”
- “calms sensitive skin instantly”
- “feels cooling on application”
Hydrating & plumping Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin bouncy”
- “gives a healthy glow”
- “skin feels plumped”
- “good hydration boost”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells fresh like cucumber”
- “light and not overpowering”
- “enjoyable spa-like scent”
- “subtle green tea fragrance”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused cystic acne flare-up”
- “skin texture got bumpy”
Expensive for size Sometimes Noted
- “bottle runs out fast”
- “pricey for the amount”
- “not worth the high cost”
- “finished in a month”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “need a moisturizer on top”
- “too light for winter”
- “didn't fix my dry patches”
- “disappears too quickly”
Irritation/reaction Rarely Noted
- “stung my sensitive skin”
- “made my face redder”
- “caused a burning sensation”
- “allergic reaction to extracts”
Pump/packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump dispenses too much”
- “hard to get last drops”
- “bottle is heavy glass”
- “pump gets stuck”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, ipsy.com, glowrecipe.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Glow Recipe Avocado Ceramide Serum work for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, as it helps soothe breakouts and supports your skin barrier without causing irritation. Acne-prone skin requires effective ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and clear blemishes while keeping excess oil under control.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, bisabolol, and multiple ceramides make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin because they help soothe inflammation, repair the skin barrier, and support overall skin health. An acne-prone skin type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that provide excellent benefits for breakouts and hydration without causing excess oiliness.
What does Avocado do for acne-prone skin?
Avocado helps keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth while supporting skin barrier repair. A product of this type needs non-greasy, soothing ingredients that calm redness without clogging pores.
What do Ceramides do for acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help acne-prone skin by restoring a damaged water barrier, reducing dryness and redness from acne treatments, and lowering inflammation. Because acne-prone skin often lacks these key fats, products for this skin type need ceramides to soothe irritation and keep the barrier strong.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Archives of Dermatological Research, 1995
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine as a treatment step after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening helps keep things simple and provides extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help calm and hydrate your skin before putting on your retinol. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids is unlikely to cause irritation and may help reduce dryness.
How often should I use this serum?
This serum works well when used in the evening as part of your routine. Daily use is unlikely to irritate your acne-prone skin, as it contains soothing ingredients that help calm inflammation while keeping your skin soft and smooth.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum may occasionally cause breakouts for some people with acne-prone skin, as some reviewers have reported. It is unlikely to cause severe irritation because it contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and bisabolol, but acne-prone skin often needs lighter, non-greasy hydrators and pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid to stay clear.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this serum around the eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are safe for delicate areas and the skin overall. However, acne-prone skin on the body often needs targeted treatments with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to effectively clear breakouts.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Application of Body Lotion for 5 weeks on cosmetic dry skin improved barrier properties, increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides, and long-chain fatty acids, increased beneficial skin bacteria, and enhanced microbiome functional potential compared to baseline.
Scientific Reports, 2022Topical 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, 2005Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Jojoba Esters, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract Avocado Fruit Extract, Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Ceramide Eos, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Allantoin, Rice Bran Oil, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-8, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Grape Fruit Extract, Potassium Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Populus Tremuloides Bark Extract, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Phytate, Cetyl Alcohol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Behenic Acid, Cholesterol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract Flower, Elettaria Cardamomum Seed Extract, Jasmine Leaf Extract Flower, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Sodium Carbonate, Sodium Chloride, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cananga Odorata Flower Extract, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Rose Extract, Rubus Idaeus Leaf Extract Raspberry Leaf Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dextran, Hydroxyacetophenone, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Carbomer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrogenated Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Stem Extract Flower Leaf Lavender Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Sandalwood Extract Wood, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceteareth-25, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Benzoate
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
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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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