ISDIN Flavo-C Serum for combination skin
Ascorbic Acid
Ginkgo Biloba
Lactic Acid
Propylene GlycolHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 excellent antioxidant protection and mild exfoliation for your combination skin, as ascorbic acid and lactic acid work to brighten and refine your complexion.
- Ginkgo biloba leaf extract further supports skin health by providing antioxidant benefits, which are beneficial for managing oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis serum is highly regarded for its ability to brighten dull skin, reduce hyperpigmentation, and smooth fine lines, making it particularly effective for mature, dehydrated, or sun-damaged complexions. The formula is frequently praised for being lightweight and fast-absorbing, and for providing significant hydration. A small number of users with sensitive skin have reported experiencing irritation or redness.
Highlights
Brightens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “My hyperpigmentation has lightened and skin looks more even, even shines more.”
- “Gives a flawless and illuminating results.”
- “I've seen good results with skin brightening, hydration and smoothing of fine lines.”
- “This boosts collagen and makes the face brighter and tones the skin.”
Hydrates and smooths Often Mentioned
- “I am more on a dehydrated side and this helps me look hydrated and smooth.”
- “Helps reduce wrinkles and hydrate all day and all night.”
- “I've seen good results with skin brightening, hydration and smoothing of fine lines.”
- “Feel vibrant and refreshed with supple, moisturized skin.”
Lightweight, fast-absorbing Sometimes Noted
- “I like how it is light not thick... love it.”
- “The serum absorbs quickly so you can apply your moisturizer right away.”
- “Its lightweight formula absorbs quickly, making it an excellent addition to any morning skincare routine.”
- “No scent....which I like. The serum absorbs quickly.”
Frustrating packaging Rarely Noted
- “I like the actual product, but the packaging is awful, I've already lost three bottles the applicator pops off.”
- “I had been using the Flavo-C ampoules and loved the serum inside. But I've nicked myself one too many times while snapping the glass top off.”
- “The serum is too thick for me and I feel I waste a lot of the product when tipping the vial.”
- “Challenging packaging.”
Irritates sensitive skin Rarely Noted
- “I think the serum is too strong for my face as it has burned and left very rough and a peeling face.”
- “When i put the Day and night cream on it stings so I am afraid I am not able to use this product.”
- “Super Irritating... Most Vitamin C serums oxidize and leave a yellow/orange cast on face.”
- “If you have sensitive skin, you might experience some redness after the first application.”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “While I do like the product, the smell is very off-putting.”
- “It's a very strong, unpleasant herbal-like scent.”
- “It is so bad that I emailed customer service to see if it was in fact spoiled.”
- “So I'm holding my nose and continuing to use it up.”
Sources: lovi.care, judge.me, dermapproved.com, newbeauty.com, walmart.com, frenchpharmacy.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes ISDIN Flavo-C a great fit for combination skin?
ISDIN Flavo-C Serum is a great fit because ascorbic acid and lactic acid brighten your complexion while offering mild exfoliation and antioxidant protection. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract further supports skin health and helps manage oily shine, all with a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Ascorbic acid and lactic acid make this serum a great fit by offering antioxidant protection and mild exfoliation to brighten and refine your skin. Ginkgo biloba leaf extract further supports your skin by providing antioxidant benefits that help manage oily shine.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
What does Ginkgo Biloba Extract do for combination skin?
Ginkgo Biloba Extract helps calm combination skin and protects it from daily stress. It also improves skin texture and smoothness while keeping the skin looking fresh.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2023Journal of Dermatological Science, 2014
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, as Lovi routines put treatments in the evening for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. It helps brighten and refine combination skin with ascorbic acid and lactic acid.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying your retinol in the evening and keeping this vitamin C serum for your morning routine, which helps prevent any extra sensitivity. Using antioxidant serums in the morning is a great way to protect your skin throughout the day while keeping your nighttime routine focused on retinol.
How often should I use it?
Start by using this treatment once a week in the evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps safely manage your combination skin while refining your complexion and providing antioxidant protection.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
ISDIN Flavo-C Serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because its formula avoids heavy, pore-clogging ingredients. The inclusion of lactic acid and ginkgo biloba helps keep your complexion clear and refined by gently managing excess oil and dead skin cells.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical 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, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical 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, 2022Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Topical application of Ginkgo biloba cream for two weeks reduced wrinkles and improved skin shape, texture, and tautness in human volunteers compared to baseline.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2023A cosmetic formulation combining green tea and Ginkgo biloba extracts synergistically improved skin elasticity and skin barrier function in 48 volunteers compared to individual extracts.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.
Cutis, 1988A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.
Veterinary Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Propylene Glycol, Water, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Polysorbate 20, 2-Hexanediol, Polysorbate 80, Phenoxyethanol, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Ginkgo Biloba
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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