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Anua Green Lemon Vita C Blemish Serum for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Anua Green Lemon Vita C Blemish Serum

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other serums fit it 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 moderate brightening and evening of skin tone for your combination skin, as sodium ascorbyl phosphate and niacinamide work to address blemishes and oily shine. Ferulic acid further supports antioxidant activity and skin brightening, complementing the serum's overall effectiveness.
  • The formulation is generally safe for your combination skin, with soothing ingredients like alpha-bisabolol and allantoin present to minimize any potential irritation.
  • This serum provides relevant benefits for oily shine and combination skin, with a good safety profile due to the absence of 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

★4.3Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

Users report significant skin brightening and a reduction in dark spots and hyperpigmentation, with many seeing results within a few weeks. The product is noted for improving skin texture and providing a hydrating, glowing finish. A major drawback is the product's instability, leading to rapid oxidation and a short shelf life, often requiring refrigeration. Many also find the texture sticky and the scent unpleasant.

Highlights

  • Brightens skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “visible reduction in dark spots”
    • “skin tone is much fairer”
    • “noticeably brighter and clearer complexion”
  • Rapid oxidation Mostly Mentioned
    • “oxidizes pretty quickly”
    • “change in colour after 1 month”
    • “only has 3 months shelf life”
  • Sticky texture Often Mentioned
    • “texture is relatively richer and stickier”
    • “feels slightly sticky after application”
    • “adheres to skin but feels thin”
  • Fast results Sometimes Noted
    • “difference after just 2 weeks”
    • “worked its magic over a short period”
    • “immediate results”
  • Hydrating glow Sometimes Noted
    • “gives healthy skin and glow”
    • “leaves everything feeling hydrated”
    • “glass skin effect”
  • Improves texture Sometimes Noted
    • “pores around my nose are smaller”
    • “skin feels so smooth”
    • “lifting effect on sagging skin”
  • Inconvenient storage Sometimes Noted
    • “troublesome to use -> need to refrigerate”
    • “refrigerating it is a pain”
    • “hard to remember to put back”
  • Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like rotten orange”
    • “iconic metallic scent”
    • “bitter smell than normal lemon”
  • Potential irritation Rarely Noted
    • “felt my skin getting worse”
    • “tingling sensation”
    • “acne marks got darker”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, hikoco.co.nz, yesstyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Anua Green Lemon Vita C Blemish Serum work for combination skin?

This serum works moderately well for combination skin by helping to brighten your tone and manage oily shine, though other products fit this skin type better. To achieve an ideal balance, treatment products for combination skin need ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to regulate oil without extra dryness, alongside hydrating components that keep skin smooth.

Drug Research, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

This serum works for combination skin because sodium ascorbyl phosphate and niacinamide help address blemishes and oily shine. To work even better for this skin type, a product needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that regulate oiliness and provide hydration without overwhelming oilier areas or causing excess dryness.

Drug Research, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

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.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Green Lemon Extract do for combination skin?

Green Lemon Extract helps balance combination skin by providing antioxidants that protect against daily stress and support a clear, smooth look. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used as part of your regular skincare routine.

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 2026Food Research International, 2020

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums may also be used in the morning or twice a day. For combination skin, a product of this type needs brightening antioxidants like vitamin C and niacinamide along with soothing ingredients to balance oily shine and keep the skin calm.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

This serum works for your combination skin, though other products fit it better, so for this skin it needs brightening ingredients like vitamin C and niacinamide along with soothing extras to keep the skin calm. You may use this serum with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with this serum, or by using one in the morning and the other at night to help avoid irritation.

Drug Research, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use this serum?

This serum works in the evening routine, where it helps address blemishes and oily shine on your combination skin. To achieve better results and a smoother, more balanced look, combination skin of this type needs additional lightweight hydration and soothing ingredients.

Drug Research, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients like allantoin and alpha-bisabolol to help keep irritation low. However, combination skin often needs a lightweight texture and ingredients that balance oil and moisture without feeling heavy, which other products may deliver more effectively.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, linalool, and citral).

What the research says

  • Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.

    Drug Research, 2017

  • 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, 2002

  • Topical combination of 5% sodium ascorbyl phosphate and 0.2% retinol reduced inflammatory acne lesions by 29.28% at 4 weeks and 63.10% at 8 weeks, outperforming either agent alone.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2009

  • Topical 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, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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, 2005

  • Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024

  • Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014

  • Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025

  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022

  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Propanediol, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Cyclopentasiloxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Sodium Hydroxide, C12-14 Alketh-12, Alpha-Bisabolol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Water, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Allantoin, Glycerin, Glutathione, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil Flower, Litsea Cubeba Oil Fruit, Adenosine, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Disodium Edta, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Spearmint Oil Leaf, Tocopherol, Ferulic Acid, Barosma Betulina Leaf Extract, N-Butyl Alcohol, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Sorbitol, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Sucrose Stearate, Glyceryl Stearates, Beta-Carotene, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Niacinamide, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Thioctic Acid, Lycopodium Clavatum Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Pyridoxine, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Folic Acid, Biotin, Ceramide Np, Ubiquinone, Cyanocobalamin, Thiamine Hcl, Riboflavin, Linoleic Acid, Hesperidin, Ergothioneine, Limonene, Linalool, Citral

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play