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Balance Me Congested Skin Serum for oily skin

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

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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

  • Suitable for oily skin, this serum offers moderate benefits for managing oily shine due to ingredients like lemon peel oil and eucalyptus oil, which help regulate sebum production and offer antimicrobial actions.
  • While glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf extract provide hydration and soothing effects, they lack specialized action for directly managing excess oil production.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower.

How to apply

  • Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
  • Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.

People Say

★4.0Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum as an effective "on-the-spot" treatment that rapidly calms inflammation and reduces redness without causing dryness. While many appreciate its natural ability to clear blemishes and hormonal breakouts within days, a notable portion of users are divided on its strong herbal scent and small bottle size.

Highlights

  • Rapidly clears blemishes Often Mentioned
    • “Spots disappear within a few hours”
    • “Breakout almost gone in a day or two”
    • “Gone in half the time”
  • Soothes redness Often Mentioned
    • “Reduces redness overnight”
    • “Calms inflammation instantly”
    • “Takes the anger out of spots”
  • Strong medicinal scent Often Mentioned
    • “Smells strongly of medicine”
    • “Scent is a bit much”
    • “Smell is off-putting”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “Absorbs very quickly”
    • “Not greasy”
    • “Sinks in immediately”
  • Non-drying and gentle Sometimes Noted
    • “Doesn't leave a tacky feel”
    • “No dryness or irritation”
    • “Gentle enough for sensitive skin”
  • Small bottle size Sometimes Noted
    • “Wish it was a bigger bottle”
    • “Expensive for the size”
    • “Tiny tube”
  • Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
    • “Did nothing for my skin”
    • “Saw no difference”
    • “Ineffective on my acne”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “Pump dispenses too much”
    • “Hard to control amount”
    • “Lid broke easily”

Sources: lovi.care, ipsy.com, amazon.com, lookfantastic.com, ocado.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Congested Skin Serum work for oily skin?

This serum works moderately well for oily skin, helping manage shine with lemon peel oil and eucalyptus oil while keeping skin calm. Although it provides soothing hydration, oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to properly control excess oil and pores.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Lemon peel oil and eucalyptus oil help regulate sebum production and manage oily shine. To better fit oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control excess oil and address enlarged pores.

What does Moringa Seed Oil do for oily skin?

Moringa seed oil helps calm oily and breakout-prone skin by reducing skin inflammation and swelling. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works to keep your face balanced.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020

What does Kanuka Oil do for oily skin?

Kanuka oil helps calm and care for oily skin through natural antimicrobial properties that target common bacteria and fungi. Because it comes from plant extracts, this type of product needs lightweight, clarifying ingredients that clear pores without feeling heavy or greasy.

Phytotherapy Research, 2000

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine. Lovi routines put treatments with actives in the evening for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

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

You can use this serum with salicylic acid by applying the salicylic acid first, allowing it to absorb, and then following with this serum in your evening routine. This helps keep your skin calm while managing oily shine, though oily skin ultimately needs targeted ingredients that directly control excess oil production.

How often should I use it?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Oily skin works best with products that contain strong oil-control ingredients and pore-clearing acids.

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

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has a safe formula with soothing components and no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that directly regulate excess oil production while keeping the skin calm.

Polymers, 2022

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol, limonene, linalool, citral, geraniol, citronellol, and eugenol).

What the research says

Why other serums fit oily skin better

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.

    BioMed Research International, 2022

Ingredients

Water, Rice Bran Oil, Glycerin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil Moringa Seed Oil, Picea Abies Extract Spruce Knot Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Flower Extract Corn Poppy Flower Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract Iris Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Flower Lavender Oil Flower, Lemon Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil Fruit, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Kunzea Ericoides Oil Leaf Kanuka Oil Leaf, Clove Oil Bud, Chondrus Crispus, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Dilauryl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Eugenol

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

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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