Bayer Skinoren Cream 20% for oily acne-prone skin
Azelaic Acid
Benzoic Acid
Glycerin
Cetearyl Alcohol
Glyceryl Stearate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 treatment for your oily skin and acne concerns due to the presence of azelaic acid, which helps reduce blemishes and even skin tone. Glycerin is also included to provide essential hydration without adding excess oil.
- The formulation is well-suited for addressing breakouts and oiliness, with azelaic acid's anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties targeting these issues effectively.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients and avoids harsh or prohibited substances, minimizing the risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.0Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsA significant number of reviewers note that patience is required due to a slow initial working period and common side effects like intense itching and dryness upon application.
Highlights
Clears active acne Mostly Mentioned
- “Cleared cystic acne”
- “Stopped new breakouts”
- “Pimples disappear in days”
- “Heals spots faster”
Itching and stinging Mostly Mentioned
- “Pins and needles”
- “Burned like fire”
- “Itches every time”
- “Stings for 15 mins”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “Faded red marks”
- “Lightened acne scars”
- “Removed hyperpigmentation”
- “Evened skin tone”
Drying and flaking Often Mentioned
- “Skin became flaky”
- “Dried out lips”
- “Tight chalky feeling”
- “Caused peeling”
Reduces redness Sometimes Noted
- “Less pink skin”
- “Inflammation went down”
- “Soothed angry spots”
Smooths skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Skin feels smoother”
- “Reduced oiliness”
- “Unclogged pores”
- “Mattifies the skin”
Initial purging phase Sometimes Noted
- “Worse before better”
- “Broke out initially”
- “More whiteheads appeared”
- “Caused a purge”
Slow onset Sometimes Noted
- “Took 4-8 weeks”
- “Results are slow”
- “Requires patience”
- “Months to see difference”
Sources: lovi.care, acne.org, gopicky.com, skinsort.com, reddit.com, superdrug.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Skinoren Cream 20% work for oily acne-prone skin?
Skinoren Cream 20% works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as azelaic acid helps reduce blemishes and even skin tone while glycerin provides hydration without adding excess oil. To fit this skin type best, a treatment of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, benzoyl peroxide, or vitamin C that control oil and manage breakouts without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream works for your oily acne-prone skin because azelaic acid helps target breakouts and reduce blemishes, while glycerin provides light hydration without adding excess oil. To fit this skin type even better, products of this type need effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, benzoyl peroxide, or Vitamin C for optimal oil control and blemish management.
What does Azelaic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Azelaic acid helps calm angry blemishes, clears out pores, and fades leftover dark marks on oily, acne-prone skin. It targets multiple root causes of breakouts by keeping bacteria in check and reducing swelling, which makes it very helpful for everyday management.
What does Benzoic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Benzoic Acid is unlikely to be a direct treatment for acne, but products used for oily, acne-prone skin often benefit from ingredients like azelaic acid or benzoyl peroxide that help clear pores and reduce breakouts. These acne treatments generally have a safe profile with only mild, temporary skin irritation as a common side effect.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin often needs a product of this type that also balances oil production and provides deep pore-clearing ingredients to keep breakouts under control.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol by applying them on alternating nights to keep your oily skin calm and avoid irritation. When used in the same routine, apply your retinol first, let it absorb fully, and then follow with this cream.
American Family Physician, 2012Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. An oily acne-prone skin type needs a product of this type to include ingredients like azelaic acid for blemishes and lightweight hydrators like glycerin that keep skin balanced without heavy oils.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores, but it may cause an initial purging phase and high drying or flaking when you first start using it. Reviewers also frequently complain about itching and stinging.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Azelaic acid nanocrystal hydrogel 10% achieved a higher success rate and greater lesion reduction than azelaic acid cream 20% in patients with mild to moderate facial acne.
Pharmaceutics, 2021Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2024A 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, 2017Topical application of a dermocosmetic containing Myrtus communis extract and azelaic acid reduced acne relapses and helped maintain remission compared to a light moisturizing cream in adult females in the acne maintenance phase over 16 weeks.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2023Topical administration of 20% azelaic acid cream and 5% tranexamic acid solution comparably improved acne-related postinflammatory hyperpigmentation in patients with acne vulgaris, while tranexamic acid demonstrated a significantly better safety profile at week 4.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023Azelaic acid 15% gel showed comparable efficacy to adapalene 0.1% gel in reducing lesions, severity, and Dermatology Life Quality Index in women with adult acne, with significantly lower dryness and scaling, and demonstrated superiority during maintenance compared to no further treatment.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2015Trioxsalen bath PUVA therapy suppressed nonimmunologic immediate contact reactions to benzoic acid and methyl nicotinate in 12 dermatologic patients, with the suppressive effect intensifying during therapy.
International Journal of Dermatology, 1989The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Azelaic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Palmitate, Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cocoglycerides, Benzoic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate Malate, Cetearyl Nonanoate, Cetearyl Octanoate, Stearoyl Macrogolglycerides, Peg-30 Stearate
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.