Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Moist Sun Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Panax Ginseng Extract
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ethylhexyl Triazone
Adenosine
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other sunscreens 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 suitability for your oily skin as niacinamide provides some seboregulation, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control and does not directly target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The formula provides general hydration from glycerin and butylene glycol, which are supportive for your skin but not specifically formulated for your primary concerns.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Panax Ginseng Root Extract.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis product is widely praised as a hybrid skincare-sunscreen with a lightweight, gel-like texture that leaves no white cast, making it ideal for dry or dehydrated skin types seeking a "glass skin" glow. It is polarizing for those with oily skin due to its potentially greasy finish, and sensitive users frequently cite eye stinging and a strong herbal fragrance as significant drawbacks.
Highlights
No white cast Mostly Mentioned
- “Applies seamlessly and does not leave a white cast.”
- “Completely invisible... suitable for dark skin.”
- “Transparent color with a slight yellowish tint that disappears.”
- “No issues at all with white cast.”
Dewy glass skin finish Often Mentioned
- “Imparts a gorgeous glow that's never sticky.”
- “Leaves a feathery, light, moisturized finish.”
- “Gives that glass skin look.”
- “Skin looks plump and glowy immediately after application.”
Lightweight gel texture Often Mentioned
- “Applies like a thicker bouncy serum and sinks in effortlessly.”
- “Gel-like texture is very smooth and lightweight.”
- “Melts into my skin and absorbs instantly.”
- “Spreads so well... really refreshing to use.”
Greasy on oily skin Often Mentioned
- “Just makes me look greasy... sits on top.”
- “Too dewy/shiny for my oily combination skin.”
- “Finish is somewhat too dewy... deeming it too shiny.”
- “Looks like I just applied makeup in a bad way.”
Added skincare benefits Sometimes Noted
- “Ginseng extract deeply hydrates my skin.”
- “Niacinamide helps with brightening and pore care.”
- “Feels like a moisturizer... helps diminish wrinkles.”
- “Nourishing and enhances skin elasticity.”
Convenient pump packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Love the airless pump, very convenient to use.”
- “Pump makes applying the necessary amount easier.”
- “Hygienic and easy to travel with.”
- “Sturdy packaging that doesn't spill.”
Stings eyes Sometimes Noted
- “Burns your eyes SO MUCH.”
- “Had to remove it immediately because of the burning.”
- “Can sting eyes... sensitive eyes should be careful.”
- “Caused tearing and irritation throughout the day.”
Strong herbal scent Sometimes Noted
- “Scent is unique... includes jasmine and baby dolls.”
- “Find the scent overpowering... not a fan.”
- “Has a distinct ginseng smell.”
- “Smell is initially very strong but dissipates.”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “Face will be red and burning for five minutes.”
- “Broke me out... contains olive oil and essential oils.”
- “Contains alcohol that could irritate sensitive skin.”
- “Not for sensitive skin... caused redness.”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, skinsort.com, yesstyle.com, stylevana.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Moist Sun Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
This product offers moderate suitability for your oily skin, as it provides basic hydration and some oil balance, though it lacks stronger ingredients for breakouts and excess shine. To work best for this skin, a moisturizing SPF needs lightweight ingredients that control oil, soothe blemishes, and hydrate without feeling heavy.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum fits your oily acne-prone skin moderately well because niacinamide helps balance oil, while panax ginseng root extract soothes your skin and glycerin provides general hydration. To be a better fit for this skin type, a product needs ingredients that control oil and directly target acne and blemishes.
What does Panax Ginseng Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Panax ginseng extract helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing redness and oxidized oil while improving blemish symptoms. Clinical studies show that regular use can help balance acne-prone skin and support a clearer, smoother complexion.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This product works as the sunscreen step in your morning routine, right after your moisturizer. Because it only provides an average fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type for oily acne-prone skin needs stronger oil-balancing ingredients and specific blemish-fighting actives to properly target breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum in the morning before sunscreen, as it provides gentle hydration and safe sun protection for your skin. To properly care for oily and acne-prone skin when using retinol, a product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-targeting components.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this moisturizing spf every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. Oily acne-prone skin needs a sunscreen with stronger oil control and active blemish-fighting ingredients to work best for this skin.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Beauty of Joseon Ginseng Moist Sun Serum is unlikely to cause irritation or purging on your oily acne-prone skin, but reviewers often find it feels greasy. Because it lacks strong oil-controlling and breakout-fighting ingredients, an ideal sunscreen for this skin type needs oil-absorbing minerals and targeted blemish-clearing components.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
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, 2017Enzyme-modified ginseng extract cream significantly reduced the global photo-damage score and various roughness measures including total roughness, smoothness depth, and arithmetic roughness average compared to placebo in 23 human subjects.
Rejuvenation Research, 2015A red ginseng hydrogel formulation with 1,2-hexanediol promoted selective growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis and decreased Cutibacterium acnes in 20 female subjects.
Journal of Ginseng Research, 2022A 1% fermented black ginseng cream significantly reduced eye wrinkles and brightened skin color in twenty-three human subjects compared to control cream and baseline.
Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health. Part A, 2020Topical 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 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019Microencapsulation of ethylhexyl triazone in lipid microparticles significantly reduced its in vivo human stratum corneum penetration by 45.7% compared to the nonencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2019A topical sunscreen containing octyl triazone, phenylbenzimidazole sulfonic acid, and methylbenzylidene camphor prevented UVB-induced suppression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and mixed-lymphocyte reaction in epidermal cell cultures compared to control sunscreens with comparable SPF lacking octyl triazone.
Toxicology in Vitro, 1994Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021
Why other sunscreens fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Ingredients
Water, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dibutyl Adipate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, Bis-Ethylhexyloxyphenol, Methoxyphenyl Triazine, Alcohol, Acrylates Copolymer, Butyloctyl Salicylate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Triazone, Niacinamide, Phenethyl Benzoate, Panax Ginseng Extract Berry, Panax Ginseng Stem Extract Leaf, Silica, Methylpropanediol, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Amyris Balsamifera Oil Bark, Angelica Archangelica Oil Root, Citrus Aurantium Amara Oil Twig Leaf, Ferula Galbaniflua Oil Resin, Jasmine Oil, Isoamyl P-Methoxycinnamate, Polysilicone-15, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Dibutyl Lauroyl Glutamide, Pentylene Glycol, Dibutyl Ethylhexanoyl Glutamide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Sodium Acrylates Crosspolymer-2, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, C30-45 Alkyldimethylsilyl Polypropylsilsesquioxane, Hydroxyacetophenone, Adenosine, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Ethyl Hexanediol, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta
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
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
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
How does it fit your skin?
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