Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide for oily acne-prone skin
Propolis Extract
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Centella Asiatica Extract
Curcuma Longa Root ExtractHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even 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 excellent treatment for your acne and blemishes, with niacinamide and propolis extract effectively reducing acne lesions and enhancing barrier resilience for your oily skin.
- Betaine salicylate provides moderate exfoliation and sebum control, targeting oiliness and shiny skin by clearing pores and minimizing breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and poses no 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely praised for delivering a "glass skin" finish, effectively calming acne-prone and sensitive skin while providing deep hydration without heaviness. Most users report a noticeable reduction in redness and an immediate healthy glow, though a minority experienced breakouts or found the effects too subtle.
Highlights
Imparts healthy glow Mostly Mentioned
- “Gives a dewy, glass-skin finish immediately.”
- “Skin looks radiant and healthy, not oily.”
- “Leaves a lovely sheen that looks great under makeup.”
Calms redness Often Mentioned
- “Significantly reduced redness from active acne.”
- “Soothed my irritated, sensitive skin overnight.”
- “Helps calm down angry breakouts quickly.”
Hydrating lightweight Often Mentioned
- “Honey-like consistency that absorbs surprisingly fast.”
- “Deeply hydrating but doesn't feel heavy or greasy.”
- “Plumps up dry patches and dehydration lines.”
Acne pore control Sometimes Noted
- “Helped minimize the appearance of my pores.”
- “Kept hormonal breakouts at bay.”
- “Faded post-acne marks faster than usual.”
No visible results Sometimes Noted
- “Finished the bottle but saw no difference.”
- “Hydrating, but didn't brighten or fix texture.”
- “Just felt like a basic moisturizer, nothing special.”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Triggered fungal acne bumps on my forehead.”
- “Broke me out in small whiteheads after three days.”
- “My sensitive skin reacted poorly to it.”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “Dropper doesn't reach the last bit of product.”
- “Hard to get the remaining serum out of the bottom.”
- “Pipette struggles to pick up the thick liquid.”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “Left a tacky film that didn't fully dry down.”
- “Felt too sticky to layer under my sunscreen.”
- “Hair kept sticking to my face after application.”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, yesstyle.com, stylevana.com, sokoglam.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Beauty of Joseon Glow Serum is a great fit because it helps reduce acne and blemishes using niacinamide and propolis extract while strengthening your skin barrier. It also controls oil and clears pores with betaine salicylate for a smoother, less shiny look without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, propolis extract, and betaine salicylate make this serum a great fit by effectively reducing blemishes, clearing pores, and controlling oil. They help calm your oily acne-prone skin safely without any harsh ingredients or irritation.
What does Propolis Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Propolis extract helps calm breakouts and redness on oily, acne-prone skin while fighting the bacteria that cause pimples. It works to reduce redness scars and clear up lesions, making it a helpful addition to your routine for clearer skin.
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 serum goes in your evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are usually placed in the PM for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is unlikely to irritate oily acne-prone skin since it contains no harsh ingredients.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol at night to help keep your oily skin calm and smooth. This product is unlikely to irritate your skin, but if you are new to using both together, start slowly to see how your skin feels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
How often should I use this serum?
This serum is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin, helping to reduce breakouts and control shine safely. You can use it in the evening as part of your routine, and some people may also use it in the morning or twice a day.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since it has a very safe profile and contains no harsh ingredients for your oily skin. A small number of reviewers do mention occasional breakouts, and ingredients like betaine salicylate help clear pores and control oil to prevent this.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical propolis application significantly reduced postoperative pain, hemorrhage, and accelerated wound healing in patients undergoing tonsillectomy compared to a control group.
Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology, 2018Topical treatment with ethanol propolis extract resulted in complete mycological and clinical cure in 56.25% of patients with onychomycosis, demonstrating non-toxicity and effective antifungal activity against Trichophyton spp. both in vitro and in patients.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018Topical 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, 2019Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical application of curcumin or turmeric treats various skin conditions by leveraging antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023Topical formulations of curcumin target oxidative damage and inflammation to improve wound healing in animal models.
Drug Discovery Today, 2017A curcumin-loaded spanlastic anti-aging gel utilizing formula F5 incorporated into 2% HPMC E50 demonstrated sustained release action, compatibility, and the ability to penetrate skin layers to a depth of about 112.5 um without signs of irritation.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2024
Ingredients
Propolis Extract, Dipropylene Glycol, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Water, Niacinamide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Lotus Corniculatus Seed Extract, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Betaine Salicylate, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Tromethamine, Polyglyceryl-10 Laurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Dextrin, Pentylene Glycol, Octanediol, Tocopherol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer
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
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