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Beauty of Joseon Light On Serum: Centella + Vita C for oily acne-prone skin

Superior

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best serums for oily acne-prone skin.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by Centella Asiatica Extract and Glycerin, which offer anti-inflammatory and humectant actions beneficial for managing oiliness and breakouts.
  • The high concentrations of 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide deliver exceptional brightening and evening of skin tone, further enhancing the product's effectiveness for your concerns.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Centella Asiatica Extract and Bisabolol.

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 2.3k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely praised by users with oily and combination skin for its lightweight, non-sticky gel texture that hydrates and soothes without clogging pores. While many find it gentle and effective for gradual brightening and calming redness, a minority of users with sensitive skin experienced breakouts or irritation.

Highlights

  • Lightweight gel texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “feels like water”
    • “absorbs instantly”
    • “perfect for oily skin”
    • “no sticky residue”
  • Gentle and soothing Often Mentioned
    • “didn't sting my skin”
    • “calmed my redness”
    • “very gentle vitamin C”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
  • Brightening effect Sometimes Noted
    • “faded acne scars”
    • “skin looks brighter”
    • “helped with hyperpigmentation”
    • “complexion looks more even”
  • Hydrating glow Sometimes Noted
    • “gives a nice glow”
    • “skin feels hydrated”
    • “leaves a dewy finish”
    • “moisturizing enough for summer”
  • Smart packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “love the pump”
    • “keeps product stable”
    • “sanitary packaging”
    • “easy to dispense”
  • Breakouts and irritation Rarely Noted
    • “broke me out badly”
    • “caused tiny bumps”
    • “gave me a rash”
    • “woke up with cystic acne”
  • Not for dry skin Rarely Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough”
    • “need a heavier cream”
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “better for oily skin”
  • Pilling issues Rarely Noted
    • “pills under makeup”
    • “doesn't layer well”
    • “balls up with sunscreen”
    • “flakes off”
  • Slow results Rarely Noted
    • “didn't see much difference”
    • “no drastic changes”
    • “takes a long time”
    • “gentle but slow”

Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, judge.me, reddit.com, skinsider.co.uk, yesstyle.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Beauty of Joseon Light On Serum: Centella + Vita C one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is one of the best fits because Centella Asiatica and glycerin calm breakouts and manage oiliness without clogging your skin. It also features high concentrations of Vitamin C derivatives to brighten and even out your skin tone safely. This gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation thanks to its soothing ingredients.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

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

Centella Asiatica Extract and glycerin help manage oiliness and breakouts with soothing and hydrating benefits. Additionally, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid and Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide brighten skin tone and fade dark spots while keeping the formula gentle on sensitive skin.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

What does Centella Asiatica do for oily acne-prone skin?

Centella asiatica helps calm redness, reduce acne breakouts, and improve moisture while supporting skin barrier repair. It may also help decrease inflammation and excess oil.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

What does 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid helps brighten an even skin tone and reduces signs of aging on oily acne-prone skin. It delivers vitamin C effectively to the skin to support a clearer, more balanced complexion.

Pharmaceutics, 2024

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine, placed after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening helps keep your routine simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with retinol by applying your retinol first and following it with this serum, or by using your retinol at night and this serum in the morning. Using soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica helps keep your skin calm while you combine these active products.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

How often should I use it?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is gentle on oily acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients, plus soothing Centella Asiatica Extract and bisabolol to help calm the skin. Reviewers also report only very low complaints of breakouts and irritation.

Molecules, 2023Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016

Is it 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

  • 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, 2023
  • Cosmetic 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
  • A multi-component dissolving microneedle patch loaded with glabridin, 3-O-ethyl-L-ascorbic acid, and tranexamic acid effectively reduced chloasma and age spots while demonstrating safety in clinical evaluation, alongside significant antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, and melanin-reduction effects in vitro and in vivo.

    Polymers, 2023
  • L-ascorbic acid and betaine-based therapeutic deep eutectic system significantly enhanced transdermal delivery through porcine skin compared to ascorbic acid alone or physical mixture, and reduced aging markers while inducing an even skin tone in humans.

    Pharmaceutics, 2024
  • Topical 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, 2020
  • 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, 2017
  • Moisturizer 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, 2019
  • 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
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
  • Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
  • Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.

    Dermatology and Therapy, 2023
  • Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.

    The Journal of Dermatology, 2022

Ingredients

Centella Asiatica Extract, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Propanediol, Betaine, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Methyl Trimethicone, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Panthenol, Laminaria Japonica Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Leaf Extract, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Citrus Unshiu Peel Extract, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Water, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Silica, Bisabolol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-10 Myristate, Adenosine, Fructooligosaccharides, Beta-Glucan, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Maltodextrin, Arginine, Carbomer, Ascorbic Acid Polypeptide, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Ethylhexylglycerin

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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