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Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum for oily acne-prone skin

Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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 benefits for your oily skin and acne concerns, as bakuchiol and niacinamide work to reduce inflammation and regulate sebum production. Rosa Canina Fruit Oil provides additional nourishment, supporting overall skin health without exacerbating oiliness.
  • The inclusion of squalane and sodium hyaluronate ensures adequate hydration, which is beneficial for maintaining skin barrier function on oily skin.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no reported irritation risks due to its gentle formulation and the presence of soothing ingredients.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 100+ reviews

Users frequently report improvements in skin texture and significant hydration without the irritation commonly associated with retinoids. Some users find the name misleading and the scent polarizing, while others note the high price and recent availability issues.

Highlights

  • Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
    • “No redness or flaking”
    • “Great for sensitive skin”
  • Hydrating and moisturizing Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves skin soft”
    • “Makes skin glow”
    • “Very moisturizing”
  • Availability issues Often Mentioned
    • “Discontinued”
    • “Hard to find”
    • “Out of stock”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Smoother texture”
    • “Helps fine lines”
    • “Skin feels bouncy”
  • Lightweight formula Sometimes Noted
    • “Absorbs well”
    • “Non-greasy”
    • “Lightweight feel”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “Expensive”
    • “Pricey”
    • “Not budget friendly”
  • Misleading name Sometimes Noted
    • “Contains no retinol”
    • “Confusing marketing”
    • “Just Bakuchiol”
  • Polarizing scent Rarely Noted
    • “Unique smell”
    • “Dislike the scent”
    • “Smells like rose”

Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, sephora.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, reddit.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Biossance Squalane + Phyto-Retinol Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum offers moderate benefits for oily and acne-prone skin, as bakuchiol and niacinamide help calm inflammation and manage oil production. While it provides gentle hydration and is unlikely to cause irritation, this skin type often benefits most from specialized blemish-fighting ingredients like vitamin C or propolis alongside oil-controlling agents and lightweight hydration.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Antioxidants, 2021

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

Bakuchiol, niacinamide, squalane, and sodium hyaluronate help make this serum a good fit by calming inflammation, controlling oil, and providing lightweight hydration. To fit this skin even better, an oily skin treatment needs effective oil-controlling ingredients and antioxidants like vitamin C or propolis for managing breakouts without heavy or pore-clogging components.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Antioxidants, 2021

What does Squalane do for oily acne-prone skin?

Squalane may help keep oily skin soft and smooth, but oxidized squalene can trigger inflammation in acne-prone skin. Because of this, oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2006

What does Bakuchiol do for oily acne-prone skin?

Bakuchiol helps clear oily acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and dark spots left behind. It is gentle on the face and is unlikely to cause the heavy peeling or stinging that often comes with traditional acne treatments.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

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

This treatment goes in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, following the recommended steps for your skin. Putting active serums in the evening helps keep your skin safe around sun exposure while keeping things simple.

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

You can use this treatment alongside a retinoid since its bakuchiol and niacinamide help calm the skin and reduce irritation, while its squalane and sodium hyaluronate keep your barrier hydrated. When pairing them, apply your retinol first and follow with this serum, or use them on alternating nights to keep your skin comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

How often should I use this serum?

This serum works well in the evening as part of your routine. Oily acne-prone skin needs a treatment with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to better clear breakouts and control excess oil.

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily acne-prone skin because its gentle ingredients help soothe inflammation and balance oil without irritation. To work best for this type of skin, a product needs pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid to manage breakouts more deeply.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Antioxidants, 2021

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool, geraniol, and limonene).

What the research says

  • A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015
  • Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.

    Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025
  • Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.

    Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
  • Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.

    Health Science Reports, 2025
  • Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.

    Antioxidants, 2021
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025
  • Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
  • Bakuchiol functions as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression, producing significant improvements in lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and photo-damage after 12 weeks of twice-a-day facial application without usual retinol therapy-associated undesirable effects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014
  • A nature-based bakuchiol-containing cleanser and moisturizer improved visual and tactile smoothness, clarity, radiance, overall appearance, global anti-aging, and skin moisture content by 16% in 60 female subjects with sensitive mild to moderate photodamaged skin over 4 weeks.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2020
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Squalane, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Bakuchiol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Lecithin, Hexylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Gluconate, Citric Acid, Linalool, Geraniol, Limonene, Yeast Extract, Amino Acids, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.