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Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster with Pure Vitamin C 10% for combination skin

Superior

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best serums for combination skin.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 for your combination skin, the pure vitamin C 10% and salicylic acid work synergistically to brighten and smooth skin texture by evening tone and decongesting pores.
  • The inclusion of caffeine and algae extract further supports oil control and provides antioxidant benefits, making it highly relevant for your oily shine concerns.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like Ascorbic Acid and Salicylic Acid and lacks any harsh or prohibited components.

How to apply

  • Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
  • Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
  • Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
  • Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .

People Say

★3.8Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

Users report this booster effectively brightens dull complexions and evens skin tone, often delivering a noticeable glow within the first week. Many praise its ability to smooth texture and plump the skin. A significant number of reviewers find the 7-day freshness window stressful and the price point high for the amount of product provided.

Highlights

  • Brightens dull skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin is glowing”
    • “looks clearer brighter”
    • “boost of radiance”
  • Expensive product Mostly Mentioned
    • “not worth expense”
    • “need a second job”
    • “bloody expensive”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels smoother”
    • “plump and soft”
    • “retexturize skin”
  • Short shelf life Often Mentioned
    • “use within 7 days”
    • “oxidizes quickly”
    • “too much for 7 days”
  • Fast visible results Sometimes Noted
    • “difference in 1 week”
    • “immediate infusion”
    • “works perfectly first 2 days”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs immediately”
    • “not oily”
    • “soaks in almost immediately”
  • Potent fresh formula Sometimes Noted
    • “fresh activation”
    • “protects ingredients”
    • “high concentration”
  • Wasteful packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “not environmentally friendly”
    • “lots of plastic”
    • “discard after week”
  • Causes irritation Rarely Noted
    • “sting or burn”
    • “caused skin irritation”
    • “not for sensitive skin”
  • Fiddly application Rarely Noted
    • “leaking cap”
    • “hard to mix”
    • “messy to shake”

Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, sephora.co.nz, ulta.com, clinique.com, femaledaily.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Clinique Fresh Pressed Daily Booster one of the best fits for combination skin?

This booster is an excellent fit for your combination skin because the pure vitamin C and salicylic acid work together to brighten and smooth your skin while clearing out pores. Additionally, caffeine and algae extract help control excess oil and provide antioxidant benefits to address oily shine. The formula is safe and gentle for your skin, featuring soothing ingredients without any harsh components.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

This serum is a great fit for your combination skin because pure vitamin C and salicylic acid work together to brighten skin, smooth texture, and clear pores. Caffeine and algae extract help control oily shine and provide antioxidant benefits, making the formula exceptionally safe and well-suited for your skin type.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?

Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol, but it is best to apply them on alternate nights or use vitamin C in the morning and retinol at night to avoid making your skin dry or sensitive. Layering both potent treatments at the exact same time may easily overwhelm your skin barrier.

How often should I use this serum?

This treatment is applied in the evening, starting once a week to see how your skin adjusts. If your combination skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because its ingredients help decongest pores and control oil while keeping your skin calm. It also has a safe profile without harsh components that typically trigger irritation or breakouts.

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.

    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Treatment with cross-linked hyaluronic acid-based microneedle patches combined with acetyl hexapeptide-8 or epidermal growth factor significantly improved wrinkles and skin hydration compared to the patch alone in Korean females over 29 days.

    Annals of Dermatology, 2019
  • Argireline treatment twice daily for 4 weeks produced a significant anti-wrinkle effect with 48.9% total efficacy and decreased skin roughness in Chinese subjects compared with 0% efficacy and no decrease in roughness in the placebo group.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
  • Acetyl hexapeptide-3 and tripeptide-10 citrulline demonstrated antiwrinkle efficacy and decreased transepidermal water loss in twenty-four healthy volunteers compared to control groups, though synergistic effects between the two peptides remained unclear.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017

Ingredients

Water, Ascorbic Acid, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Acetyl Glucosamine, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract Extrait Dorge Extract, Morus Nigra Root Extract Morus Alba Root Extract, Molasses Saccharum Officinarum Extrait De Mélasse Extract, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Grape Fruit Extract, Algae Extract, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Alcaligenes Polysaccharides, Caffeine, Sucrose, Whey Lactis Protéine Du Petit-Lait Protein, Betaine, Salicylic Acid, Glycine Soja Protein Soybean Protein, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Sigesbeckia Orientalis Extract, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Allyl Methacrylates Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Tromethamine, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Sorbate, Peg-8, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol

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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How does it fit your skin?

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