Dermelect Rapid Repair Barrier Balancing Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Yuzu Ceramide
Vitamin E
Alpha-Arbutin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this serum effectively balances oil production and enhances barrier resilience with niacinamide and galactoarabinan, addressing your concerns about oiliness and breakouts.
- The inclusion of hyaluronic acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract provides excellent hydration and soothing effects, further supporting your skin's health without causing irritation.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle formulation with no harsh ingredients and beneficial components like hyaluronic acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.2Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis serum is highly effective at deeply hydrating and soothing sensitive or compromised skin, leading to a smoother, more radiant complexion for many users. Some individuals, however, reported experiencing breakouts or irritation, indicating it may not be suitable for all skin types.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Instant hit of hydration.”
- “Very hydrating and effective for dry skin.”
- “Replenishes moisture to dehydrated skin.”
Soothing for sensitivity Often Mentioned
- “Helps to soothe and balance sensitive skin.”
- “Reduces redness and inflammation.”
- “Very soothing, perfect first layer.”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “Makes my skin feel softer and smoother.”
- “Observe improvements in skin brightness.”
- “Leaves skin with smooth and radiant skin.”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't have a sticky feeling.”
- “Lightweight, non-comedogenic, and fast-absorbing.”
- “Layers beautifully under makeup.”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Broke me out.”
- “Caused small bumps after use.”
- “Not suitable for my acne-prone skin.”
Skin irritation Sometimes Noted
- “Found it irritating.”
- “Caused redness instead of soothing.”
- “Stung upon application.”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “Found the product drying.”
- “Left my skin feeling tight.”
- “Not hydrating enough for my dry skin.”
Lack of results Rarely Noted
- “Did not notice significant changes.”
- “Expected more for the price.”
- “No visible improvement in skin tone.”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, skinsort.com, dermelect.com, bestmobileapps.in, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes DERMELECT Rapid Repair Barrier Balancing Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oil production while green tea extract and hyaluronic acid provide soothing hydration without causing irritation. Its gentle formula strengthens your skin barrier and addresses breakouts without clogging pores or feeling heavy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Drug Delivery, 2017
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide and galactoarabinan balance oil and strengthen your skin barrier. Hyaluronic acid and green tea extract also provide lightweight hydration and calm your skin without clogging pores or causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Drug Delivery, 2017
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
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening keeps things simple and avoids any extra sun sensitivity.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help calm and hydrate your skin before adding your retinol step. Using a barrier-supporting product like this helps keep your skin comfortable and is unlikely to cause irritation while using stronger treatments.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it once a day as part of your regular steps. Daily application helps balance oil and keep skin hydrated without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin and helps balance oil while keeping your skin calm, though some shoppers report breakouts and irritation. It features gentle ingredients like niacinamide and green tea extract that support skin health without clogging pores.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body, but you should check the product label for specific eye area guidance. The gentle formula and ingredients like hyaluronic acid and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract are unlikely to cause irritation.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017Topical 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, 2019Glucosylceramide or sphingomyelin liposome application increased ceramide amounts and improved the skin barrier function in a three-dimensional cultured human epidermis model compared to baseline.
Yakugaku Zasshi, 2019Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Ingredients
Pentylene Glycol, Propanediol, Sodium Lactate, Glycereth-26, Galactoarabinan, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Symphytum Officinale, Hyaluronic Acid, Niacinamide, Vitamin E, Alpha-Arbutin, Dehydroxanthan Gum
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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