Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum for acne-prone skin
Retinol Alternative
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
Collagen Amino Acids
Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract
Stevia Rebaudiana Stem Extract Leaf
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as glycerin and Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract provide hydration and barrier support, while collagen amino acids aid in plumping and smoothing texture.
- The formula includes sea water and chicory leaf extract to offer general hydration and soothing for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, though it lacks more targeted ingredients for significant acne treatment.
- The product is generally safe for your combination skin, with minimal risks of irritation from fragrance and hydroxyethyl acrylate.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine and start 3x/week before working up to daily use.
- Apply this treatment after cleansing and toner, and before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the product on clean, dry skin to help manage your breakouts safely.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis serum is highly praised for its ability to deliver retinol-like anti-aging results—such as reduced fine lines, improved firmness, and refined skin texture—without causing the irritation, redness, or dryness common in more aggressive treatments. It is particularly favored by those with sensitive or dry skin who seek a hydrating, lightweight formula that integrates easily into daily routines to promote a smoother, more radiant complexion.
Highlights
Gentle, non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “No stinging, no redness”
- “Gentle for sensitive skin”
- “No irritation”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Keeps my face super moisturized”
- “Skin feels hydrated”
- “Supports moisture levels”
Retinol-like results Often Mentioned
- “Retinol-like benefits without irritation”
- “Helped my fine lines”
- “Skin feels renewed”
Improves skin firmness Sometimes Noted
- “Skin looks a bit firmer”
- “Helps skin feel firm”
- “Improved skin elasticity”
Lightweight texture Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs so quickly”
- “Not sticky”
- “Lightweight water-like serum”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Wish it came in a bigger bottle at a smaller price”
- “Worth the price tag”
Not for everyone Rarely Noted
- “No match for retinol”
- “Bakuchiol can be too much during a flare”
Product longevity Rarely Noted
- “5 pumps 2 times daily doesn't last”
- “Wish it came in a bigger bottle”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Quite strong scent”
- “Contains fragrance”
- “May sting on reactive skin”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Elemis Pro-Collagen Renewal Serum work for acne-prone skin?
This serum works moderately well for acne-prone skin, offering some soothing and hydration while lacking more targeted ingredients for breakouts. To fit this skin better, a treatment of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to control oil and calm blemishes without irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, Padina Pavonica thallus extract, sea water, and chicory leaf extract make this serum a fit for acne-prone skin by offering hydration and soothing benefits. To work best for this skin, a product of this type needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that provide excellent benefits for acne and breakouts while controlling oiliness and avoiding irritation.
What does Bakuchiol do for acne-prone skin?
Bakuchiol helps calm acne-prone skin and makes blemishes less noticeable while being gentle enough for daily use. It improves pimples and oily skin, and works well alongside other breakout treatments.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2021
What does Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing UV-induced inflammation and oxidative stress. It is unlikely to clog pores and may help soothe redness while supporting skin recovery.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
Apply this serum in your evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. This product of this type needs targeted ingredients for clearing blemishes and soothing breakouts for your acne-prone skin.
Can I use this serum with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this serum with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night, as this routine separates potent actives to help prevent irritation on your acne-prone skin. This product may offer moderate hydration and soothing, but acne-prone skin of this type needs targeted acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to properly clear breakouts.
How often should I use this serum?
Use this treatment in the evening, applying it after cleansing and toning and before your moisturizer. To best care for acne-prone skin, this type of product needs targeted ingredients that actively treat breakouts.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts, but it lacks targeted ingredients for significant acne treatment. To truly clear acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, citronellol, and geraniol).
What the research says
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, 2017Collagen peptides induced cell proliferation and pro-collagen-1α expression, increased TGF-β and VEGF, and suppressed the LPS-induced inflammatory response in human skin fibroblasts and keratinocytes.
Nutrients, 2022Cichorium intybus extract leads to smooth skin and positive excitement in treated subjects, evokes positive emotions in a person caressing them, and induces Staphylococcus epidermidis to secrete bioactive post-biotics that promote neurotransmitter release.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical 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, 2019A 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, 2015Topical 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, 2025Spirulina, Palmaria palmata, Cichorium intybus, and Medicago sativa extracts alone or combined present no in vitro toxicity or irritant potential, and provoke no skin barrier alteration or irritation in twenty human subjects.
Cutaneous and Ocular Toxicology, 2019A topical mixture of tocopherol acetate, L-menthol, and stevioside promoted hair growth more effectively than tocopherol acetate or L-menthol alone in C57BL/6 mice.
Pharmaceutics, 2020
Why other serums fit acne-prone skin better
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 2018Niacinamide and ferulic acid incorporated in a stable multiple emulsion successfully reduced melanin, sebum, and skin erythema while improving skin elasticity and hydration in human skin compared to a placebo.
BioMed Research International, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Lysine Aspartate, Polysorbate 20, Hydroxyacetophenone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Cichorium Intybus Leaf Extract, Hexylene Glycol, Maris Aqua Sea Water Eau De Mer, Stevia Rebaudiana Stem Extract Leaf, Polysorbate 60, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Xanthan Gum, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Medicago Sativa Extract, Phenoxyethanol, T-Butyl Alcohol, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Collagen Amino Acids, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Linalool, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Sodium Benzoate
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.