FRANKLY Closer Serum for combination skin
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8
Copper Tripeptide-1
Sodium Hyaluronate
Adenosine
Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
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
- Offers moderate plumping and firming benefits for your combination skin due to multiple peptides like Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Copper Tripeptide-1, which support collagen stimulation, while Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide general hydration that can help manage oily shine.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
- While beneficial for overall skin health and hydration, the product does not specifically target significant improvements for oily shine.
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
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this serum is widely praised as a lightweight, affordable hydrating treatment that improves overall skin texture and creates a "glass skin" glow using peptides and collagen. While effective for plumping fine lines and soothing sensitive skin, users report mixed results regarding its primary claim of visibly reducing pore size, with many noting it works better for hydration than pore minimization.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels plumper and youthful”
- “provides deep hydration without feeling heavy”
- “gives an amazing glow”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother”
- “texture has really improved”
- “softens my skin”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “light, watery consistency”
- “non-greasy finish”
Affordable price Sometimes Noted
- “unbeatable price”
- “good cost performance”
- “great deal for this serum”
Gentle & non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “didn't cause any irritation”
- “soothing on my skin”
- “feels so gentle”
Ineffective for pores Sometimes Noted
- “no difference on my pores”
- “didn't shrink pores”
- “don't expect pore-minimizing results”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
Leaky packaging Rarely Noted
- “leaks quite a bit”
- “leaked in the box”
- “messy bottle”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “feels quite sticky”
- “tacky feel”
- “sits on top of skin”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, iherb.com, reddit.com, stylekorean.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does FRANKLY Closer Serum work for combination skin?
FRANKLY Closer Serum provides an average fit for combination skin, offering moderate plumping and firming alongside general hydration that helps manage oily shine, though it is unlikely to specifically target oily shine improvements. A treatment for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, or propolis to regulate oiliness and enhance radiance without causing excess oiliness or dryness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 and Copper Tripeptide-1 help firm your skin, while Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide general hydration that helps manage oily shine. A treatment for combination skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to regulate oiliness, enhance radiance, and keep the skin balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013
What does Argireline do for combination skin?
Argireline helps smooth out lines and keeps combination skin feeling soft when applied twice daily. This ingredient may reduce wrinkle depth and improve overall skin texture, though its absorption through the skin is quite low.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2013Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013
What does Copper Tripeptide-1 do for combination skin?
Copper Tripeptide-1 helps calm combination skin, smooth fine lines, and support a strong skin barrier. It protects against sun damage and helps tighten the skin, keeping it looking firm and healthy.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026BioMed Research International, 2015
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
Apply this serum in the evening after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting treatments in the evening keeps 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 them on alternating nights to keep your skin calm. The formula is unlikely to cause irritation and provides gentle hydration, but combination skin needs products that also specifically target and help manage oily shine.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is generally safe for your skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
FRANKLY Closer Serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, as the formula lacks harsh ingredients and is generally safe. However, a product for this skin needs to balance oil and target pores, while ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid help control oily shine better.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Argireline 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, 2013Argireline applied twice daily for 4 weeks achieved a total anti-wrinkle efficiency of 48.9% and notably reduced wrinkle depth compared to placebo in Chinese subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2013Treatment 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, 2019Acetyl 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, 2017Daily topical acetyl hexapeptide-8 showed a trend toward a longer time until return to baseline Jankovic Blepharospasm Rating Scale scores compared to placebo (3.7 months vs. 3.0 months) in 24 patients with blepharospasm receiving botulinum toxin therapy.
European Journal of Neurology, 2013Topical copper tripeptide complex on CO2 laser-resurfaced skin caused no significant reduction in erythema or objective improvement in wrinkles compared to controls, but significantly increased patient satisfaction regarding overall skin quality.
Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, 2006A novel regimen combining a hydroxy acid-based scrub and copper tripeptide serum significantly reduced adherent scalp flaking by 61.24%, increased hair density by 12.48%, increased hair thickness by 25.36%, and improved scalp skin hydration by 76.24% in adults with mild to moderate dandruff over 15 days.
Cureus, 2024The combination of Thermus thermophilus and Bacillus subtilis mixed-culture ferment extract and copper tripeptide-1 GHK-Cu reduced inflammatory cytokines, protected skin explants from UV-induced damage, and improved wrinkles and skin barrier conditions compared to individual components or controls.
Skin Research and Technology, 2026Topical 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, 2019Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021
Why other serums fit combination skin better
Niacinamide 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, 2022A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, 2-Hexanediol, Hydrolyzed Lupine Protein, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Tripeptide-3, Acetyl Octapeptide-3, Copper Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-1, Tripeptide-2, Adenosine, Gluconolactone, Collagen, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyacetophenone, Carbomer, Cellulose Gum, Tromethamine, Betaine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hydrolyzed Gardenia Florida Extract, Hydrolyzed Malt Extract, Hydrolyzed Viola Tricolor Extract, Disodium Edta
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.