ilso Super Melting Serum Softener for combination skin
Sebum Remove Complex
Centella Asiatica Extract
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
- Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 pore cleansing for your combination skin, as Sebum Remove Complex and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract work to decongest pores and regulate sebum. Centella Asiatica Extract provides additional supportive benefits for oily shine.
- The formula is highly suitable for combination skin due to the seboregulation and keratolytic actions of the key ingredients.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and combination skin find this product highly effective for removing sebum and blackheads, often describing the process as satisfying and gentle enough for sensitive skin. However, achieving optimal results typically requires additional tools and can make the routine time-consuming.
Highlights
Effective sebum removal Mostly Mentioned
- “melts blackheads away”
- “gunk comes out”
- “pores look cleaner”
- “removed stubborn whiteheads”
- “satisfying extraction”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no stinging”
- “soothing formula”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't rip skin”
- “calming sensation”
Requires extra tools Often Mentioned
- “need scraper tool”
- “pads not included”
- “bought tool separately”
- “need cotton pads”
- “hard without applicator”
Smoother skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “nose feels smooth”
- “soft skin”
- “better makeup application”
- “glass skin effect”
- “texture improved”
Incomplete extraction Sometimes Noted
- “deep blackheads remained”
- “didn't get everything”
- “surface level only”
- “some gunk left”
- “multiple uses needed”
Time consuming process Sometimes Noted
- “takes 15 minutes”
- “multi-step process”
- “requires prep time”
- “long wait”
- “tedious routine”
Versatile application Rarely Noted
- “use on chin”
- “great for forehead”
- “better than strips”
- “target specific areas”
- “customizable usage”
Mild irritation Rarely Noted
- “skin peeled later”
- “slight redness”
- “high pH dryness”
- “tingling sensation”
- “over-exfoliation risk”
Sources: lovi.care, oliveyoung.com, iherb.com, stylekorean.com, reddit.com, instyle.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ilso Super Melting Serum Softener work for combination skin?
ilso Super Melting Serum Softener works reasonably well for combination skin, offering moderate pore cleansing and helping to control oily shine. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but combination skin often does better with a treatment that includes ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA to provide balanced hydration and radiance without excess oiliness.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Sebum Remove Complex, Centella Asiatica Extract, and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract make this serum a fit by helping to decongest pores, regulate oily shine, and gently smooth the skin. To work best for combination skin, a treatment of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and propolis to balance hydration and control oil without causing dryness.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
What does Sebum Remove Complex do for combination skin?
Sebum Remove Complex is a weak fit for combination skin because it is designed to intensely dry out oil. A product of this type needs balancing ingredients and lightweight hydrators to manage oily areas without stripping dry zones.
What does Centella Asiatica Extract do for combination skin?
Centella Asiatica Extract helps balance combination skin by boosting moisture levels while keeping redness and irritation calm. It also supports skin barrier repair to help maintain smooth and healthy skin overall.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This serum goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Treatments with active ingredients are typically used in the evening for extra safety around sun exposure.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying this treatment first and following with your retinol on separate nights or spaced out to avoid irritation. Because this product is safe and without harsh ingredients, it is unlikely to cause problems when combined carefully, but combination skin needs ingredients like Centella Asiatica Extract to calm the skin and Carica Papaya Fruit Extract to gently clear pores.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023
How often should I use this serum?
Start by using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin handles it well without irritation, you may carefully use it more often. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating ingredients like papaya fruit extract and soothing botanical extracts to help clear pores and balance oily shine on your combination skin.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging on combination skin, as it contains ingredients that help decongest pores and control oily shine. It is safe for your skin with a very low chance of mild irritation, though combination skin also benefits from gentle clay or salicylic acid treatments to keep pores clear.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2023Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015
What the research says
Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020A 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, 2017Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical papain treatment may slightly decrease pain within 30 minutes in humans stung by Chrysaora chinensis compared to placebo.
Wilderness & Environmental Medicine, 2016A fixed combination of hydroxypinacolone retinoate, retinol glycospheres, and papain glycospheres in aqueous gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a 41% mean reduction in GAGS score and a 40.8% mean reduction in total lesions, with 15.3% of patients experiencing mild to moderate local side effects, in 94 evaluable patients with comedonal-papular, mild to moderate acne of the face.
Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2015Reflux extraction of Carica papaya leaves yielded higher antioxidant capacity and superior in vitro wound-healing activities including fibroblast proliferation, cell migration, and collagen synthesis in human skin fibroblasts compared to ultrasonic-assisted extraction and agitation.
Molecules, 2020
Ingredients
Sebum Remove Complex, Centella Asiatica Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
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.