iS Clinical Brightening Serum for oily skin
Alpha-Arbutin
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract
Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit
Willow Bark Extract
Saccharum Officinarum Extract
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin due to Saccharum Officinarum Extract and Willow Bark Extract, which manage excess sebum and prevent pore congestion, though Alcohol Denat and Menthol may cause some dryness.
- Offers moderate brightening benefits with alpha-arbutin and saccharum officinarum extract to help even skin tone, but the primary focus is not on controlling oily shine.
- The product is generally safe for your oily skin, with minimal risk of irritation from ingredients like Alcohol Denat and Menthol.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsThis review data is based on limited data. Users frequently report visible improvements in dark spots, skin radiance, and overall texture, noting that the formula is generally gentle enough for various skin types, including sensitive skin. Some users may find it less effective for stubborn conditions or notice potential irritation if used too frequently.
Highlights
Fades dark spots Mostly Mentioned
- “Dark spots from acne are fading”
- “Reduced dark spots from previous acne”
- “Lightening of scarring”
Evens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “Truly even outs my skin”
- “Provides brightening and balance”
- “More even skin and calmer”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “Great for my fair sensitive skin”
- “Non-irritant”
- “Gentle enough for sensitive skin”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “Refine skin texture”
- “Smoothes and softens”
- “Sleeker, more toned look”
Slow/no results Sometimes Noted
- “Didn't reduce dark spots as quickly as I'd hoped”
- “Can't tell if it is making any difference”
- “Didn't really work for me”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Started getting hormonal acnes”
- “Caused breakouts”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “For the price, I was a bit disappointed”
- “Expensive for the results”
Tingling sensation Rarely Noted
- “Active product may produce a slight tingling sensation”
- “Can be too drying if over used”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, beautifiedyou.com, dermacaredirect.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does iS Clinical Brightening Serum work for oily skin?
This serum works for oily skin, though other products fit it better because it manages excess sebum with willow bark extract while helping even skin tone, but alcohol and menthol may cause some dryness. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid to control shine and pores while protecting the barrier without irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily skin?
Willow bark extract and saccharum officinarum extract make this serum a good fit for oily skin by helping manage excess sebum and keeping pores clear. To work best for oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to control shine and pores comfortably, alongside soothing extracts and barrier supporters.
What does Alpha-Arbutin do for oily skin?
Alpha-arbutin helps fade dark spots and uneven tone for oily skin while keeping irritation unlikely. It works to brighten the complexion and manage excess pigment effectively.
What does Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract do for oily skin?
Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract helps balance oily skin by managing excess oil and keeping the face feeling fresh and clear. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and may help soothe redness, leaving skin smooth and comfortable.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine, as treatments fit best there for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. Oily skin works well with ingredients like willow bark extract and sugar cane extract to manage excess shine, though this product needs extra hydration to offset potential dryness from alcohol and menthol.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum in your routine, but apply your retinol at a different time or on alternating days to help prevent excessive dryness. For this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing ingredients and lightweight moisture to keep the skin calm and balanced while managing shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine once a week to start, as oily skin does best when you slowly build up how often you use it. If your skin feels fine and you like the results, you can carefully use it more often. An oily skin routine needs ingredients that manage excess shine and keep pores clear without causing dryness.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores because it contains Willow Bark Extract and Saccharum Officinarum Extract, which help manage excess oil and prevent pore congestion. Reviewers report a low potential for breakouts, though ingredients like Alcohol Denat and Menthol may cause some dryness.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
What the research says
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Encapsulation 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, 2023Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.
Neuroscience Letters, 1995A 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, 2020Combining 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, 2025Polyvinyl pyrrolidone-K90/Eudragit RL100 dissolving microneedle patches loaded with alpha-arbutin and resveratrol enhanced intradermal delivery by approximately 2.6 times compared to cream and slightly decreased the melanin index in human participants without causing skin irritation.
Biomaterials Science, 2023Fermented bilberry extract improved wrinkle depth, skin smoothness, roughness, firmness, elasticity, antioxidant capacity, and complexion evenness compared to a placebo in 66 subjects over 84 days.
Nutrients, 2024Topical application of oil-in-water creams containing wild bilberry leaves extract and seeds oil produced significant beneficial effects on the skin of healthy human volunteers.
Antioxidants, 2021Bilberry fruit extract incorporated into chitosan-based hydrogels demonstrated antioxidant, anti-hyaluronidase, and anti-tyrosinase activities, supporting their potential use in topical anti-aging preparations.
Antioxidants, 2024Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000
Why other serums fit oily skin better
A 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, 2024Niacinamide 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
Butylene Glycol, Water, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Ascophyllum Nodosum Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit, Alpha-Arbutin, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Polyporus Umbellatus Extract Mushroom Extract, Willow Bark Extract, Menthol, 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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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