Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen for acne-prone skin
Liquid Collagen
Alguronic Acid- Collagen
Niacinamide
Tocopherol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 plumping and firming for your combination skin due to collagen and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, which support improving volume and elasticity, while glycerin and propanediol provide hydration beneficial for acne-prone skin.
- The formula includes niacinamide and adenosine for general skin benefits, but it lacks specific ingredients to actively treat your blemishes and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your combination 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 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers frequently report that this serum provides immediate hydration and plumps the skin, leading to a noticeable glow and improved bounce. Many also experience softer skin texture and a reduction in fine lines. However, a significant number of reviews mention the high price point and a strong, sometimes irritating floral or vanilla fragrance.
Highlights
Plumps and hydrates Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin feels plump”
- “Super hydrating”
- “Restores bounce”
- “Instant hydration”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin felt softer”
- “Smoother texture”
- “Softened look”
- “Velvety feel”
High price Often Mentioned
- “Pricey”
- “Cost prohibits repurchase”
Radiant glow Sometimes Noted
- “Instant glowing”
- “Beautiful glow”
- “Radiant complexion”
- “Luminous finish”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “Reduces fine lines”
- “Lines less noticeable”
- “Smoothed out lines”
- “Wrinkles diminished”
Strong scent Sometimes Noted
- “Strong perfumey scent”
- “Sickly strong perfume”
- “Artificial vanilla scent”
- “Smell is overwhelming”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Clogged my pores”
- “Caused breakouts”
- “Acne flare-ups”
- “ bumps appeared”
Dropper issues Rarely Noted
- “Difficulty with dropper”
- “Hard to dispense”
- “Dropper doesn't fill”
- “Poor bottle design”
Sticky texture Rarely Noted
- “Sticky/Tacky finish”
- “Greasy residue”
- “Sticky before makeup”
- “Takes time to absorb”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, cultbeauty.com, dermstore.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen work for acne-prone skin?
Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen works moderately well for acne-prone skin because it provides gentle hydration and firming, though other products fit it better. To truly fit this skin well, a treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that directly target breakouts and control oiliness while keeping the skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and propanediol provide hydration beneficial for acne-prone skin, while niacinamide offers general skin benefits. To work best for this skin type, a treatment needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or zinc PCA that target blemishes and breakouts while balancing oiliness.
What does Hydrolyzed Collagen do for acne-prone skin?
Hydrolyzed collagen is unlikely to directly treat acne, but it helps improve overall skin hydration and elasticity. Acne-prone skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and barrier-strengthening ingredients to stay calm and balanced.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2019
What does Alguronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Alguronic Acid helps acne-prone skin by supporting overall skin health and resilience, though it is not a direct acne treatment. Products for acne-prone skin like this also need ingredients that target bacteria and calm redness to truly clear breakouts.
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. To better fit acne-prone skin, this type of product needs targeted ingredients that actively treat blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to give your skin hydration, and following with your retinol. This product is unlikely to cause irritation for your acne-prone skin, but it needs specific blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to actively treat breakouts.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. An acne-prone skin routine needs ingredients that actively target blemishes and breakouts.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen is unlikely to cause breakouts on your acne-prone skin because it is safe and free of harsh ingredients, though it does not actively treat blemishes. A treatment for acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help clear pores and soothe active breakouts.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum and limonene).
What the research says
Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A 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, 2017Topical application of TAC/Collagen postbiotics gel improved skin moisture score and inflammation index, and reduced porphyrins and brown spots in 20 volunteers with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical collagen tripeptide application improved skin wrinkles, elasticity, and density while reducing advanced glycated end products in 22 Asian women over 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Marine collagen extracted from Greenland halibut skin showed a non-cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cells and provided a slight skin hydration effect when incorporated into cosmetic hydrogel formulations at dosages of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% in 23 healthy volunteers.
Marine Drugs, 2023Topical 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 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, 2024
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
Collagen, Propanediol, Isononyl Isononanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Betaine, Pentylene Glycol, Dextrin Palmitate, Collagen Amino Acids, Parachlorella Beijerinckii Exopolysaccharides, Chlorella Protothecoides Oil, Helichrysum Italicum Flower Extract, Cylindrotheca Fusiformis Extract, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Adenosine, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Palmitic Acid, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Sodium Lactate, Amodimethicone, Homosalate, Polysorbate 20, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Octocrylene, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Limonene, Beta-Carotene Ci 40800
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?
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