celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Tranexamic Acid
MelatoninHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 your oily skin, this serum effectively addresses your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts with niacinamide and tranexamic acid, which help regulate sebum production and melanogenesis. The inclusion of hyaluronic acid provides essential hydration without clogging pores, further complementing your oily skin type. Overall, the product is safe for your skin, with no identified risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your PM routine. Start 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply your serum after cleansing and toning, but before putting on your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2 to 3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
- Apply the serum on clean, dry skin to help manage your blemishes safely.
- Do a patch test before your first use and avoid the delicate eye area.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis serum is widely praised by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its lightweight, non-sticky texture and ability to fade post-acne marks and hyperpigmentation without irritation. While effective for brightening and evening skin tone, many users noted that pore-tightening results were subtle or unnoticeable compared to the brightening effects.
Highlights
Lightweight non-sticky texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs incredibly fast”
- “no sticky feeling”
- “lightweight fresh formula”
Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
- “marks faded faster than expected”
- “visibly fading blemishes”
- “reduced redness and pigmentation”
Gentle non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “zero irritation or sensitivity”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “no stinging”
Hydrating glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “gives an amazing glow”
- “skin looks luminous”
Minimal pore improvement Sometimes Noted
- “didn't notice pore reduction”
- “pores don't look different”
- “no dramatic change in pores”
Slow visible results Sometimes Noted
- “results take time”
- “not dramatic yet”
- “gradual improvement”
Not moisturizing enough Rarely Noted
- “need to layer for dry skin”
- “light hydration only”
- “not enough for winter”
Potential irritants Rarely Noted
- “reaction to spearmint extract”
- “caused a breakout”
- “slight tingling sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, celimax.us, skinsort.com, stylevana.com, oliveyoung.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes celimax Pore+Dark Spot Brightening Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because niacinamide and tranexamic acid help control oil and fade breakouts, while hyaluronic acid keeps your skin hydrated without clogging pores. It also has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients, meaning it is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and tranexamic acid make this serum a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because they help control oil and fade blemishes. Hyaluronic acid adds light moisture that is unlikely to clog pores.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Tranexamic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Tranexamic acid helps reduce redness and inflamed spots like pimples and pustules on oily, acne-prone skin. It may also fade lingering dark marks left behind by breakouts with a very low chance of irritation.
Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine, after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing, for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it avoids harsh ingredients while using niacinamide and tranexamic acid to help control oil 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 and following it with your retinol to keep your skin smooth and clear. This product helps manage breakouts and dark spots safely without clogging your pores, but if your skin feels sensitive, you may want to use them on alternate nights.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this serum in the evening as part of your routine. It is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin and helps manage breakouts while keeping skin hydrated without clogging pores.
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it uses hyaluronic acid to provide lightweight hydration without heavy oils. It also contains niacinamide and tranexamic acid, which help regulate oil production and clear blemishes safely.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2005Application of 12.5% melatonin cream significantly reduced natural sunlight-induced erythema compared to placebo and no treatment in healthy volunteers, while lower doses (0.5% and 2.5%) showed no difference.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2016Cosmetic formulations containing lycopene and melatonin showed significant differences in skin sebum content, hydration, elasticity, erythema index, and melanin index compared to control in 36 healthy women.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2020Topical application of 12.5% melatonin reduced erythema induced by natural sunlight compared to placebo and no treatment in participants with an erythema reaction, without causing significant effects on cognition.
Danish Medical Journal, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Tranexamic Acid, 12-Hexanediol, Methylpropanediol, Vinyl Dimethicone, Glycereth-26, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Eriobotrya Japonica Leaf Extract, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Edta, Carbomer, Sorbitan Oleate, Spearmint Extract, Tromethamine, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bisabolol, Hyaluronic Acid
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
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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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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
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