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Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides for oily acne-prone skin

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other serums fit it 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

  • Offers moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and oiliness on your oily skin due to the presence of Bakuchiol and Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, which help minimize fine lines and wrinkles while regulating sebum production.
  • Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil provide emollient action, but the formula lacks sufficient ingredients for strong oil control on your oily skin.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

It is highly praised for its hydrating and plumping effects, leaving skin smooth and dewy. Some users note that anti-aging results are more subtle and take longer to appear compared to traditional Vitamin A products.

Highlights

  • Gentle retinol alternative Mostly Mentioned
    • “Best retinol replacement”
    • “Zero irritation or redness”
  • Hydrating and plumping Often Mentioned
    • “Plumps skin with moisture”
    • “Wake to glowing skin”
    • “Instantly hydrating and soothing”
  • Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
    • “Texture is divine”
    • “Sinks in so nicely”
    • “Silky, nourishing oil texture”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Notice texture improvement”
    • “Skin feels much smoother”
    • “Helps with uneven tone”
  • Slower results Sometimes Noted
    • “Not as effective as retinol”
    • “Did nothing for wrinkles”
    • “Takes longer to see results”
  • High price Rarely Noted
    • “Not worth the hype”
    • “Pricey for what it is”
    • “Expected more for the price”
  • Oily finish Rarely Noted
    • “Oily texture unpleasant”
    • “Bit too greasy for day”
    • “Sits on top of skin”

Sources: lovi.care, lookfantastic.com, cultbeauty.com, adorebeauty.com.au, spacenk.com, dermstore.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides work for oily acne-prone skin?

Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, offering some help with blemishes and oiliness while remaining safe and unlikely to cause irritation. However, because it lacks sufficient ingredients for strong oil control, an oily skin type needs a product with effective ingredients like niacinamide, propolis, or Vitamin C to manage excess oil and provide optimal benefits without heavy components.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Bakuchiol and undecylenoyl phenylalanine make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin by helping regulate oil production and manage blemishes, while soothing centella asiatica leaf extract keeps the formula gentle. To work best on this skin type, a product of this type needs powerful oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide and lightweight hydrators.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

What does Bakuchiol do for oily acne-prone skin?

Bakuchiol helps clear oily acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and dark spots left behind. It is gentle on the face and is unlikely to cause the heavy peeling or stinging that often comes with traditional acne treatments.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

What do Peptides do for oily acne-prone skin?

Peptides help calm oily, acne-prone skin by targeting acne-causing bacteria and reducing redness and swelling. Advanced delivery methods like nanomicelles may also improve how deeply these helpful ingredients sink into the skin.

Advanced Science, 2025Bioorganic Chemistry, 2025

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also brings strong oil control and balancing ingredients to better manage breakouts and shine.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with retinol, but apply retinol first and let it absorb before adding this product to keep your skin calm. Because your skin is oily, this type of product needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to give you the best fit.

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your nighttime routine. It is safe for oily skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, but this type of skin needs stronger oil-balancing and mattifying ingredients for best results.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

Medik8 Bakuchiol Peptides is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging on oily acne-prone skin, though it may leave a mild oily finish for some. This treatment is safe for your skin with no high risk of irritation, but an average fit for oil control needs lighter textures and stronger oil-absorbing ingredients to truly mattify this skin type.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
  • A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015
  • Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.

    Life, 2023
  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023
  • Moisturizer 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, 2019
  • Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.

    Health Science Reports, 2025
  • Bakuchiol functions as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression, producing significant improvements in lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and photo-damage after 12 weeks of twice-a-day facial application without usual retinol therapy-associated undesirable effects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014
  • A nature-based bakuchiol-containing cleanser and moisturizer improved visual and tactile smoothness, clarity, radiance, overall appearance, global anti-aging, and skin moisture content by 16% in 60 female subjects with sensitive mild to moderate photodamaged skin over 4 weeks.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2020
  • 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, 2020
  • 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, 2017
  • Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2025
  • Dermatological 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, 2021
  • Topical 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
  • Emulgels containing Perilla frutescens seed oil, Moringa oleifera seed oil, and mixed seed oil microemulsions exhibit good stability, lack of cytotoxicity in PBMC, and no skin irritation or allergic reactions in human subjects.

    Polymers, 2022
  • Moringa seed oil stimulated sebaceous lipogenesis, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and exhibited a low n-6/n-3 index in cultured human SZ95 sebocytes compared to untreated cells.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023
  • Topical Moringa oleifera seed oil and its main constituent oleic acid reduced acute and chronic skin inflammation and epidermal hypertrophy in mice through glucocorticoid receptor activation without dexamethasone-like adverse effects on organ weights.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020

Why other serums fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Bakuchiol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Plukenetia Volubilis Seed Oil, Centella Asiatica Leaf Extract, Eclipta Prostrata Extract, Krameria Triandra Root Extract, Undecylenoyl Phenylalanine, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Jojoba Seed Oil, Curcuma Longa Root Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract Flower, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf 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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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