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Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

One of the best moisturizers for combination skin.

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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as mandelic acid gently resurfaces and clears pores to reduce blemishes and oily shine.
  • Panthenol and glycerin provide essential hydration, supporting the skin's barrier function and enhancing overall comfort.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.9Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

It is very effective at clearing breakouts and improving skin texture, with many users noting its quick absorption and gentle feel. Some users occasionally experience dryness or find the price point high.

Highlights

  • Clears acne breakouts Mostly Mentioned
    • “Only one thing has kept all of the cystic acne away and it has been this product right here!!”
    • “She no longer struggles with recurring breakouts.”
    • “It helped me get rid of my closed comedones.”
    • “I was breaking out less frequently, and the blemishes that did occur were much easier to manage.”
  • Gentle on sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
    • “So gentle and I have sensitive dehydrated skin.”
    • “It's gentle on my skin, lightweight, and not at all sticky.”
    • “The redness in my face has toned down significantly.”
  • Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
    • “My skin feels smoother and less textured after using.”
    • “Within the first week, my skin felt much smoother.”
    • “It's been great for evening out my skin tone and keeping texture away.”
    • “Gently smooths bumpy, uneven texture.”
  • Absorbs very quickly Sometimes Noted
    • “The serum absorbs quickly and doesn't leave my skin feeling sticky, tacky or tight.”
    • “It's very watery... soaks into my skin super fast, and doesn't leave any uncomfortable residue.”
    • “I found the texture to be watery and it sank nicely into the skin.”
    • “The product itself is a very runny serum and absorbs into the skin rather quickly.”
  • Can cause dryness Rarely Noted
    • “I experienced some slight dryness after 3 days of continued use.”
    • “So drying if you use it too often, definitely not meant for every day use.”
    • “I find this too harsh for daily use.”
  • Expensive price point Rarely Noted
    • “At just under an ounce, this is a splurge, no way around it.”
    • “Expensive 60%”
    • “I did a lot to get my hand on it”
  • Requires additional moisturizer Rarely Noted
    • “I wouldn't rely on this mandelic serum to act as a main hydrator.”
    • “You will want to layer a moisturizer on top of it to get that dewiness.”
    • “Slightly present on skin... does best with a night cream on top.”

Sources: lovi.care, sofiepavittface.com, violetgrey.com, tnuck.com, skinsort.com, forbes.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum a great fit for combination skin?

This serum is a great fit because mandelic acid gently clears pores and reduces oily shine while panthenol and glycerin keep your combination skin comfortable and hydrated. The formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Mandelic acid is a great fit for your combination skin because it gently resurfaces and clears pores to reduce blemishes and oily shine. At the same time, panthenol and glycerin provide essential hydration, supporting your skin barrier and keeping it comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

What does Mandelic Acid do for combination skin?

Mandelic acid helps clear breakouts and fade dark spots in combination skin while being gentle enough to cause fewer side effects than other acids. It may also improve overall skin texture and tone without causing excessive irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Dermatologic Surgery, 2009

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is safe for your skin and is unlikely to cause irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

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, but start slowly to avoid irritation since both ingredients actively renew the skin. Panthenol helps keep the skin comfortable and supports the barrier during active routines.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

How often should I use this serum?

Start by using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps clear pores and reduce oily shine while keeping your skin comfortable.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is a great fit for combination skin because mandelic acid gently resurfaces and clears pores to reduce blemishes and oily shine while panthenol and glycerin provide essential hydration without clogging pores. The formula is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation, though it may cause minor dryness in rare cases.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

This serum is generally too active for the very thin skin around the eyes, but you may use it on body areas that need help with blemishes and rough texture. Panthenol and glycerin help keep the treated areas comfortable and hydrated while mandelic acid clears pores.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.

    BMJ Open, 2018
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.

    Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019
  • Treatment with 30% lactic acid peel showed a significantly greater reduction in pigmentation and higher patient satisfaction compared to 30% mandelic acid peel in patients with periorbital melanosis.

    Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2025
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019
  • 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 dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 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
  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

Ingredients

Water, Mandelic Acid, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Panthenol, Glycerin, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Xanthan Gum, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Silanetriol, Sorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Hexylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caramel

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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