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Balance Me Congested Skin Serum for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few serums fit it even 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

  • Highly suitable for your combination skin, the Picea Abies Extract and Iris Florentina Root Extract work to decongest pores and smooth texture, addressing your concerns with acne and blemishes.
  • The Lemon Peel Oil and Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf provide mild astringent and antiseptic properties, offering seboregulation and antimicrobial action beneficial for your skin type.
  • The formula 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

★4.0Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin frequently praise this serum as an effective "on-the-spot" treatment that rapidly calms inflammation and reduces redness without causing dryness. While many appreciate its natural ability to clear blemishes and hormonal breakouts within days, a notable portion of users are divided on its strong herbal scent and small bottle size.

Highlights

  • Rapidly clears blemishes Often Mentioned
    • “Spots disappear within a few hours”
    • “Breakout almost gone in a day or two”
    • “Gone in half the time”
  • Soothes redness Often Mentioned
    • “Reduces redness overnight”
    • “Calms inflammation instantly”
    • “Takes the anger out of spots”
  • Strong medicinal scent Often Mentioned
    • “Smells strongly of medicine”
    • “Scent is a bit much”
    • “Smell is off-putting”
  • Lightweight absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “Absorbs very quickly”
    • “Not greasy”
    • “Sinks in immediately”
  • Non-drying and gentle Sometimes Noted
    • “Doesn't leave a tacky feel”
    • “No dryness or irritation”
    • “Gentle enough for sensitive skin”
  • Small bottle size Sometimes Noted
    • “Wish it was a bigger bottle”
    • “Expensive for the size”
    • “Tiny tube”
  • Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
    • “Did nothing for my skin”
    • “Saw no difference”
    • “Ineffective on my acne”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “Pump dispenses too much”
    • “Hard to control amount”
    • “Lid broke easily”

Sources: lovi.care, ipsy.com, amazon.com, lookfantastic.com, ocado.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Balance Me Congested Skin Serum a great fit for acne-prone skin?

Balance Me Congested Skin Serum is a great fit because spruce knot and iris extracts help clear pores and smooth out skin texture to tackle acne and blemishes. Lemon peel and eucalyptus oils also help balance oil and keep skin clean, while moringa seed oil provides a very safe profile with no skin irritation or allergic reactions.

Polymers, 2022

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

This serum is a great fit because Picea Abies Extract and Iris Florentina Root Extract help clear clogged pores and smooth texture. Lemon Peel Oil and Eucalyptus Leaf Oil add mild antiseptic and oil-balancing benefits, while Moringa Seed Oil brings safe, skin-soothing nourishment.

Polymers, 2022

What does Moringa Seed Oil do for acne-prone skin?

Moringa oleifera seed oil helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing inflammation and is unlikely to cause irritation. To properly care for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs soothing and balancing ingredients that keep the skin clear and calm without clogging pores.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020

What does Kanuka Oil do for acne-prone skin?

Kanuka oil helps calm acne-prone skin because it targets common bacteria and lowers inflammation. This makes it a useful addition for keeping breakouts at bay and soothing redness.

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

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. Putting it at night keeps things simple and avoids extra sun sensitivity.

Can I use this serum with salicylic acid, and in what order?

You can use this serum with salicylic acid by applying the salicylic acid first during your routine, as the formula helps clear pores and smooth texture without irritation.

Polymers, 2022

How often should I use this serum?

This serum is used in the evening as part of your routine for acne-prone skin. It is safe for daily use and helps clear pores and smooth texture without causing irritation.

Polymers, 2022

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because its ingredients help clear congestion and smooth texture for acne-prone skin without harsh irritants. It is safe for daily use to help calm blemishes.

Polymers, 2022

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol, limonene, linalool, citral, geraniol, citronellol, and eugenol).

What the research says

Ingredients

Water, Rice Bran Oil, Glycerin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil Moringa Seed Oil, Picea Abies Extract Spruce Knot Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Papaver Rhoeas Flower Extract Corn Poppy Flower Extract, Iris Florentina Root Extract Iris Root Extract, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Flower Lavender Oil Flower, Lemon Peel Oil, Litsea Cubeba Oil Fruit, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Anthemis Nobilis Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Kunzea Ericoides Oil Leaf Kanuka Oil Leaf, Clove Oil Bud, Chondrus Crispus, Sclerotium Gum, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Polyglyceryl-4 Laurate, Dilauryl Citrate, Potassium Sorbate, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Citric Acid, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Geraniol, Citronellol, Eugenol

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play