Mesoestetic Cosmelan 2 for oily skin
Kojic Acid
Ascorbic Acid
Retinyl Palmitate
Niacinamide
Alpha-ArbutinAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 and tone evening for your oily skin due to the presence of salicylic acid and azelaic acid, which help regulate oil production and address hyperpigmentation.
- While ingredients like Glycerin and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice provide beneficial hydration and soothing effects, they are less relevant to your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Bisabolol and Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users with stubborn hormonal melasma, sun spots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation report significant improvements in skin clarity and texture, often describing the product as a "holy grail" for evening skin tone. The treatment is intense, with many users noting that success requires tolerating an adjustment period of redness, peeling, and sensitivity that mimics a mild sunburn.
Highlights
Fades stubborn melasma Mostly Mentioned
- “The only thing that shifted my hormonal mask after years of trying lasers.”
- “Reduced my dark marks and hyperpigmentation dramatically.”
- “My melasma has completely resolved, with even glowing skin.”
Severe redness peeling Mostly Mentioned
- “My face was red, hot, and uncomfortable for days.”
- “I looked like a shedding snake; the peeling is aggressive.”
- “Left my skin feeling like it had a chemical burn.”
Evens skin tone Often Mentioned
- “My face and neck finally match my chest.”
- “Unifies skin tone and adds brightness.”
- “Restores radiance and clarity by softly removing uneven pigmentation.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “The most expensive cream I've ever bought.”
- “It is pricey, but cheaper than constant laser treatments.”
- “Hard to justify the cost for the small jar size.”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “My skin looks rejuvenated and refreshed.”
- “Smooths the epidermis texture significantly.”
- “Pores look smaller and skin feels glass-like after the peeling stops.”
Prevents reoccurrence Sometimes Noted
- “Keeps my pigmentation under control during summer.”
- “Works to prevent their re-appearance in the long-term.”
- “I use it as maintenance to stop the spots from coming back.”
Painful application Sometimes Noted
- “It stings and burns upon application.”
- “My eyes watered from the stinging sensation.”
- “Had to take a break because my skin was too sensitive to touch.”
Requires social downtime Sometimes Noted
- “I couldn't leave the house for a week due to the redness.”
- “You look like you have a bad sunburn; hard to wear makeup over it.”
- “Plan this for a week when you don't have events.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ebay.com, skinmart.com.au, facethefuture.co.uk, realself.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Cosmelan 2 work for oily skin?
Mesoestetic Cosmelan 2 works moderately well for oily skin by offering gentle exfoliation and evening out your tone, though other treatments fit this skin type better. To achieve an ideal fit for oily skin, a treatment needs ingredients like niacinamide to control excess oil and shine while keeping pores clear.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and azelaic acid make this cream a fit by helping regulate oil production and evening out skin tone for oily skin. To work even better for this skin type, a treatment needs effective ingredients like niacinamide that control sebum production and enhance radiance without irritation, alongside a balance of soothing extracts and hydrators.
What does Kojic Acid do for oily skin?
Kojic acid helps fade dark spots and even out skin tone by slowing down the pigment production in oily skin. It is generally well tolerated, though products of this type for oily skin also need balancing ingredients to control shine and keep pores clear.
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, 2019The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 1994
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning. Oily skin works best with a treatment that includes lightweight hydrators, oil-controlling acids, and soothing ingredients.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment alongside retinol, but apply this cream first in your routine to let its active ingredients work directly on your skin. Because this product already contains exfoliating ingredients and retinoids, using them together may increase the likelihood of dryness or sensitivity. Oily skin works best with products that provide targeted oil control and blemish-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid and niacinamide without adding unnecessary heaviness.
How often should I use this cream?
Start by using this cream once a week in the evening, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. This product of this type needs ingredients like salicylic acid and azelaic acid to regulate oil production and address dark spots on oily skin.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it contains salicylic acid and azelaic acid to help clear skin and manage oil. However, an oily skin type needs a lighter formula focused mainly on balancing oil and controlling shine rather than heavy hydrators.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
Application of 15% azelaic acid gel significantly reduced post-inflammatory erythema and hyperpigmentation, decreased hemoglobin and melanin content, improved quality of life, and contributed to acne improvement in patients with mild to moderate acne compared to placebo.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2024A 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, 2017Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015A topical formulation containing kojic acid, emblica extract, and glycolic acid demonstrated efficacy parity compared with hydroquinone 4% in multiethnic participants with mild to moderate facial dyschromia.
Cutis, 2010A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.
Pharmaceutics, 2023Topical application of iron chelators kojic acid and deferiprone significantly accelerated wound healing in rats compared to control groups, with deferiprone showing superior efficacy due to higher antioxidant and iron chelation abilities.
International Wound Journal, 2013Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical 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, 2005A non-hydroquinone topical formulation (SKNB19) improved hyperpigmentation by 28.5% in patient self-assessment and 27% in independent reviewer assessment compared with 4% hydroquinone in 18 adult subjects, while showing significantly less irritation and better tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Encapsulation of alpha arbutin in an optimized ethosomal gel significantly improved skin melanin reduction, moisture content, and elasticity in human volunteers compared to conventional formulations.
Heliyon, 2023Combining a home-based radiofrequency device and arbutin cream reduced mMASI scores by 25.6% and melanin index by 22.8% at 8 weeks compared to baseline in 38 participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Acacia Senegal Gum, Alcohol, Allantoin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Alpha-Arbutin, Aminoethylphosphinic Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Behenyl Alcohol, Bisabolol, Butylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol Dicaprylate Dicaprate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Ceteareth-25, Citric Acid, Cyclomethicone, Di-C12-13 Alkyl Malate, Dimethicone, Disodium Ethylene Dicocamide Peg-15 Disulfate, Ethoxydiglycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, Kojic Acid, Manganese Oxide, Niacinamide, Peg-8 Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, Phytic Acid, Poloxamer 407, Retinyl Palmitate, Rumex Occidentalis Extract, Salicylic Acid, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Metabisulfite, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, Stearyl Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Xanthan Gum
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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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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