Singapore’s tropical climate can exacerbate acne-related issues, including the dreaded “maskne” – acne from extended periods of mask-wearing. We review some skincare products, including face serums for acne, oily skin, etc that can help! Find out which are the best serums for acne treatment and other common skin conditions.
Founders Beauty Phyto-Positive Peppermint Potion, $95
I have had a terrible breakout since December 2022, with stubbornly clogged pores around my upper cheeks for several months. My skin is sensitive, oily and has large pores so it tends to flush easily.
When I received this skincare for acne and I saw the combination of potent ingredients – niacinamide, reishi mushroom extract and licorice extract – I realised that this could be the right acne treatment for me. I also liked the subtle scent of peppermint – it’s so refreshing. And the magnetic cap makes it sanitary and secure after every use.
After using it for two and a half months in the morning and night, I could see a huge difference in my skin. Stubborn whiteheads were easily extracted without any force after a month of use. I finally feel that my skin is firm and plump, and my facial pores are much healthier now. I have added this acne treatment to my skincare routine!
– Hana Kamal
BSKIN Anti-Acne 3C Spot Treatment & V Line Vita Advanced Intense PAF Concentrate ($155 together)
I have sensitive skin and generally start having breakouts just before that time of the month comes. The Anti-Acne 3C Spot Treatment has worked surprisingly effectively in drying up the spots, eventually clearing my skin in four to five days. This acne treatment is made of a number of natural ingredients, including natural extracts of honey, royal jelly, propolis and pollen. Overall, I’m really happy with this acne treatment and definitely recommend it.
I’m a huge fan of face serums – I think they’re among the most important steps of a facial care routine! Even if you don’t have a routine, I think it’s good to apply a serum a few times a week before sleeping, just to keep your skin hydrated and glowing.
I’m really happy that the Vita Advanced Intense PAF Concentrate didn’t cause any breakouts. It absorbs into the skin really fast and my skin immediately felt hydrated.
It contains L-ascorbic acid that works to stimulate cell repair for a natural glow. I’ll definitely continue having this as part of my night routine as it’s the best vitamin C face serum I’ve tried.
– Siti Shahirah
Skinlycious Clear Skin Complete Starter Kit, $89
My first thoughts were: the brand name sounds fab but the number of products in this kit looks daunting! Thankfully, this skincare routine is actually an easy, no-fuss three or four steps. Plus, you carry out your own mini-experiment to find the perfect combination and it absolutely works.
After suffering with acne for years, Jasmine Kang founded the Skinlycious skincare line using her biomedical and pharmaceutical background, plus the ingredients that saved her skin.
She understands that everyone’s skin is different and has created the Clear Skin Complete Starter Kit to help! For the first five days, you try what’s known as the half-face method – using two different morning and night skincare regimes on each side of your face. Some of the ingredients include salicyc acid, AHA/BHA and calming calamine, which those with acne know are your best defence against breakouts and redness. The skincare regime is super easy, the instructions are clear and the bottles have different designs to perfectly dispense the right amount of product.
After five days, you compare the sides of your face and choose the best product combination to use from then on. My skin loved the calming cleanser, glow exfoliant and hydrating serum. They’ve become staples in my routine! This Singapore brand truly does live up to the hype and is a great entry-level skincare routine for anyone suffering acne and breakouts.
– Megan Hobson
Kigella Corrective Serum by Luxe Botanics, $147
Stress manifests itself physically in different forms for people; I often find it affects my sleep patterns and my skin condition. When work is at its peak, I tend to get rough skin and acne in unusual areas such as my cheeks and neck.
Recently, I’ve turned to Luxe Botanics for acne treatment to help tackle the flare-ups – and it’s proving successful! Enriched with Vitamin C, niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate, the lightweight face serum calms and soothes distressed skin, whilst the key ingredient, Kigelia fruit extract, is a potent yet gentle skin purifying botanical that supports cell regeneration. It requires only one to two drops in the morning, and three days of use is often more than enough to get my skin back to normal.
– Leanda Rathmell
Iren Skin Clear Up Discovery Trio, $39
This vegan, cruelty-free, made-in-Japan line combines traditional Japanese skincare rituals with clean science and customisable solutions that are free of nasties like parabens, artificial fragrances and drying alcohols. The Clear Up kit consists of three popular serums for acne treatment: Anti-Blemish contains anti-inflammatory extracts like niacinamide and mangosteen; Keep Calm incorporates avocado and cucumber to soothe irritated skin, and Glow-Getter is a brightening formula of glycolic acid and Japanese pumpkin seed extract.
A key feature is the patented Ziplock Encapsulation technology, which compacts and preserves each active ingredient as nanometric particles that absorb better into the skin. The bottles have an ergonomic twist cap and handy press dispenser, which means I can easily customise my serum mix by dropping each formula onto my palm. I’ve really enjoyed using the serums as their non-sticky texture works well in this unpredictable weather. My skin feels well hydrated and I do notice less sensitivity, too! I can see how these lightweight formulas would work well as an acne treatment or for oily skin.
– Anthia Chng
Dermedics MESO ACNE Acne Symptoms Solution, $299
I really enjoyed trialling Dermedics’ acne range over the past couple of weeks. Used by aesthetic clinics like NOVU Aesthetics and top Japanese spa Ikeda Spa, the Meso serum cocktails cater to targeted skin concerns like acne, wrinkles, dullness and broken capillaries. Each box comes with 10 glass ampoules, which can be used twice daily as your serum for face issues. The price seems steep at first, but you get 10 vials and each one can last up to around three to four days. I think it’s a good idea to save it for days when you need a “boost”!
Formulated with key ingredients like oleanolic acid and Fleischer’s Willowherb, the paraben-, fragrance-, and alcohol-free serum feels lightweight and absorbs into the skin well without leaving any tacky residue. Unlike many other acne solutions I’ve tried, this range doesn’t dry out my acne-prone, sensitive skin. In fact, my complexion looks visibly clearer and brighter the next day, and I think consistently using the serum for face issues has helped to tame some of my breakouts, too. Another product from the range I’ve tried and loved is the Youth Expert Micellar Gel ($78), a purifying and clarifying face wash for acne-prone, combination-type skin. It’s gentle yet effective; my skin does not feel stripped after using it, but it definitely helps to soothe my existing flareups with salicylic acid and tea tree oil (love!).
– Anthia Chng
BSKIN’s Anti Acne 3C Spot Treatment, $29
I am 12 years old and I’ve started getting pimples. Hence my mum thought it was a great idea to give the BSKIN Anti Acne 3C Spot Treatment a try. I was a little sceptical in the beginning because she said it will make my pimples go away – yeah, right! But BSKIN surprised me with how it’s easily absorbed into the skin and targets the affected area, making the swelling and redness less aggressive.
After two days, the pimples seemed to die down and almost disappear! My mum tried it too, lessening the chance of scarring or pigmentation. As I’ll probably have more pimples in the coming years, I will definitely use this BSKIN product and highly recommend it to my besties too as it has no harmful ingredients. Double thumbs up!
– Maya Rose Pickles
Skinlycious Clear Skin Potent Kit, $106
The kit consists of a calming cleanser, glow exfoliant and hydrating serum. These products have become a staple in my skincare regime, especially on my bad skin days. Out of the trio, the serum is my favourite. A lightweight blend of hyaluronic acid and amino acids, this oil-free serum for face issues hydrates without worsening acne or clogging the pores. It absorbs so well into my combination-type skin that I’m happy to use it on warmer days. I really enjoyed using the cleanser, too. It doesn’t lather or remove my makeup, but it keeps my skin balanced without feeling overly dry. The glow exfoliant is also great as a spot treatment for pimples; I’ve used it a couple of times on my spots and they appeared less red and bumpy overnight!
– Anthia Chng
Liked this story on serums for acne? See more on our Style & Beauty page! You can also read up on where to get facials in Singapore.
