CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream for combination skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
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 benefits for your oily shine and combination skin, as niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and mattify the skin, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide excellent moisturization without clogging pores.
- The presence of ceramides and cholesterol further supports your skin barrier, enhancing overall skin health and balance.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin widely praise this gel-cream for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers a matte finish without drying out the face. A notable minority of reviewers report issues with the product pilling under makeup or sunscreen and experiencing a temporary burning or stinging sensation upon application.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “lightweight and super moisturizing”
- “feels refreshing upon application”
- “lightweight gel-cream texture”
- “barely feel it on”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into my face right away”
- “rapidly absorbed”
- “soaks in quickly”
- “no residue left behind”
Matte finish Often Mentioned
- “absorbs excess oil”
- “leaves a matte finish”
- “controls shine throughout the day”
- “skin looks balanced not shiny”
Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
- “doesn't leave me feeling greasy”
- “no sticky/tacky feeling”
- “residue-free”
- “non-greasy formula”
Balanced hydration Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating without making skin heavy”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “perfect balance of moisture”
- “hydrated but not oily”
Pilling with makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills with sunscreen”
- “peels with toner”
- “pills up during application”
- “rolls off the skin”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burns the skin”
- “burning sensation around eye area”
- “feels hot on skin”
- “stinging upon application”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “skin has broken out”
- “clogged pores”
- “caused small bumps”
- “acne flared up”
Not matte enough Rarely Noted
- “becomes even oilier”
- “soft matte not fully matte”
- “shiny after a while”
- “didn't control oil long”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Oil Control Gel-Cream a great fit for combination skin?
CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream is a great fit because niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and mattify shiny areas, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide lightweight hydration without clogging pores. Ceramides and cholesterol further support your skin barrier for a balanced feel, and the soothing formula is safe with no harsh ingredients.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
This cream is a great fit for combination skin because niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and mattify the skin, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide deep hydration without clogging pores. Additionally, ceramides and cholesterol support your skin barrier to keep your face balanced and healthy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
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 cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes as the moisturizer step in your morning and evening routines. It helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated without clogging pores or causing irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the cream after your retinol to help soothe your skin and keep it hydrated. Using a moisturizer with ceramides helps support your skin barrier and is unlikely to cause irritation when combined with active treatments.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing gel-cream twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep combination skin hydrated and balanced. Regular daily application helps improve overall moisture levels while keeping oily shine under control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because its ingredients provide light moisture without heavy oils. It features niacinamide and hyaluronic acid to keep your skin hydrated and balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula is safe and well-tolerated. The skin on the body and around the eyes may benefit from its hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022A facial cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP, and panthenol reduced mean SS-10 scores by 66% and 76% after 2 and 4 weeks in Chinese females with sensitive skin, providing effective soothing and barrier-repairing properties with mild adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Silica, Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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