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CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment for combination skin

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

CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few products 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 high suitability for your combination skin, as glycolic acid and lactic acid provide effective keratolytic action to address oily shine, while sodium hyaluronate ensures adequate hydration.
  • The formulation also contains Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, which helps to soothe the skin, further enhancing its compatibility with your combination skin type.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of beneficial soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use this exfoliant product in your PM routine starting once a week, then increase frequency carefully if your skin feels fine.
  • Apply this exfoliant step after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and wait a minute before layering.
  • Apply the exfoliant to clean, dry skin to help control your oily shine comfortably.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This treatment is frequently praised for its gentle yet effective exfoliation, making it suitable for sensitive or dry skin. Many users report waking up to smoother, softer skin with a brighter complexion and minimized pores, without experiencing redness or peeling. Some users noted that results may take time, and a few experienced mild tingling or disliked the texture or scent.

Highlights

  • Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
    • “gentle yet effective”
    • “no redness or flaking”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
  • Smoother texture Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels smoother”
    • “soft and hydrated”
    • “pores look smaller”
  • Brightening effects Sometimes Noted
    • “looks more radiant”
    • “brighter complexion”
    • “even skin tone”
  • Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “lightweight formula”
    • “no greasy residue”
  • Hydrating feel Sometimes Noted
    • “creamy and hydrating”
    • “intensely hydrated”
    • “doesn't dry skin”
  • Daily use caution Rarely Noted
    • “daily is too much”
    • “better every other day”
    • “potential irritation”
  • Mild tingling Rarely Noted
    • “tingling sensation”
    • “prickly feeling”
    • “slight sting”
  • Scent Rarely Noted
    • “slight acidic smell”
    • “chemical scent”
    • “unpleasant odor”
  • Slow results Rarely Noted
    • “slower working”
    • “not as visible”
    • “takes time”
  • Texture preference Rarely Noted
    • “siliconey feel”
    • “thick gel-cream”
    • “slightly sticky”

Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, amazon.com, ulta.com, skincare.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Skin Renewing Nightly Exfoliating Treatment a great fit for combination skin?

This exfoliant treatment is a great fit for your combination skin because glycolic acid and lactic acid clear away dead skin to manage oily shine while sodium hyaluronate keeps your skin hydrated. It also includes licorice root extract to help calm your skin, and the formula has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients.

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

Glycolic acid and lactic acid help smooth out oily shine, while sodium hyaluronate keeps your skin hydrated. Additionally, dipotassium glycyrrhizate helps calm the skin for an overall comfortable and well-balanced feel.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

What does Glycolic Acid do for combination skin?

Glycolic acid helps smooth and brighten combination skin by gently loosening dead surface cells to speed up skin renewal. This ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, but it needs a reliable sunscreen during the day since it makes skin more sensitive to the sun.

Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995Archives of Dermatological Research, 1997

What does Lactic Acid do for combination skin?

Lactic acid helps balance combination skin by gently removing dead surface cells and managing oil while keeping moisture locked in. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, and instead supports a smooth, clear, and well-hydrated complexion across both oily and dry areas. This type of skin needs ingredients that gently clear pores without stripping natural moisture, such as balanced hydrators and mild exfoliants.

Frontiers in Physiology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024

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

This exfoliant treatment goes in your evening routine, applied after cleansing and toning and before moisturizing. Start using it once a week, and if your skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often.

Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?

Using this exfoliant with retinol can sometimes cause irritation, so it is best to apply them on different nights or consult a professional for your routine. Alternating nights helps your skin stay smooth and calm without getting overwhelmed by too many active ingredients at once.

How often should I use this exfoliant?

Start by using this exfoliant once a week in the evening, and if your combination skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. This product is a great fit because glycolic and lactic acids handle oily shine while sodium hyaluronate and licorice root keep your skin hydrated and calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

This exfoliant is a great fit for your combination skin because glycolic acid and lactic acid clear away dead skin to address oily shine while sodium hyaluronate keeps your skin hydrated. It is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts thanks to soothing ingredients and an absence of harsh components.

Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

  • Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate-loaded hydroxypropyl chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels applied to wounds in a mouse full-thickness skin defect model resulted in rapid wound closure, efficient tissue remolding, collagen deposition, and decreased inflammation compared to commercial Tegaderm film and 3M dressing controls.

    Acta Biomaterialia, 2022

  • Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.

    International Journal of Dermatology, 2000

  • Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2017

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015

  • Licochalcone 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, 2015

  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Phenylethyl Resorcinol, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid

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

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How does it fit your skin?

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