Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser for combination skin
Octocrylene
Diisopropyl Adipate
Warning
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for combination skin; the sunscreens alongside fit it 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 moisturizing and sun protection for your combination skin, with glycerin providing hydration and Octocrylene and Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane offering UV protection, though these ingredients carry a risk of irritation.
- While Tocopheryl Acetate offers antioxidant benefits, the formula's primary ingredients do not directly address your concern of oily shine.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily to protect your skin and control shine. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
- Use it as the final step of your morning routine after applying your moisturizer. It combines hydration and sun protection in one.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing. Let it absorb fully before putting on makeup.
- Apply it directly to clean, dry skin for the best oil-controlling finish. Ensure your face is completely dry so the product sets properly.
- Avoid the immediate eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this moisturizer for its ability to hydrate without clogging pores or causing breakouts. Many report a lightweight, non-irritating finish that works well under makeup. A notable subset of users experiences a burning sensation upon application, particularly around the eyes.
Highlights
Lightweight & Non-Greasy Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into skin quickly”
- “gliding on smoothly”
- “never leaves my skin oily”
- “sinks in without sticky layer”
Sensitive skin safe Often Mentioned
- “skin has cleared up”
- “never had a negative experience”
- “gentle for sensitive skin”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “no added fragrance”
- “does not have a noticeable scent”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “smell is neutral”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “works great under makeup”
- “easy to apply foundation over it”
- “doesn't pill under cosmetics”
- “smooth canvas for application”
Stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burns my eyes”
- “face felt like it was burning”
- “stings upon application”
- “eyes water constantly”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a shiny film”
- “feels oily after an hour”
- “too greasy for summer”
- “slick finish”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stops working”
- “hard to get last bit out”
- “pump mechanism failed”
- “defective dispenser”
White cast Rarely Noted
- “slight white film”
- “turns white on brown skin”
- “takes time to rub in”
- “ghostly cast initially”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, influenster.com, cetaphil.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer for combination skin?
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser is a poor match because its sun protection ingredients carry a risk of irritation and the formula does not address oily shine. A moisturizing spf for combination skin needs to be exceptionally safe with no risk of irritation, effectively address oily shine with its hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients, and perform its intended function of moisturizing without any unsuitability.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
This cream is a poor fit for your combination skin because its sunscreen ingredients carry a risk of irritation and the formula does not address oily shine. A better product of this type needs to be exceptionally safe with no risk of irritation, effectively manage oily shine with lightweight hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients, and contain beneficial additions like antioxidants without adding excess oil.
What does Water do for combination skin?
Water helps keep combination skin hydrated, though a product of this type needs additional barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides or petrolatum to lock in that moisture and support overall skin health.
What does Octocrylene do for combination skin?
Octocrylene is a UV filter that protects combination skin from sun damage without clogging pores or disrupting the skin's natural balance. It is unlikely to cause irritation or significantly affect the skin's healthy bacteria, though products of this type also benefit from added antioxidants to help reduce environmental stress.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream is used in the morning as a moisturizing sunscreen step after your toner. Because this product is a poor match for your combination skin, this skin type needs a lightweight moisturizer with oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide to keep the face soft and manage oily shine without irritation.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
This cream is a poor match for your combination skin and may cause irritation, so you should avoid using it with retinol. Combination skin needs a lightweight, non-irritating moisturizer and sunscreen that controls oily shine while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for your combination skin because it may cause irritation and does not help with oily shine, so a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients. When you do use a product like this, it is typically applied in the morning as part of your sun protection and moisturizing steps.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain active ingredients that speed up cell turnover, but it may feel a bit heavy and lead to breakouts on combination skin. A moisturizer for this skin type needs to be lightweight, oil-free, and non-greasy, containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to hydrate without adding extra shine.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
What the research says
Parsol 1789 and Eusolex 8020 provided slightly better photoprotection than oxybenzone in both normal and sensitized human skin when assessed using pigmentation end points, whereas all three sunscreens performed similarly against UVA-induced erythema.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Early application of sunscreen after ablative fractional skin resurfacing significantly increased the sensitization rate of the UV-filter, octocrylene, and the sunscreen compared to intact skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2015
Ingredients
Water, Octocrylene, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium Edta
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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How does it fit your skin?
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