Clinique moisture surge for oily skin
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf WaterAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers 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
- Suitable for oily skin as Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide offer mild astringent and soothing properties, helping to manage excess oil without causing dryness.
- It provides moderate moisturizing benefits due to glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which hydrate and plump the skin, though these are not specialized for managing oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 8.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this oil-free gel-cream is highly recommended by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its deep hydration and non-greasy, dewy finish. Some users with very dry skin find it insufficient, particularly in winter, and a small number report mild breakouts or a tacky feel.
Highlights
Lightweight, absorbs fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “feels like water”
- “no greasy residue”
- “weightless on skin”
Good makeup base Often Mentioned
- “foundation glides on”
- “doesn't pill under makeup”
- “smooth canvas”
- “grips makeup well”
Plumping effect Often Mentioned
- “glass skin look”
- “bouncy texture”
- “fine lines disappear”
- “healthy glow”
Expensive for size Often Mentioned
- “jar is too small for the cost”
- “expensive for a basic moisturizer”
- “runs out too quickly”
Soothes sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging”
- “calms redness”
- “fragrance-free is a lifesaver”
Not enough hydration Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt tight after an hour”
- “need a second layer”
- “too light for winter”
- “disappears too fast”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me tiny bumps”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “whiteheads appeared next day”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “feels sticky to the touch”
- “hair sticks to face”
- “tacky film left behind”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, makeupalley.com, amazon.com, clinique.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Moisture Surge work for oily skin?
Clinique Moisture Surge works reasonably well for oily skin by offering mild oil management and moderate hydration, though other products fit this skin type better. To work best for oily skin, this type of product needs a lightweight texture with peptides and hydrating agents, along with ingredients that support the skin barrier and lack heavy oils.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Controlled Release, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide make this cream a good fit by helping to manage excess oil with their mild soothing properties. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid also support this fit by adding hydration, though oily skin of this type needs a lightweight texture with peptides, hydrating agents, and no heavy oils to truly thrive.
What does Water do for oily skin?
Water helps keep oily skin hydrated without adding grease or clogging pores. Keeping oily skin properly hydrated may also help balance oil production and reduce unwanted shine.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer goes as the third step in your morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and as the last step in your evening routine after a treatment. It works for oily skin, though this skin type benefits most from light hydration and ingredients that actively control shine without feeling heavy.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable. Oily skin used with retinol needs a lightweight, oil-balancing moisturizer that provides hydration without adding extra shine.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening routines as part of your regular skincare steps. Regular use helps keep your skin hydrated and smooth while remaining gentle on your skin.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin since it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients. However, an oily skin type needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators and ingredients that actively balance shine to prevent clogged pores completely.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around your eyes and on your body, as it has a very safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to keep the area soft and smooth without feeling heavy.
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. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025A 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, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Caprylyl Methicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isohexadecane, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Trehalose, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Polyethylene, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Silica, Disodium Edta, Tetrasodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides Ci 77491, Iron Oxides Ci 77492, Iron Oxides Ci 77499, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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
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