Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream for acne-prone skin
6-Butterlipid Complex
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Gluconate
Squalane
Ceramides
Average
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as Glycerin, Squalane, and Ceramides provide essential hydration and barrier support beneficial for acne-prone skin. Resveratrol and Astaxanthin offer antioxidant protection, though they do not directly target active breakouts.
- The formula is well-suited for combination skin due to its balanced humectant and emollient properties, with ingredients like Shea Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil nourishing without being overly heavy.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle formulation with soothing ingredients and no harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis rich cream is highly effective for dry, mature, or compromised skin, providing deep, long-lasting moisture and barrier repair, often noted as a winter savior. Users with oily or acne-prone skin, however, frequently report experiencing congestion and breakouts due to its heavy, occlusive texture.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “healed dry patches overnight”
- “skin feels quenched all day”
- “saved my skin this winter”
- “no more flaking”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “buttery and rich”
- “feels like a protective layer”
- “thick but absorbs well”
- “glides on smoothly”
Hygienic packaging Sometimes Noted
- “love the push pump”
- “sanitary and easy”
- “dispenses perfect flower shape”
- “no waste packaging”
Soothing repair Sometimes Noted
- “soothed retinol burn”
- “reduced redness immediately”
- “restored my barrier”
Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “broke me out immediately”
- “caused whiteheads overnight”
- “clogged my pores”
- “too heavy for acne-prone skin”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “too expensive for the size”
- “pricey for a moisturizer”
- “not worth the money”
- “finished too quickly”
Greasy finish Rarely Noted
- “feels like vaseline”
- “too greasy for day use”
- “sat on top of skin”
- “made me look oily”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like old sunscreen”
- “weird chemical scent”
- “unpleasant natural smell”
- “smells like plastic”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.sg, spacenk.com, ulta.com, drunkelephant.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier work for acne-prone skin?
Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing essential hydration and barrier support with ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and ceramides. While it is generally safe and nourishing, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients that directly address active breakouts and blemishes to achieve a better fit for this skin type.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, squalane, and ceramides make this cream a good fit because they help keep acne-prone skin hydrated and support its natural barrier. A product of this type needs ingredients that directly target breakouts and blemishes, along with soothing agents that keep combination skin balanced and calm without any risk of irritation.
What does 6-Butterlipid Complex do for acne-prone skin?
6-Butterlipid Complex may not be the best fit for acne-prone skin because heavy, rich ingredients can clog pores and worsen breakouts. Products for this skin type need lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients and soothing components that help calm inflammation without adding extra grease.
What does Zinc Gluconate do for acne-prone skin?
Zinc gluconate helps calm red, angry blemishes and supports skin healing in acne-prone skin. It is unlikely to irritate and may help reduce breakouts and bacterial resistance when used consistently.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026European Journal of Dermatology, 2005
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes near the end of your morning and evening routines, right before sunscreen in the day. It provides helpful hydration and barrier support for acne-prone skin, though this skin type generally benefits more from targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe dryness and support your skin barrier. Using a moisturizer with ceramides alongside acne treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and helps keep skin comfortable.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and supported. Regular daily application helps maintain moisture and protects the skin barrier, though acne-prone skin often benefits even more from lightweight formulas with targeted breakout-fighting ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment may cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as some reviewers note. Acne-prone skin often needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators and blemish-targeting ingredients like salicylic acid instead of heavy butters and oils.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formulation supports thin skin and provides safe hydration. However, for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or higher levels of specialized minerals to better manage breakouts.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Is this cream 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 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, 2017Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023A 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, 2026Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Beta-Sitosterol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Glucosyl Ceramide, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Glycosphingolipids, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alpha-Glucan, Resveratrol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Pca, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sorbitan Isostearate, Astaxanthin Extract, Quercetin, Astaxanthin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Eop, Dextrin, Palmitic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lactate, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, 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
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