Elta MD AM Restore Moisturizer for oily acne-prone skin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this moisturizer effectively balances oil production and offers mild exfoliation with niacinamide and willow bark extract, addressing your concerns with acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The formula provides excellent moisturizing and barrier-enhancing effects through hyaluronic acid and squalane, ensuring your skin remains hydrated and resilient.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and allantoin.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThis lightweight, oil-free moisturizer is widely praised by users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin for its ability to hydrate without clogging pores or causing irritation. While it effectively improves skin texture and tone using niacinamide and willow bark extract, those with very dry skin often find it insufficiently moisturizing on its own and may need to layer it with other products.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs into my face quickly”
- “feels very light”
- “not heavy or greasy”
- “leaves no detectable residue”
Good for sensitive/acne-prone Often Mentioned
- “finally something that works for acne”
- “calms my skin down”
- “non-irritating”
Excellent under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “layers beautifully under tinted sunscreen”
- “smooth base for foundation”
- “no pilling”
- “wears well under makeup”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels hydrated and smooth”
- “evens skin color”
- “helps with redness”
- “gives a nice glow”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “not moisturizing enough for me”
- “need to layer”
- “skin felt tight later”
- “better for summer than winter”
Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
- “decent for the price”
- “expensive for the size”
- “wish the bottle was bigger”
- “premium price point”
Rare breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused tiny whiteheads”
- “skin didn't like it”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, target.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Elta MD AM Restore Moisturizer a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Elta MD AM Restore Moisturizer is a great fit because it balances oil and provides mild exfoliation with niacinamide and willow bark extract to help keep breakouts under control. It also keeps skin hydrated and strong with hyaluronic acid and squalane while soothing the face so irritation is unlikely.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and willow bark extract make this cream a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin by helping balance oil and gently clearing pores. Hyaluronic acid and squalane add lightweight hydration while keeping your skin calm and resilient.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Willow Bark Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Willow bark extract helps oily, acne-prone skin by reducing excess oil, calming inflammation, and clearing breakouts with minimal irritation. This ingredient helps smooth texture and keeps pores clear, making it a well-tolerated choice for daily blemish care.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin and goes after your hydrating toner in the morning routine and after your treatment step at night. It helps balance oil production while keeping your skin hydrated and smooth without causing irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the moisturizer first to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a moisturizing treatment alongside retinoids is unlikely to cause irritation and may make your routine more comfortable.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and balanced. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports the skin barrier while being gentle enough to avoid irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin and is unlikely to cause breakouts because it uses gentle ingredients like niacinamide and willow bark extract to balance oil and calm blemishes without clogging pores. The formula's soothing components help keep your skin clear and comfortable with an excellent safety profile.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use around the eyes and on the body, though the skin around the eyes is much thinner than body skin. Its gentle ingredients provide hydration and comfort without causing irritation in delicate areas.
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 botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.
Drug Delivery, 2017A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Topical 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, 2005Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, 2019A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Panthenol, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Willow Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Piptadenia Colubrina Peel Extract, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.
