Estée Lauder Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Punica Granatum ExtractHigh
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few nourishing masks fit it even 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 excellent nourishing and hydrating benefits for your combination skin, as shea butter and sodium hyaluronate deeply moisturize and strengthen the skin barrier. Niacinamide and Zinc PCA also help regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, providing moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The formulation is well-suited for combination skin due to the presence of niacinamide for seboregulation and sodium hyaluronate for humectant action.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Niacinamide and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
How to apply
- You can use this creamy mask as part of your PM routine once a week. Start 3×/week if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the creamy mask after cleansing and toning, but always before your moisturizer .
- Smooth an even layer of the creamy mask over your face while avoiding any harsh rubbing. Let it sit ⏱ for the recommended time before rinsing.
- Apply the creamy mask on clean and dry skin for the best results against blemishes.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your very first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users frequently describe this product as a lightweight solution that effectively calms oily or combination skin by reducing redness and minimizing pores. Many praise its ability to melt into the skin for a non-greasy glow. However, some users with very dry skin find it lacks sufficient lasting moisture.
Highlights
Lightweight & absorbent Mostly Mentioned
- “melts right into skin”
- “absorbs nicely without residue”
- “feels pillowy and light”
- “doesn't feel heavy whatsoever”
Calms & soothes Often Mentioned
- “calms my redness immediately”
- “helped with my large pores”
- “soothes irritated skin”
- “great for sensitive days”
Softness & glow Often Mentioned
- “skin looked smoother & glowy”
- “leaves face feeling baby soft”
- “gives a healthy shine”
- “woke up with glowing skin”
Versatile usage Sometimes Noted
- “pairs nicely with makeup”
- “love using it as a weekly mask”
- “great primer for foundation”
- “use it AM and PM”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “very expensive for the size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “price is the only downside”
- “luxury price tag”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt dry by morning”
- “need something richer”
- “not enough for winter dryness”
- “absorbed too fast, needed more”
Confusing mask instructions Rarely Noted
- “nothing left to tissue off”
- “confused if I should wash it”
- “absorbs so fast I can't remove it”
- “instructions were vague”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “texture is a bit thick”
- “felt sticky at first”
- “pores felt like they couldn't breathe”
- “too heavy for humid weather”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, sephora.my, sephora.sg, esteelauder.com, nykaa.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Estée Lauder Nutritious Melting Soft Creme/Mask a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This nourishing mask is a great fit because ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA help regulate oil and soothe breakouts while keeping skin hydrated. It also features a very safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and zinc PCA make this cream a great fit for acne-prone skin because they help balance oil and calm blemishes. Soothing extracts also keep irritation low while keeping your skin calm.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This nourishing mask goes into your weekly routine step after an enzyme powder and a cleansing toner, and before a hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. It helps deeply moisturize and strengthen your skin barrier while regulating oil and calming breakouts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with this cream to help keep your skin calm and moisturized. This routine is unlikely to cause irritation because the formula includes soothing ingredients and lacks harsh additives.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and can be used daily as part of your regular moisturizing routine. It helps deeply moisturize and calm the skin while managing oil and blemishes without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin because it contains soothing ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA that help calm inflammation and control oil. It does not include harsh ingredients, making it very safe for daily use without irritation.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical 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, 2005Topical 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 skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A skincare regimen containing Macrocystis pyrifera ferment consisting of a cleansing foam, a serum, and a moisturizer decreases the visible effects of inflammation and aging while promoting healing and improving patient satisfaction.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Macrocystis pyrifera ferment-containing creams decrease visible inflammation and signs of aging while enhancing barrier resilience and recovery.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Aqueous extracts from Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica exhibited antiviral activity against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2, and topical formulations significantly reduced the severity and duration of HSV-1 skin lesions in an animal model compared to mock treatment and acyclovir.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020Phenolic-rich pomegranate peel extract formulated into a serum and mask showed significantly better facial skin lightening efficacy than placebo in 30 volunteers over 28 days.
Planta Medica, 2020Topical application of a 2% cream containing combined fruit extracts for 56 days significantly reduced wrinkle depth by 11.5%, length by 10.07%, and area by 29.55% in 21 female subjects compared to a placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015A topical microemulsion containing Punica granatum extract significantly reduced skin erythema and melanin compared to a placebo in healthy Asian subjects over 12 weeks.
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2014
Ingredients
Water, Heptyl Undecylenate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-6 Distearate, Trimethylolpropane Tricaprylate Tricaprate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Cetyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Punica Granatum Extract, Zinc Pca, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Narcissus Tazetta Bulb Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Jojoba Esters, Helianthus Annuus Seed Extract Sunflower Seed Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Sucrose, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol
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.