Perricone MD Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer for acne-prone skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Squalane
Shea Butter
Tetrahexyldecyl AscorbateAverage
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
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 moisturizing for your combination skin due to sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, which hydrate and plump effectively, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While suitable for combination skin with humectant action, it does not provide sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Bisabolol and Allantoin.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this oil-free gel-cream is highly favored by users with dehydrated, mature, and combination skin for its ability to deliver deep hydration without feeling heavy or greasy. Many report visibly plumper skin and reduced fine lines, while a minority experienced breakouts or found the moisture insufficient for very dry skin types.
Highlights
Lightweight feel Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “not greasy”
- “lightweight gel-cream”
- “sinks in fast”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “intense hydration”
- “quenches thirst”
- “plumps skin”
- “locks things in”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “soft feel”
- “radiant glow”
- “airbrushed look”
Anti-aging effects Sometimes Noted
- “minimizes fine lines”
- “firmer skin”
- “youthful appearance”
- “reduced pore size”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey”
- “worth it but expensive”
- “splurge”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke my face out”
- “caused acne”
- “red blotches”
- “burning sensation”
Not for dry skin Rarely Noted
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “need heavier cream”
- “didn't notice difference”
- “dry patches remained”
Scent issues Rarely Noted
- “strong scent”
- “rosemary smell”
- “scent varies”
- “unpleasant odor”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, dermstore.com, ulta.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Perricone MD Hyaluronic Intensive Moisturizer work for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works for acne-prone skin by hydrating and plumping effectively, but other products fit this skin better because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and control oil on oily areas. An acne-prone skin product of this type needs effective ingredients that target blemishes, control oil, and support hydration without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this cream a good fit by hydrating your skin, while bisabolol and allantoin help keep it calm and comfortable. To truly fit acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that directly target breakouts and provide effective oil control for oily areas.
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.
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.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning, and after your treatment step in the evening. Because this product provides average results for your skin, acne-prone skin needs a product of this type to also feature targeted ingredients for managing blemishes and balancing oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. This helps keep your skin soft and comfortable while managing potential dryness from your retinoid treatment.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day to keep your skin hydrated and smooth. Regular daily application helps improve moisture and supports the skin barrier.
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 cause breakouts on acne-prone skin because it is safe and free of harsh ingredients, though low complaints of breakouts do exist. An acne-prone skin type needs oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-targeting actives to work best.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment safely on your body, but the thin skin around the eyes needs products with very good skin tolerance and specialized testing for delicate areas. Because acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that clear breakouts while controlling oil, this type of skin needs oil-balancing and blemish-targeting actives.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol).
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, 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 gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016Topical 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, 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, 2005Squalane 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, 2025A 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, 2025A 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, 2025Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
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, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Urea, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Bisabolol, Dimethyl Mea, Styrene Acrylates Copolymer, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Polyacrylate, Phosphatidylcholine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Citric Acid, Allantoin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysilicone-11, Triacetin, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Sodium Lactate, Lactic Acid, Serine, Sorbitol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Docosahexaenoic Acid, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate
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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