Philosophy Hope In A Jar for combination skin
Glycerin
Retinyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil
Beta-GlucanLow
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 moisturizing for your combination skin, as glycerin and beta-glucan hydrate and enhance barrier resilience, but these benefits are largely supportive and do not directly address your oily shine.
- The presence of tocopheryl acetate provides general skincare benefits, but its concentration is not optimized for your specific concerns.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is frequently praised for improving skin texture and providing a radiant glow, with many users noting a lightweight, non-greasy feel and softening of fine lines. Some users with very dry skin find it not moisturizing enough, and a moderate number of reviews mention an unpleasant fragrance or a potential for breakouts.
Highlights
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin is so smooth & improved the look & feel.”
- “Instantly smooth skin texture.”
- “Real surface texture improvement over 2-4 weeks.”
Radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “It really does make my skin glow.”
- “Gave my skin a radiant glow.”
- “Love the glow it gives once it's fully absorbed.”
Lightweight feel Sometimes Noted
- “Much lighter feel, with all the same glowing benefits.”
- “Leaves NO GREASY residue.”
- “Feels lightweight and non greasy.”
Softens lines Sometimes Noted
- “Fine lines softened.”
- “Reduce fine lines & wrinkles.”
- “Start of crows feet... have all but gone.”
Unpleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Discussed the funky smell of the cream.”
- “Weird fragrance that I could do without.”
- “Limited by added fragrance including declared allergens.”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Woke up the next morning with four pimples.”
- “If I use anything really thick or heavy, I will break out.”
- “Made my face look shiny... only used it at night.”
Not for dry skin Rarely Noted
- “Don't know how much moisture it will give to those of you with very dry skin.”
- “For those of you with really dry skin, this one may not be hydrating enough.”
- “Unless you have dry skin, I wouldn't recommend using it.”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, moisturizers.com, omgbart.com, shespeaks.com, chicdarling.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Philosophy Hope In A Jar a weak match for combination skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match because its ingredients hydrate and support the skin barrier, but they do not directly address oily shine. A product of this type needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients, soothing agents, antioxidants, and multiple peptides that reduce oily shine and manage combination skin without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
This cream is a weak match because its glycerin and beta-glucan only provide basic hydration without tackling oily shine. Combination skin needs products with brightening ingredients and multiple peptides that reduce shine and balance different areas safely without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Retinyl Palmitate do for combination skin?
Retinyl palmitate helps smooth fine lines, even out skin tone, and improve texture on combination skin. Because it works gently, it is unlikely to cause irritation while helping keep both dry and oily areas looking clear and firm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2011
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizer goes in the morning after your hydrating toner and before your SPF, and at night as the last step after your treatment. Combination skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with oil-balancing ingredients that hydrates dry areas without adding extra shine.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
This cream may be used with vitamin C by applying vitamin C first and following with the moisturizer. Combination skin needs a product that targets oily shine along with hydration.
How often should I use it?
This moisturizer is generally applied twice a day, in the morning and evening, as part of a standard daily routine. Combination skin needs lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage oily shine while providing balanced hydration.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, as complaints about clogged pores are low. However, because it is a weak match for combination skin, a moisturizer for this skin type needs oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight hydrators that control shine without feeling heavy.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer may be used around the eyes or on the body, though the skin there is much thinner than on the back or face. Regular application of a gentle cream is generally well tolerated and helps keep those areas soft and smooth.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol, geraniol, limonene, and linalool). Behenyl 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, 2017Skin care regimens containing beta-glucan improved hemoglobin index, skin hydration, and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in 20 patients undergoing fractional laser therapy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025The 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, 2012Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Treatment with topical formulations containing beta-glucan combined with nanofractional radiofrequency plus magnetic nanofractional radiofrequency showed the best efficacy and was tolerable and effective in Chinese women with abdominal stretch marks compared to control groups.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2023Topical beta-glucan mildly improved striae gravidarum, 1565-nm non-ablative fractional laser showed better results than topical beta-glucan, and the combined strategy further improved striae gravidarum atrophy compared to single treatment.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2022Topical application of oat beta-glucan ameliorates epidermal hyperplasia and accelerates epidermal barrier recovery by promoting keratinocyte differentiation through dectin-1-mediated ERK and p38 signaling pathways that upregulate CaSR expression.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Lauryl Lactate, Behenic Acid, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Behenyl Alcohol, Pentaerythrityl Tetracaprylate Tetracaprate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Tocopheryl Acetate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cyclohexasiloxane, Retinyl Palmitate, Arginine, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Beta-Glucan, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Xanthan Gum, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea
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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