SkinMedica HA5® for oily acne-prone skin
Hyaluronic Acid
Hydrolyzed CollagenAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your oily skin due to the presence of hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which hydrate without exacerbating oiliness.
- While beneficial for general hydration, these ingredients do not directly address your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly effective for dry, dehydrated, and aging skin, providing deep and lasting moisture. Users frequently observe a plumper complexion and smoother skin texture, with many noting a reduction in fine lines. A common concern is the high price point, and some users find the need for damp application to be a minor inconvenience.
Highlights
Deeply hydrates skin Mostly Mentioned
- “My skin felt hydrated throughout the day and night!”
- “Delivers a surge of moisture that leaves my skin refreshed.”
- “Super hydration throughout the day, skin feels great.”
- “Keeps that extra moisture in that is definitely needed.”
Plumps and smooths Often Mentioned
- “Plumps and smoothes my skin.”
- “My skin is so soft and flawless in the morning.”
- “Left my skin plump which in return reduced fine lines.”
- “Noticed that my skin became instantly soft and smooth.”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “Efficient serum but expensive.”
- “The product is expensive.”
- “It is expensive! But it's worth it.”
- “Falls under the upper price category.”
Lightweight, non-greasy feel Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbed nicely into the skin with no oily feeling.”
- “Non-greasy and doesn't leave a film.”
- “This is not heavy at all.”
- “Blends in well and isn't greasy.”
Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
- “Helps decrease the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
- “Reduced the appearance of wrinkles, and enhanced skin texture.”
- “Smooths out the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.”
- “Visibly smooth the appearance of fine lines.”
Requires damp application Sometimes Noted
- “Works better for me with wet fingers when applying.”
- “Be sure to wet your fingers before applying as the instructions state.”
- “HA5 is water-loving, so wet your fingertips prior to applying.”
- “Apply to clean, slightly damp skin.”
Formula consistency changes Rarely Noted
- “Did they change the formula in the last 2-3 years?”
- “Now it feels a little thicker.”
- “I don't feel like it's as amazing as it was.”
- “Reformulation costs meaningfully more than the original.”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, dermapproved.com, thebusymommylife.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SkinMedica HA5 work for oily acne-prone skin?
SkinMedica HA5 works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin because it hydrates without adding extra oil, though it is unlikely to directly clear breakouts. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or targeted acne-fighters to properly balance oily skin and manage blemishes without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin make this cream a good fit by providing moderate hydration that is unlikely to make oily skin greasy or cause breakouts. However, a product for this skin type needs ingredients like niacinamide or ceramides to actively help with blemishes and support the skin barrier without clogging pores.
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your final moisturizer, or in the morning before sunscreen. It hydrates your oily skin without making it greasy, though an oily acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that directly target breakouts.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
SkinMedica HA5 is safe to use with retinol because it lacks harsh ingredients that cause irritation. Apply the treatment before your retinol to keep your skin hydrated without making it oily, though this product type works best for acne when it also includes ingredients that directly target breakouts and blemishes.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily to hydrate your skin without adding extra oil. Because it lacks ingredients that target breakouts, oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also includes acne-fighting or clarifying ingredients to fully address blemishes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that trigger irritation, though it also does not directly treat blemishes. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product that targets breakouts and clears pores with ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body because it has a safe and gentle makeup that is unlikely to cause irritation. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin help hydrate your skin without making it oily.
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, 2017Topical 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 application of TAC/Collagen postbiotics gel improved skin moisture score and inflammation index, and reduced porphyrins and brown spots in 20 volunteers with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical collagen tripeptide application improved skin wrinkles, elasticity, and density while reducing advanced glycated end products in 22 Asian women over 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Marine collagen extracted from Greenland halibut skin showed a non-cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cells and provided a slight skin hydration effect when incorporated into cosmetic hydrogel formulations at dosages of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% in 23 healthy volunteers.
Marine Drugs, 2023
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Co-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, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Caprylyl Glycol, 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.
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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
How does it fit your skin?
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