CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream for sensitive skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 benefits for your normal skin with sensitivity, as hyaluronic acid and glycerin provide hydration while niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and soothe redness. These ingredients work synergistically to support your skin's barrier function and reduce irritation.
- The formula is generally safe for your normal skin, with no harsh or prohibited ingredients identified that would pose an irritation risk.
- While it offers good hydration and oil control, the formulation does not specifically target the underlying causes of your redness and irritation, providing only general supportive care.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin widely praise this gel-cream for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers a matte finish without drying out the face. A notable minority of reviewers report issues with the product pilling under makeup or sunscreen and experiencing a temporary burning or stinging sensation upon application.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “lightweight and super moisturizing”
- “feels refreshing upon application”
- “lightweight gel-cream texture”
- “barely feel it on”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into my face right away”
- “rapidly absorbed”
- “soaks in quickly”
- “no residue left behind”
Matte finish Often Mentioned
- “absorbs excess oil”
- “leaves a matte finish”
- “controls shine throughout the day”
- “skin looks balanced not shiny”
Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
- “doesn't leave me feeling greasy”
- “no sticky/tacky feeling”
- “residue-free”
- “non-greasy formula”
Balanced hydration Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating without making skin heavy”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “perfect balance of moisture”
- “hydrated but not oily”
Pilling with makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills with sunscreen”
- “peels with toner”
- “pills up during application”
- “rolls off the skin”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burns the skin”
- “burning sensation around eye area”
- “feels hot on skin”
- “stinging upon application”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “skin has broken out”
- “clogged pores”
- “caused small bumps”
- “acne flared up”
Not matte enough Rarely Noted
- “becomes even oilier”
- “soft matte not fully matte”
- “shiny after a while”
- “didn't control oil long”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream work for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for sensitive skin, as hydrating ingredients add moisture while niacinamide and zinc help calm redness and control oil. It is generally safe to use, though a product for this skin needs soothing ingredients like Centella Asiatica, nourishing oils, and ceramides that specifically target redness and irritation while strengthening the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and zinc gluconate help hydrate your skin, control oil, and soothe redness. This cream works well, but sensitive skin needs a product with soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica and cica ceramide that target the underlying causes of redness and irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
Apply this treatment in the evening after your cleanser and soothing toner, followed by a moisturizer. A complete routine for this skin needs gentle hydrating and calming ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to support the skin barrier while reducing redness and irritation.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment in the evening routine. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce the irritation and dryness that often comes with using retinoids.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular application helps keep your skin hydrated and calm while supporting your skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, as its ingredients are generally safe and gentle, though a few reviewers have reported minor breakouts. To better care for sensitive skin prone to clogged pores, a product of this type needs non-comedogenic hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide without heavy oils.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner than body skin and may need extra care. A product of this type for sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients and barrier-supporting ceramides to properly care for the delicate eye area.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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 dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A facial cream containing Centella asiatica leaf extract, ceramide NP, and panthenol reduced mean SS-10 scores by 66% and 76% after 2 and 4 weeks in Chinese females with sensitive skin, providing effective soothing and barrier-repairing properties with mild adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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, 2019
Why other moisturizers fit sensitive skin better
A 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, 2024Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Silica, Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.