Drunk Elephant F-Balm™ Electrolyte Waterfacial for oily acne-prone skin
Vitamin F
Sodium Pca
Niacinamide
Squalane
Electrolytes
High
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few nourishing masks fit it even 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 hydration for your oily skin, with squalane and sodium hyaluronate providing excellent moisturizing benefits without clogging pores. Jojoba seed oil also contributes emollient action, though additional ingredients for oil control would enhance its suitability for your concerns.
- While the formula is generally safe and free from harsh irritants, it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively address your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like niacinamide and squalane and avoids harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using the creamy mask 3 times a week and slowly move to daily use.
- Apply the creamy mask after your cleanser and toner, but right before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently smooth a thin layer of the creamy mask over your face. Avoid any harsh rubbing motions.
- Apply the creamy mask evenly on clean and dry skin for the best results against blemishes. Let it sit comfortably without rushing the process.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area. Do a quick patch test before your very first application to check for safety.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsThis overnight mask is highly effective at providing intense hydration, leaving skin plump, soft, and radiant. While it is generally well-received for its lightweight, non-greasy feel and cooling sensation, some users with very dry skin find it not nourishing enough. A few reviewers noted issues with the pump design and the product's price point, with negligible reports of skin reactions.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “deeply hydrated and noticeably plumped”
- “skin looks healthy and moisturized”
- “literal hydration powerhouse”
- “visibly plumped my skin”
Lightweight and non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into the skin beautifully”
- “light and quick-absorbing texture”
- “doesn't feel heavy or greasy”
- “no filmy residue on my skin”
Cooling and soothing Sometimes Noted
- “instantly soothing, cooling and calming”
- “felt quite cool, gentle”
- “gives a bit of a cooling sensation”
- “calming for dry skin”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “texture of my skin was baby-soft”
- “skin feels soft, supple”
- “improves the appearance of uneven tone”
- “complexion was noticeably brighter”
Not nourishing enough Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't feel as nourishing”
- “not find the formulation sufficiently conditioning”
- “didn't do much of anything”
- “wasn't anything 'wow'”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “product is very expensive”
- “smaller than expected”
Poor pump design Rarely Noted
- “pump is sooo tiny”
- “cannot reach the product anymore”
- “terrible pump”
Potential skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “experiencing some raised bumps”
- “experiencing a reaction”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, cultbeauty.com, boots.com, samsclub.com, niche-beauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Drunk Elephant F-Balm™ Electrolyte Waterfacial a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it offers moderate hydration with squalane and sodium hyaluronate without clogging your pores. It also includes soothing ingredients like niacinamide and jojoba seed oil, though a product of this type needs additional ingredients for oil control and salicylic acid to better address breakouts.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Squalane, sodium hyaluronate, and jojoba seed oil make this mask a good fit because they provide moderate hydration without clogging your pores. Soothing ingredients like niacinamide further help keep your skin calm.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024
What does Vitamin F do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin F helps balance oily skin and reduces clogged pores that lead to breakouts. Applying it once daily may improve acne as effectively as certain prescription treatments.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998
What does Sodium PCA do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium PCA helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated while supporting the skin's natural balance. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works well to maintain moisture without adding heaviness.
Biomaterials Advances, 2026International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1981
Where does this mask go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This nourishing mask goes as the moisturizer step in your evening routine, keeping your skin soft without clogging pores. Because this skin needs oil control and acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts, this product works best alongside targeted treatments.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask with your retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable. Using a gentle moisturizer alongside strong acne treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and may help reduce dryness or redness.
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this nourishing mask regularly as part of your weekly routine, applying it when your skin needs extra moisture. It is safe for oily acne-prone skin, though it is unlikely to help directly with breakouts because it lacks targeted acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses lightweight moisturizers that hydrate oily skin without heavy oils, though it does not contain targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to help clear acne.
Is this mask 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
Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Topical application of a vitamin C-squalene bioconjugate significantly increased epidermal thickness, type III collagen production, and glycosaminoglycans production in human skin explants compared to free vitamin C and vitamin C-palmitate.
Scientific Reports, 2020Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Application of squalene/phosphotungstate calcium nanowires (Sql/PWC) oleogel on UVB-irradiated skin decreased epidermal thickness, increased dermal thickness, and promoted the expression of elastin, collagen, and skin barrier markers through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities.
Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998Topical conjugated linolenic acid significantly reduced edema on post-procedure Day 3 and itching on Days 1 and 3, and improved wrinkling at Day 14 compared to 1% dimethicone ointment in 34 subjects undergoing fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing of the face.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2017Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004A novel natural carrier-free assembled gel composed of sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate and baicalin alleviates UVB-induced skin photodamage by scavenging reactive oxygen species, protecting mitochondria, restoring oxidative homeostasis, inhibiting inflammatory responses, and regulating collagen-related proteins.
Biomaterials Advances, 2026Topical 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, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Squalane, Propanediol, Niacinamide, Olive Glycereth-8 Esters Oil, Coconut Alkanes, Coconut Water, Jojoba Seed Oil, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Glycerin, Mannitol, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Butter, Sodium Pca, Opuntia Tuna Fruit Extract, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Sorbitol, Quercetin, Trehalose, Zea Mays Oil, Cetyl Alcohol, Sucrose, Creatine, Inositol, Pentylene Glycol, Ferulic Acid, Hydroxytyrosol, Behenic Acid, Linoleic Acid, Cholesterol, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eos, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Eop, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Magnesium Pca, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Adenosine, Sodium Hyaluronate, Xanthan Gum, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Ceteareth-25, Citric Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Potassium Sorbate, 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
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