🇦🇺Australia

EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer for acne-prone skin

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

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 moderate benefits for your acne-prone skin as niacinamide helps regulate oil production and willow bark extract provides mild exfoliation, though it does not directly target active breakouts.
  • The formula provides excellent hydration for your combination skin with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, which plump and moisturize without clogging pores.
  • This product is safe for your combination skin, featuring soothing ingredients like niacinamide and allantoin with no harsh or irritating components.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviews

Many report improved skin texture and reduced redness due to the niacinamide content. However, those with very dry skin often find it insufficiently moisturizing on its own, requiring an additional layer or a heavier product.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs instantly”
    • “matte finish”
    • “feels weightless”
  • Sensitive skin safe Often Mentioned
    • “no breakouts”
    • “non-irritating”
  • Improves texture Sometimes Noted
    • “smoother skin”
    • “evens tone”
    • “reduces redness”
  • Makeup compatible Sometimes Noted
    • “layers beautifully”
    • “no pilling”
    • “great base”
  • Insufficient moisture Sometimes Noted
    • “not for dry skin”
    • “needs layering”
    • “too light”
  • Price vs. quantity Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive”
    • “small bottle”
    • “pricey”
  • Lack of SPF Rarely Noted
    • “no sunscreen included”
    • “wish it had SPF”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump malfunction”
    • “product waste”
    • “hard to dispense”

Sources: lovi.care, lovely.com, walmart.com, eltamd.com, dermstore.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does EltaMD AM Therapy work for acne-prone skin?

EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer works moderately well for acne-prone skin, as it helps balance oil and offers gentle exfoliation without clogging pores. However, it does not directly target active breakouts, meaning acne-prone skin often needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and soothing plant extracts to keep skin clear and calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide and willow bark extract make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin as they help regulate oil and provide mild exfoliation, though it needs more targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and soothing elements to suit this skin best.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

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.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Cureus, 2024

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.

Biomedicines, 2025Drug Delivery, 2017

Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your SPF, and in the evening routine as your final step after your treatment. It provides gentle hydration and helps balance oil without clogging pores, though acne-prone skin needs products that directly target active breakouts.

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve your skin comfort during treatment.

Cutis, 2006The Journal of Dermatology, 2014

How often should I use it?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily to keep your skin hydrated and calm. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports the skin barrier without clogging pores.

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 clog pores or cause breakouts on acne-prone skin because its moisturizing ingredients hydrate without heavy oils. It helps calm your skin and manage oil, though acne-prone skin often does better with a product that more directly targets active breakouts using stronger blemish-fighting ingredients.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because it has a very safe profile with soothing ingredients and no harsh components. To care for thin eye skin and body skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, along with calming ingredients that keep the skin comfortable without clogging pores.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • 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, 2017
  • A 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, 2020
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • Topical 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, 2016
  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
  • Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014
  • Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.

    Nanomaterials, 2022
  • A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
  • A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Lauryl Peg-9 Polymethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Willow Bark Extract, Piptadenia Colubrina Peel Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Allantoin, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide

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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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