EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer for combination skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Allantoin
Willow Bark ExtractAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers 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 benefits for your combination skin, as niacinamide and willow bark extract provide mild oil control and exfoliation, though they do not fully address your primary concern of oily shine.
- The product is highly suitable for your combination skin type due to these ingredients and also offers excellent moisturizing with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsMany 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 combination skin?
EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer works moderately well for combination skin, offering mild oil control and excellent hydration through ingredients like niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin, though it may not fully reduce oily shine. It carries virtually no risk of irritation. To better fit combination skin, a product of this type needs stronger oil control and brightening ingredients that target oily shine while keeping the skin hydrated.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and willow bark extract help keep your skin calm and manage oily areas, while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin deliver deep moisture. A product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling and brightening ingredients to fully address oily shine while keeping your combination skin hydrated and balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after your hydrating toner and before your SPF in the morning, and as the final step in the evening. It is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your combination skin, while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin help keep skin soft and well-moisturized. However, since it only offers mild oil control, a combination skin routine ultimately needs stronger oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to fully manage oily shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the cream first to help comfort your skin and lower the risk of dryness or irritation. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids helps keep skin smooth and improves your daily routine comfort.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily to keep your skin soft and hydrated. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier function while providing gentle oil control. To better manage oily shine, this skin type needs stronger oil-absorbing or mattifying ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh or irritating ingredients. However, because it does not fully control oily shine, combination skin often needs extra oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to keep pores clear.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
EltaMD AM Therapy Facial Moisturizer is safe for the thin skin around the eyes and body, though a product of this type needs stronger oil control and deeper hydration to fully address oily shine and dryness in those areas. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients, and the eyelid skin is especially thin while body skin varies by region.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
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, 2019A 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 hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012Topical 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, 2016A 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, 2020An 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, 2018Bioactive 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, 2022A 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, 2010A 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
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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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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