🇦🇺Australia

Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Photo-Brightening Moisturizer for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Perricone MD Vitamin C Ester Photo-Brightening Moisturizer

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • Low RiskSafety

Works for combination skin; other sunscreens 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 moisturizing and sun protection for your combination skin, as glycerin hydrates and titanium dioxide protects against UV rays, though it may not fully address oily shine.
  • The formula provides general skincare benefits with supportive effects for oily shine and combination skin due to glycerin and dimethicone, but lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
  • The product is generally safe for your combination skin, with a low risk of irritation from ascorbic acid.

How to apply

  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily to protect your skin and control shine. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
  • Use it as the final step of your morning routine after applying your moisturizer. It combines hydration and sun protection in one.
  • Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing. Let it absorb fully before putting on makeup.
  • Apply it directly to clean, dry skin for the best oil-controlling finish. Ensure your face is completely dry so the product sets properly.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 900+ reviews

Users consistently praise this moisturizer for its lightweight, whipped texture that absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue, making it ideal for daily use under makeup. Many reviewers with mature or dull skin report a noticeable "glow" and improvement in skin texture, with some noting a reduction in dark spots and fine lines over time, though a minority experienced pilling or sensitivity.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & Non-Greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “whipped airy consistency”
    • “absorbs immediately”
    • “no oily residue”
    • “feels weightless”
    • “perfect for summer”
  • Brightening & Radiance Often Mentioned
    • “gives nice glow”
    • “skin looks brighter”
    • “iridescent shine”
    • “faded dark spots”
    • “healthy radiance”
  • Effective SPF Protection Sometimes Noted
    • “great mineral SPF”
    • “no white cast”
    • “protection without heaviness”
    • “icing on cake”
    • “good daily defense”
  • Pleasant Application Sometimes Noted
    • “mild citrus scent”
    • “goes on smooth”
    • “refreshing feel”
    • “little goes far”
    • “silky finish”
  • Skin Texture Improvement Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels softer”
    • “smoother complexion”
    • “tightens skin”
    • “minimized pores”
    • “improved elasticity”
  • Pilling issues Sometimes Noted
    • “rolls off skin”
    • “pills under makeup”
    • “clumps if rubbed”
    • “flakes off”
    • “doesn't layer well”
  • Insufficient hydration Rarely Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough”
    • “need extra serum”
    • “drying for dry skin”
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “accentuated dry patches”
  • Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
    • “heavy glass jar”
    • “lid breaks easily”
    • “unhygienic jar”
    • “hard to close”
    • “prefer pump bottle”
  • Skin irritation Rarely Noted
    • “caused stinging”
    • “burning sensation”
    • “redness after use”
    • “broke me out”
    • “irritated eyes”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like seashells”
    • “fishy odor”
    • “weird chemical smell”
    • “scent lingers”
    • “changed formula smell”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, perriconemd.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, lookfantastic.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Perricone MD Photo-Brightening Moisturizer work for combination skin?

This moisturizer works decently for combination skin by providing moderate hydration and sun protection, though it may not fully control oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a product needs lightweight hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients that manage oily areas without adding excess oil.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for combination skin?

Glycerin and dimethicone make this moisturizer a good fit for combination skin because they provide balanced hydration without feeling heavy. A product of this type needs ingredients that effectively manage oily shine, offer high safety with no irritation risk, and deliver lightweight hydration along with antioxidants to fully support a balanced skin type.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Ascorbic Acid do for combination skin?

Ascorbic acid helps brighten dark spots and protect combination skin from daily environmental damage. It also provides antioxidant support, which may help keep the skin looking even and healthy.

Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1996

What does Titanium Dioxide do for combination skin?

Titanium dioxide acts as a physical shield on the skin surface to block harmful UV rays without clogging pores or feeling greasy. It sits safely on the outermost layer of healthy skin and is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin.

Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2001International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000

Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This moisturizer goes in the morning step of your routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and before sunscreen. Because it works for your combination skin while lacking oil-controlling ingredients, this skin type needs lightweight hydrating and mattifying ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

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

You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment in your evening routine, as it is generally safe for your combination skin with a low risk of irritation. A product of this type for combination skin needs reliable hydrators like glycerin and lightweight mineral or chemical sun protection, alongside oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help manage oily shine on your T-zone.

How often should I use this moisturizer?

Use this moisturizer every morning as part of your daily routine to keep your combination skin hydrated and protected. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier function, though this type of product needs extra oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage shine on oily areas.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, though it may not fully control oily shine. A product for this skin needs ingredients that help balance oil and keep pores clear.

Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl 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, 2017

  • Topical formulations containing ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate, coenzyme Q10, green tea polyphenols, and resveratrol reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines and attenuated inflammatory signs compared to untreated skin and vehicle in 25 Japanese volunteers exposed to sodium dodecyl sulfate.

    European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • Microfine titanium dioxide does not penetrate human skin when formulated in an oil-in-water emulsion with the pigment dispersed in the aqueous phase, compared to oily dispersions and liposomal encapsulation which allow deeper skin penetration.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2000

  • Replacing microsized titanium dioxide and zinc oxide with nanoparticles in sunscreens eliminates opaqueness and alters UV protection balance while inducing (photo)cyto- and genotoxicity and penetrating viable skin layers during long-term exposures.

    Nanotechnology, Science and Applications, 2011

  • Microfine zinc oxide and titanium dioxide do not penetrate the stratum corneum of porcine skin in vitro, indicating that their use in sunscreens does not pose a health risk from internal exposure.

    Toxicology in Vitro, 2006

  • 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

  • Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010

  • The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Why other sunscreens fit combination skin better

Ingredients

Titanium Dioxide, Water, Glycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Pentylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Polyester-8, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Benzyl Alcohol, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Diethylhexyl Syringylidenemalonate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Isohexadecane, Bisabolol, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Polysilicone-11, Polysorbate 60, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Hydrogenated Phosphatidylcholine, Thioctic Acid, Astaxanthin

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Australia.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

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