Rhode Barrier Restore Cream for oily skin
Niacinamide
Squalane
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2
Sodium Hyaluronate
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin, with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate providing hydration, but the presence of shea butter and squalane may be too heavy for your oily skin type.
- While the formula is generally safe and contains soothing ingredients like bisabolol and niacinamide, it lacks specialized ingredients to target oil control, offering only general skincare benefits.
- The product is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with normal to dry skin frequently praise this gel-cream moisturizer for its lightweight feel and dewy, "glazed" finish that layers well under makeup. Many appreciate its effective hydration and gentle, fragrance-free formula with beneficial ingredients. However, a notable number of users with acne-prone or oily skin report experiencing congestion and breakouts, with some finding the product overpriced for its quantity and others deeming it insufficient for very dry skin.
Highlights
Lightweight glazed finish Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin dewy and radiant”
- “perfect weight for daytime”
- “melts into the skin”
- “gives a glass skin effect”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “comforts and soothes”
- “great for dry cheeks”
- “hydration lasts all day”
- “restores my barrier”
Causes breakouts Often Mentioned
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “developed little red zits”
- “caused fungal acne”
- “clogged my pores”
Fragrance-free gentle Sometimes Noted
- “no added fragrance”
- “didn't cause irritation”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “gentle and soothing”
Ingredient profile Sometimes Noted
- “love the peptides and niacinamide”
- “ingredients are incredible”
- “calms inflammation”
- “science-backed formula”
Insufficient for dry Sometimes Noted
- “not enough for dry skin”
- “need something thicker at night”
- “left me feeling dry later”
- “lackluster for winter”
Price vs. value Sometimes Noted
- “just a boring little cream”
- “overpriced for the amount”
- “steep price point”
- “can find cheaper alternatives”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “hard to get product out”
- “packaging feels cheap”
- “cap breaks easily”
Sources: lovi.care, rhodeskin.com, reddit.com, thingtesting.com, refinery29.com, elitedaily.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does rhode Barrier Restore Cream work for oily skin?
This cream works moderately well for oily skin, but heavier ingredients like shea butter and squalane may feel too rich. It lacks oil control benefits, so an oily skin type needs lightweight hydrating agents and peptides that balance moisture without adding excess oil or blocking pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
This cream works for your oily skin thanks to soothing ingredients like niacinamide and bisabolol, along with hydration from glycerin and sodium hyaluronate. However, an ideal moisturizer for oily skin needs a lightweight texture without heavy oils like shea butter, while including oil-control ingredients and barrier-supporting components to prevent excess shine.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes near the end of your routine, right before SPF in the morning and after your evening treatment. While it provides good hydration with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, the shea butter and squalane may feel too heavy for oily skin. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to stay balanced.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream after applying your retinol, as it helps calm and hydrate the skin while you use strong treatments. Applying a moisturizer alongside retinoids is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier, though oily skin needs a product that also controls excess oil.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily, as it is generally safe for your oily skin, though ingredients like shea butter and squalane may feel a bit heavy. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier function.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, this cream may cause breakouts on oily skin, as reviewers frequently complain about clogged pores and the formula includes heavy ingredients like shea butter and squalane. To fit oily skin better, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients that balance moisture without feeling heavy.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Topical 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, 2025A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Treatment of immortalized human keratinocytes with Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2 increased cell stiffness across its concentration range, while Acetyl Hexapeptide-50 increased stiffness at 0.05 µg/ml but decreased it at 0.5 and 5 µg/ml compared to untreated controls.
International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics, 2018Topical 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 oily 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Behenyl Alcohol, Xylitylglucoside, Niacinamide, Squalane, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Anhydroxylitol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Xylitol, Lecithin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glucose, Bisabolol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Teprenone, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Acetyl Tetrapeptide-2, Citric Acid, Sorbic Acid, Lactic Acid Glycolic Acid Copolymer, Tocopherol, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Palmitoyl Heptapeptide-27, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide-78, Palmitoyl Octapeptide-24, 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
How does it fit your skin?
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