Obagi skincare
Obagi is an American skincare brand founded in 1988 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2026.
Obagi is beloved for its thoughtfully crafted serums, moisturizers, and toners, which harness advanced formulas to nurture the complexion. Its products suit dry sensitive skin and sensitive skin best, offering gentle care through these dependable formulations. For specific concerns, the brand offers standout solutions, including the Hydrate Luxe for acne-prone skin, the Retinol 0.5 for skin with dark spots, and the Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream for mature skin. Through consistent use, its carefully balanced ingredients work harmoniously to support a healthy and radiant appearance.
This page covers some of the most popular Obagi products; for the whole Obagi range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 6.3k+ reviewsReviewers most often praise Obagi for improving skin texture, deep hydration, and reducing fine lines. The most common complaints are irritation and high price points.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating and soothing moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
- “hydrating for super-dry skin — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “Users report it "stops flaking," "quenches dry skin," and provides "moisture that lasts all day." — Hydrate Luxe”
- “reduces redness — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
Fast-absorbing and improving serums Mostly Mentioned
- “smooth as a baby — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
- “Does seem to keep my skin smooth. — Retinol 0.5”
- “keeps pores cleared — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
Lightweight and textured moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “Described as "whipped butter," "rich but non-greasy," and "silky," absorbing well despite its thickness. — Hydrate Luxe”
- “skin younger looking — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
Brightening and anti-aging serums Mostly Mentioned
- “instantly brightens face — Vitamin C Serum”
- “lightened age spots — Vitamin C Serum”
- “diminished fine lines — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
High price Often Mentioned
- “very expensive — Vitamin C Serum”
- “expensive — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “Users note it is "expensive," "pricey," or a "splurge" compared to other moisturizers. — Hydrate Luxe”
Skin irritation and dryness Often Mentioned
- “shedding like a snake — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
- “redness and burning — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
- “sucked moisture out — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
Packaging and dispenser issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump does not work — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “dropper leaks — Vitamin C Serum”
- “Complaints about the "unhygienic jar" and a preference for a "pump dispenser." — Hydrate Luxe”
Texture and formula complaints Sometimes Noted
- “turned orange fast — Vitamin C Serum”
- “feels tacky — Vitamin C Serum”
- “too thick — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, skincareessentials.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
Is Obagi good for sensitive skin?
Obagi fits sensitive skin well, with Lovi rating the brand-focused routines High for sensitive skin. Reviewers frequently mention deep hydration and soothing from the moisturizers, though some users report skin irritation and dryness.
Is Obagi worth it?
Obagi is worth considering for mature, sensitive, and dry skin types, which the brand fits best. Reviewers mostly mention deeply hydrating moisturizers and fast-absorbing serums, though skin irritation and high prices are also often noted.
What are Obagi's best products?
Obagi's best products for overall hydration and mature skin are Hydrate Luxe and Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream, as Lovi rates both High to Superior for dry and mature skin types. Reviewers frequently mention these moisturizers as deeply hydrating and soothing, while the serums are noted for improving the feel of skin.
Which Obagi moisturizer is best for dry skin?
Hydrate Luxe is the best Obagi moisturizer for dry skin with a Superior fit, followed by Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream and Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream, which both rate High. Reviewers mostly mention that these moisturizers are deeply hydrating and soothing.
Does Obagi cause breakouts?
Obagi products are unlikely to cause breakouts when chosen carefully, as moisturizers like Hydrate Luxe and Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream fit acne-prone skin well with high or average ratings. However, reviewers often mention skin irritation and dryness from certain treatments, and some items like Vitamin C Serum carry caution ratings for acne-prone skin.
Is Obagi fragrance-free?
The Obagi products on this page are mostly fragrance-free, as 7 of the 8 items list no fragrance. Only the Nu-Derm Toner includes fragrance.
How do I build a Obagi skincare routine?
To build an Obagi routine for dry skin, start your morning with a hydrating toner like the Nu-Derm Toner and lock in moisture with the Hydrate Luxe moisturizer. In the evening, apply the Vitamin C Serum followed by the Hydrate Luxe moisturizer, and once a week, include both the Vitamin C Serum and the Hydrate Luxe moisturizer for extra nourishment.
Where can I buy Obagi, and how much does it cost?
Obagi products on this page are available on Amazon US, with prices ranging from $39.99 to $155.00. Most items cost between $55.00 and $155.00.
What are good alternatives to Obagi?
Similar brands with pages on Lovi are CeraVe, Cetaphil, Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, and Dermalogica. Lovi rates CeraVe-focused routines as Superior for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, compared to High for Obagi.
Obagi vs CeraVe: which is better?
CeraVe is better than Obagi for everyday routines, as Lovi rates CeraVe-focused routines as Superior compared to Obagi's High fit across skin types like dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin.
Who owns Obagi, and where is it from?
Obagi is an American brand founded in 1988, owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2026.
Is Obagi cruelty-free?
PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free International, the registries Lovi checks, do not list Obagi as cruelty-free.
Is Obagi good for acne-prone skin?
Obagi is a good match for acne-prone skin, with the Obagi-focused routine rating High for this skin type. Reviewers mostly mention that Obagi offers fast-absorbing and improving serums, while also noting that skin irritation and dryness can happen.
Is Obagi good for mature skin?
Yes, Obagi is good for mature skin, which the brand fits well alongside dry and sensitive skin. Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for mature skin, and products like Hydrate Luxe and Retinol 0.5 offer deep hydration and anti-aging benefits.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007
Research behind Obagi's key ingredients
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Preparation and evaluation of anti-wrinkle cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil
Kinetin Improves Barrier Function of the Skin by Modulating Keratinocyte Differentiation Markers
Anatomical site differences of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation: randomized controlled trial
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Behind these ratings
Lovi rates every product from its 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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