CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion for oily acne-prone skin
Hydro-Urea
3 Essential Ceramides
Shea Butter
Hyaluronic Acid
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for oily acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 excellent moisturizing for your oily skin due to glycerin and hyaluronic acid, which hydrate and plump without exacerbating oiliness.
- While beneficial for general hydration, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts effectively.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis lotion is highly praised by users with dry, itchy, or flaky skin for its ability to provide deep, long-lasting hydration without the heavy grease associated with traditional intensive creams. The inclusion of 5% Hydro-Urea is frequently highlighted as a key differentiator that helps smooth rough texture and relieve itchiness, though it can cause temporary stinging on broken or sensitive skin.
Highlights
Fast Absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “Sinks in quickly”
- “Non-greasy finish”
- “Dries down faster than expected”
Deep Hydration Often Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized all day”
- “Effective for winter dryness”
- “Restores moisture barrier”
Lightweight Feel Often Mentioned
- “Richer than daily lotion but feels light”
- “Breathable”
- “Not sticky”
Itch Relief Sometimes Noted
- “Soothes itchy skin”
- “Comfortable on tight skin”
Texture Improvement Sometimes Noted
- “Smooths rough patches”
- “Reduces flakiness”
- “Softens "alligator skin"”
Stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
- “Burns on open sores”
- “Stings broken skin”
- “Temporary tingling”
Price/Value Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for size”
- “Small bottle”
- “Higher cost than standard lotion”
Residue Rarely Noted
- “Can feel tacky initially”
- “Slightly shiny finish”
- “Greasy if over-applied”
Scent Rarely Noted
- “Faint "chemical" smell”
- “Medicinal odor”
Sources: lovi.care, hometesterclub.com, reddit.com, ulta.com, target.com, staples.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted ingredients to address blemishes and breakouts effectively. An ideal product for this skin type needs lightweight hydration along with ingredients that clear blemishes without adding heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a poor fit because it lacks targeted ingredients to address blemishes and breakouts, containing instead heavy or rich ingredients like petrolatum, shea butter, and ceramides that can feel too heavy on oily skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that actively clear pores and calm breakouts without adding excess oil.
What does Hydroxyethyl Urea do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hydroxyethyl Urea helps keep oily acne-prone skin soft and smooth without clogging pores. Because this product is a poor fit for oily skin, an acne-prone routine needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators and pore-clearing ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid.
What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?
For oily acne-prone skin, ceramides help repair the skin barrier and improve moisture to reduce redness and acne-related irritation. Because acne-prone skin often lacks these essential lipids, adding them back supports a stronger barrier and helps keep the skin calm and smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes as the final step in your morning routine and evening routine, coming right after your treatment or sunscreen. Because this product is a poor match for your skin, an oily acne-prone product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to keep your skin clear while providing moisture.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside your retinol to help keep your skin comfortable, applying it after your treatment product has absorbed. Using a moisturizer with ceramides like this one is unlikely to interfere with your routine and may reduce the dryness or irritation often caused by retinol. However, because this product lacks acne-fighting ingredients, an oily and acne-prone skin type needs a moisturizer that also includes blemish-targeting actives.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin, as it lacks ingredients to address breakouts. A moisturizer for this skin needs light hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, combined with targeted ingredients that help clear blemishes and prevent clogged pores.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted ingredients to help with blemishes and breakouts, and a product for this skin needs oil-free hydrators and ingredients that clear pores.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This rich lotion is well-suited to hydrate the thin skin around the eyes and larger areas on the body, though it is best kept off oily facial skin.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 40% urea cream achieved improvement in less time and showed superiority over 12% ammonium lactate lotion in skin roughness, fissure reduction, thickness, and dryness at day 14 in patients treated for moderate to severe xerosis.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Topical treatment with K101 achieved a significantly higher mycological cure rate compared to placebo in patients with ≤50% nail involvement (27.2% vs 10.4%), while showing early visible improvements in nail appearance and no safety issues.
Mycoses, 2012A 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, 2025Topical 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Petrolatum, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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