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CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream for oily acne-prone skin

CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin, this product effectively addresses your acne, blemishes, and breakouts with niacinamide and zinc gluconate, which help control oil and reduce inflammation.
  • Glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide excellent moisturization, hydrating and plumping your skin without adding excess oil.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviews

Users with oily and combination skin widely praise this gel-cream for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers a matte finish without drying out the face. A notable minority of reviewers report issues with the product pilling under makeup or sunscreen and experiencing a temporary burning or stinging sensation upon application.

Highlights

  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “lightweight and super moisturizing”
    • “feels refreshing upon application”
    • “lightweight gel-cream texture”
    • “barely feel it on”
  • Fast absorption Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs into my face right away”
    • “rapidly absorbed”
    • “soaks in quickly”
    • “no residue left behind”
  • Matte finish Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs excess oil”
    • “leaves a matte finish”
    • “controls shine throughout the day”
    • “skin looks balanced not shiny”
  • Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't leave me feeling greasy”
    • “no sticky/tacky feeling”
    • “residue-free”
    • “non-greasy formula”
  • Balanced hydration Sometimes Noted
    • “hydrating without making skin heavy”
    • “leaves skin soft and smooth”
    • “perfect balance of moisture”
    • “hydrated but not oily”
  • Pilling with makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “pills with sunscreen”
    • “peels with toner”
    • “pills up during application”
    • “rolls off the skin”
  • Burning sensation Rarely Noted
    • “burns the skin”
    • “burning sensation around eye area”
    • “feels hot on skin”
    • “stinging upon application”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “skin has broken out”
    • “clogged pores”
    • “caused small bumps”
    • “acne flared up”
  • Not matte enough Rarely Noted
    • “becomes even oilier”
    • “soft matte not fully matte”
    • “shiny after a while”
    • “didn't control oil long”

Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This gel-cream is a great fit because it uses niacinamide and zinc gluconate to help control oil and calm breakouts, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid hydrate your skin without adding excess shine. The gentle, oil-free formula provides comfortable moisture that is unlikely to irritate sensitive or blemish-prone skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and calm breakouts. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid hydrate your skin without leaving it feeling heavy or greasy, while ceramides help keep your skin barrier healthy.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream goes as the moisturizer step in your morning routine and your evening routine. It hydrates and smooths your skin without adding excess oil, using gentle ingredients that help control oil and soothe acne-prone skin.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this moisturizer with retinol to keep your skin calm and hydrated without adding extra oil. Apply your retinol first, let it absorb, and then smooth on this moisturizer to help reduce dryness and irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this cream daily to keep your oily, acne-prone skin hydrated and calm. Regular application helps control oil and reduce breakouts without adding excess shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This product is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin, as it contains niacinamide and zinc gluconate to help control oil and reduce breakouts without adding excess oil. While reviewers rarely report breakouts from it, its gentle hydration makes it very safe and unlikely to cause clogging.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, though the skin around the eyes is much thinner than on the body. Its gentle ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin help hydrate and plump skin safely without adding excess oil.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
  • 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 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Silica, Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, 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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Prices checked 11 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

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

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