Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel for dry sensitive skin
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Dimethicone
Laminaria Digitata Extract
Cucumis Sativus Fruit ExtractLow
- LowDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry sensitive skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 due to high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump the skin, but dimethicone and silica provide only moderate emollient action, making it less suitable for your dry skin.
- While the formula is safe for your dry and sensitive skin with no harsh ingredients, its primary benefits are general hydration and soothing, which are supportive but not directly targeted at your dry or flaky skin concerns.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviewsThis oil-free gel is a highly-rated favorite for oily and combination skin, appreciated for its very lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that hydrates without feeling heavy or clogging pores. It also performs well as a base for makeup. However, a significant number of users with dry skin or in colder climates find it not moisturizing enough, and a small number report breakouts or reactions.
Highlights
Lightweight absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in instantly”
- “feels like nothing on”
- “no sticky residue”
- “disappears into skin”
- “light refreshing texture”
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “keeps me matte”
- “balances my oily T-zone”
- “doesn't make me greasy”
- “great for summer humidity”
- “oil-free hydration”
Good under makeup Often Mentioned
- “perfect primer base”
- “foundation glides on”
- “doesn't pill”
- “smooth canvas”
- “makeup stays put”
Not moisturizing enough Often Mentioned
- “skin felt tight”
- “need a second layer”
- “dry patches remained”
- “not for winter”
- “hydration disappears quickly”
Non-irritating formula Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't sting”
- “fragrance-free”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “calms redness”
- “gentle on acne”
Pricey for basics Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for what it is”
- “paying for the brand”
- “basic ingredients”
- “overpriced mineral oil”
- “drugstore dupes are better”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “tiny bumps appeared”
- “caused a rash”
- “bad reaction”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “chemical odor”
- “weird rubber smell”
- “stinks despite no fragrance”
- “smells medicinal”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, amazon.com, clinique.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel a weak match for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match because its smoothing ingredients provide only moderate softening action, making it less suitable for dry skin. A product of this type needs rich nourishing ingredients and supportive barrier agents to provide optimal moisture retention and relief for dry skin.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Dimethicone and silica are the ingredients that make this moisturizer a weaker fit for your dry skin, because they provide only moderate softening action. A moisturizer for dry skin needs rich nourishing ingredients and heavy skin-softening agents that lock in moisture and directly support the skin barrier.
What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is used at night as the final step before bed, and it is a weak match for dry sensitive skin because it lacks heavy smoothing ingredients. A product for this skin needs rich nourishing ingredients and heavy protective oils to lock in moisture and soothe dryness.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol in your evening routine by applying your retinol treatment first and following it with this gel. While it is safe for your sensitive skin, a moisturizer of this type needs richer oils and barrier-repairing ingredients to properly protect dry skin against retinol dryness.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your routine. Daily application helps keep skin hydrated and supports overall skin comfort.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, as its formula has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients. However, it is a weak match for your skin because it lacks richer softening ingredients and heavy skin-softening oils to properly comfort dry or flaky areas.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use around the eyes or on your body, though it provides only general hydration rather than targeted care for those areas. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, a product of this type needs gentle humectants and lightweight hydrators to keep that area comfortable and soft without feeling heavy.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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, 2017Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Topical 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, 2019Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.
Clinics in Dermatology, 2012A skincare regimen containing Macrocystis pyrifera ferment consisting of a cleansing foam, a serum, and a moisturizer decreases the visible effects of inflammation and aging while promoting healing and improving patient satisfaction.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Macrocystis pyrifera ferment-containing creams decrease visible inflammation and signs of aging while enhancing barrier resilience and recovery.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Aqueous extracts from Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica exhibited antiviral activity against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2, and topical formulations significantly reduced the severity and duration of HSV-1 skin lesions in an animal model compared to mock treatment and acyclovir.
Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024
Why other moisturizers fit dry sensitive skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.
Nanomaterials, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract Extrait Dorge Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Caffeine, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysilicone-11, Silica, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Oleth-10, Lactobacillus Ferment, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Red 4 Ci 14700, Ci 15985
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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