EltaMD Intense Moisturizer for dry sensitive skin
Petrolatum
ParaffinHigh
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your dry and sensitive skin as petrolatum and paraffin create an occlusive barrier to significantly reduce water loss and enhance barrier resilience.
- These ingredients also provide excellent emollient benefits, directly addressing your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components.
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.
Questions and answers
What makes EltaMD Intense Moisturizer a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
EltaMD Intense Moisturizer is a great fit because petrolatum and paraffin create a protective barrier that locks in moisture and strengthens your skin barrier. This formula provides excellent softening benefits to smooth flaky dry skin while staying very safe and gentle.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Petrolatum and paraffin make this moisturizer a great fit for your dry sensitive skin because they lock in moisture and soothe flaky areas. This formula is gentle and helps protect your skin barrier without harsh ingredients.
What does Petrolatum do for dry sensitive skin?
Petrolatum helps dry sensitive skin by locking in moisture to repair the skin barrier and calm irritation. Applying it regularly may also reduce redness and support overall comfort.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003Skin Therapy Letter, 2014
What does Paraffin do for dry sensitive skin?
Paraffin helps dry sensitive skin by locking in moisture and protecting the surface without causing irritation. Studies show that mineral oils and waxes like paraffin stay on the outer layer of the skin with no evidence of deep absorption, making them very safe for regular use.
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizer goes as the final step of your evening skincare routine, and you can also use it in the morning when your skin needs extra moisture and protection. Its petrolatum and paraffin create a protective barrier to lock in hydration and soothe dry or flaky areas safely.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with the moisturizer. This layering helps lock in moisture and may reduce the dryness and irritation often caused by retinol on sensitive skin.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer daily to help lock in moisture and soften dry or flaky skin. Applying it regularly supports your skin barrier and is unlikely to cause irritation since the formula avoids harsh ingredients.
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
EltaMD Intense Moisturizer is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on dry sensitive skin, as its petrolatum and paraffin formula forms a protective barrier without harsh ingredients. This type of product focuses on sealing in moisture and is free of common pore-clogging irritants, making it gentle for sensitive areas.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around your eyes and on your body because petrolatum and paraffin create a protective barrier that locks in moisture and keeps your skin feeling soft. This gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on thin areas like the eyelids or on dry body skin.
What the research says
The 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, 2020Topical treatment with skin-identical lipids in a petrolatum-rich cream base showed no superiority over pure petrolatum in promoting normalization of barrier recovery and inflammation in detergent- and tape-stripped-perturbed human skin over 14 days.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2000Topically applied extra virgin olive oil and petrolatum both significantly improved skin barrier function and microtopographic features in 54 healthy adult volunteers, with petrolatum exerting stronger occlusive effects and extra virgin olive oil uniquely promoting epidermal renewal.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025Daily paraffin bath combined with hand exercise significantly improved extension deficit, perceived stiffness, and skin elasticity in patients with systemic sclerosis compared to exercise alone.
Disability and Rehabilitation, 2004Topical application of four vegetable oils and paraffin oil leads to semi-occlusion and penetration limited to the first upper layers of the stratum corneum in six healthy volunteers compared to petrolatum.
Skin Research and Technology, 2012Application of water, paraffin oil, ethanol, and glycerin for 10 minutes induces significant changes in the mechanical properties of human skin in vivo, with water and paraffin oil increasing distensibility and hysteresis, ethanol negatively affecting distensibility, and glycerin showing a delayed onset.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1993
Ingredients
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. Sof铆a Perea P茅rez, 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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