EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer for dry sensitive skin

Niacinamide
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Sodium Hyaluronate
Linoleic Acid
Peptides
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 glycerin and linoleic acid provide excellent humectant and emollient actions, respectively, addressing dryness and supporting your skin barrier.
- Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate further enhance hydration and barrier support, offering relevant benefits for your dry or flaky skin concerns.
- The product is safe for your skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients, posing no risk of irritation.
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
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-greasy texture that effectively hydrates and repairs the skin barrier overnight. Some users noted issues with packaging visibility and a few found it insufficient for very dry skin, with occasional comments about formula changes or the price point.
Highlights
Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “not oily”
- “feels weightless”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels soft”
- “supple in morning”
- “deeply moisturizing”
Soothing for sensitive Often Mentioned
- “Calms redness”
- “non-irritating”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
- “No noticeable smell”
- “no irritation”
- “clean scent”
Packaging visibility Sometimes Noted
- “Cannot see remaining product”
- “runs out unexpectedly”
Formula changes Rarely Noted
- “Not the same as old”
- “caused breakouts”
- “texture changed”
Insufficient hydration Rarely Noted
- “Not hydrating enough”
- “need something heavier”
- “felt dry”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “Expensive for size”
- “value varies”
- “pricey”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, bluemercury.com, lovelyskin.com, trustpilot.com, whatsinmyjar.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer is a great fit because ingredients like glycerin and linoleic acid help soothe dryness and support your skin barrier. Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate further boost hydration, while its gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and linoleic acid make this cream a great fit for your dry and sensitive skin because they bring in moisture and smooth out dryness while supporting your skin barrier. Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate further boost hydration to help keep flaky skin calm.
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
What does Hydrolyzed Rice Protein do for dry sensitive skin?
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and smooth by supporting moisture retention and surface comfort. This gentle ingredient is unlikely to cause irritation, making it very suitable for easily reactive skin types.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer is used in the evening as a treatment step after your soothing toner, followed by your regular moisturizer. Using a gentle daily moisturizer helps improve hydration and supports the skin barrier in dry skin.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol first and following it with this moisturizer. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinol helps keep your skin comfortable and minimizes dryness and irritation.
How often should I use it?
EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer is a great fit to use in your evening routine as a treatment step for dry sensitive skin. Daily application helps keep your skin soft and hydrated while supporting your skin barrier without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin because it is free of harsh ingredients and has a very low risk of irritation. Its gentle formula works to keep your skin calm while delivering steady hydration.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around your eyes and on your body to help keep those areas soft and hydrated. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, a gentle moisturizer like this one is well suited to provide hydration without causing irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is it 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, 2017Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.
Food & Function, 2020Topical 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, 2019Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998A lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate reduced Leeds grading, total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory lesion counts, and sebum production compared with a placebo in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C10-30 Cholesterol Lanosterol Esters, Glycereth-26, Phenoxyethanol, Linoleic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Oleic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Disodium Edta, Thioctic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Bisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phosphoric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta
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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