Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Dew Cream for acne-prone skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Squalane
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf ExtractAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 moderate hydration for your combination skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant benefits while squalane offers emollient action.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
- While it provides excellent moisturizing benefits, it does not directly address your primary concerns of acne and blemishes.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis oil-free, gel-cream moisturizer is widely praised by users with combination and oily skin for its lightweight, non-clogging texture that delivers a fresh, dewy glow without greasiness. A notable minority of users with sensitive or dry skin report insufficient hydration and adverse reactions, such as stinging or burning sensations upon application.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “lightweight and silky”
- “absorbs very quick”
- “no heaviness”
- “perfect for summer”
Dewy/glowy finish Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin deliciously dewy”
- “fresh-faced glow”
- “glass-like complexion”
- “skin looks lush”
Ideal for oily/combo Often Mentioned
- “balances out my oily skin”
- “keeps acne settled”
- “doesn't clog pores”
- “great for combo skin”
Cooling sensation Sometimes Noted
- “cool-to-the-touch”
- “refreshing hydration”
- “soothing on application”
- “cooling gel texture”
Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
- “way too drying”
- “skin felt dry after minutes”
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “need an extra layer”
Stinging or burning Sometimes Noted
- “made my face burn”
- “stings upon application”
- “caused irritation”
- “face turned red”
Pilling under makeup Rarely Noted
- “pilled under makeup”
- “balls up”
- “doesn't layer well”
- “peels off”
Sticky or tacky Rarely Noted
- “left skin feeling tacky”
- “sticky residue”
- “feels like a film”
- “hair sticks to face”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, cultbeauty.co.uk, beautybay.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Dew Cream work for acne-prone skin?
Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Dew Cream works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing gentle hydration with ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and squalane while posing a low risk of irritation. However, it does not directly target breakouts and blemishes. A moisturizer for this skin needs ingredients that actively help clear blemishes and soothe the skin while keeping it balanced and hydrated.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and squalane help make this cream a good fit by providing moderate hydration and keeping skin soft without causing irritation. However, this skin type needs a moisturizer that also includes ingredients directly targeting breakouts and blemishes.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes near the end of your morning routine after your hydrating toner, and as the last step in your evening routine after your treatment. Acne-prone skin works best with moisturizers that provide lightweight hydration while also including blemish-clearing ingredients to directly target breakouts.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with the cream to keep your skin soft and calm while reducing irritation. A moisturizer of this type works well for acne-prone skin when it also includes ingredients that actively target blemishes and clear pores.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer daily in both your morning and evening routines. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and supports the skin barrier while being gentle enough to avoid irritation.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain active ingredients that speed up cell turnover, but it may feel a bit heavy for acne-prone skin because it focuses mainly on hydration rather than clearing breakouts. To truly care for acne-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs added ingredients that help calm redness and keep pores clear.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around your eyes and on your body, though acne-prone skin needs a body product with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to clear breakouts. Because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body, a gentle formula like this with sodium hyaluronate and squalane is unlikely to cause irritation while keeping the area soft and smooth.
Is this cream 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, 2017Topical 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010The 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 green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Pentylene Glycol, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Glycerin, Isododecane, Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Squalane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Cucumis Sativus Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Extract, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Silica, Propylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Isohexadecane, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Bht, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.