No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream for acne-prone skin
Avobenzone
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ascorbyl Glucoside
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other sunscreens 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 moisturizing and sun protection for your combination skin, with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate providing hydration while avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene offer UV defense.
- The inclusion of tocopheryl acetate and ascorbyl glucoside provides antioxidant benefits, supporting general skin health without directly targeting your primary concerns of acne and blemishes.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM every morning as the final step of your daily routine.
- Layer the moisturizing sunscreen after your moisturizer has fully absorbed, right before heading out into the sun .
- Smooth a nickel-sized amount of the moisturizing sunscreen evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing.
- Apply the moisturizing sunscreen onto clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Perform a patch test before first use and avoid direct contact with the eyes.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cream is highly regarded for its rich hydration and ability to smooth skin texture, making it a favorite for those with dry or mature skin. Many users report visible improvements in fine lines and appreciate the added SPF protection. Some users with sensitive or oily skin experienced irritation or found the formula too heavy and heavily fragranced.
Highlights
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “Keeps skin moisturized all day”
- “Eliminates dry patches”
- “Feels nourishing”
Smoother skin Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling soft”
- “Velvety finish”
- “Improves roughness”
Anti-aging results Sometimes Noted
- “Fine lines appear reduced”
- “Skin looks plumper”
- “Firmer feel”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs well”
- “Non-greasy under foundation”
- “Acts like a primer”
Sun protection Sometimes Noted
- “SPF inclusion is convenient”
- “Prevents sunburn”
- “Good daily defense”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Scent is overpowering”
- “Smells like perfume”
- “Lingers too long”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “Jar is unhygienic”
- “Prefer a pump”
- “Heavy glass container”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts”
- “Burning sensation”
- “Redness or rash”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “Can pill/roll off”
- “Feels heavy/greasy”
- “Takes time to absorb”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, ulta.com, walgreens.com, target.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does No7 Protect & Perfect Intense Advanced Day Cream work for acne-prone skin?
This cream works for acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better. A product of this type needs to be exceptionally safe with no risk of irritation, effectively address acne and blemishes with high-quality ingredients like niacinamide and ceramide-3, and perform its moisturizing function excellently while hydrating without adding excess oil.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cream works for acne-prone skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide lightweight hydration, while avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene offer sun protection without adding excess oil. To be a better fit for this skin type, a product of this kind needs ingredients that actively clear acne and blemishes, such as niacinamide and ceramides, alongside components that hydrate without feeling heavy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
What does Avobenzone do for acne-prone skin?
Avobenzone protects acne-prone skin from UV rays that can worsen dark spots and inflammation, though it does not directly treat breakouts. To properly care for acne-prone skin, sunscreens should also feel light, clog-free, and non-greasy.
What does Butyrospermum Parkii Butter do for acne-prone skin?
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter can feel quite rich on acne-prone skin and may clog pores for some people. A product of this type needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that balance oil without heavy blockage.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This daytime moisturizer with SPF fits into your morning routine after your toner and before you head out. Acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also brings lightweight hydration and soothing ingredients to calm breakouts while protecting against the sun.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside niacinamide by applying your niacinamide serum first and letting it sink in before smoothing on this day cream. This product is unlikely to irritate your skin, though an acne-prone skin type needs a lightweight moisturizer with soothing ingredients and blemish-fighting additions like salicylic acid or niacinamide to work best.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing spf daily in your morning routine to keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, though acne-prone skin works best with lighter formulas that include breakout-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts since it lacks harsh ingredients and is well tolerated by acne-prone skin. However, because it does not actively target blemishes, this skin type often needs products with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep pores clear.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2017The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.
Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical 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 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A multi-modal methodology combining MALDI-MSI, in vivo RCM, echography, and histology revealed age-related decreases in extracellular matrix and epidermal-dermal junction proteins and undulation depth, while a blend of palmitoyl oligopeptide and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 improved subepidermal low-echogenic band thickness, density, and extracellular matrix structure compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2015Chronomodulated daytime application of baicalin and nighttime application of palmitoyl tripeptide-1 synergistically improved skin luminance by 16.29%, nasolabial fold depth by -36.35%, and firmness by 24.35% in 30 female participants.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7, acetyl hexapeptide-8, palmitoyl tripeptide-1, and palmitoyl tetrapeptide-10 significantly increased type III collagen levels in human dermal fibroblasts following UV exposure, with their combination demonstrating a greater effect in vitro and enhancing type I, III, and IV collagen levels in ex vivo skin tissues compared to individual components.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
Why other sunscreens fit acne-prone skin better
Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024
Ingredients
Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glycerin, Tribehenin, Alcohol Denat, Dimethicone, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Cetearyl Glucoside, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Butylene Glycol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Methylparaben, Dimethiconol, Parfum, Propylene Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Ethylparaben, Dipropylene Glycol, Retinyl Palmitate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Tetrasodium Edta, Sorbitan Laurate, T-Butyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Dimethylmethoxy Chromanol, Medicago Sativa Extract, Polysorbate 20, Potassium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acetyl Dipeptide-1 Cetyl Ester, Morus Alba Leaf Extract, Silica, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Avobenzone, Octisalate, Octocrylene
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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