Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream for combination skin
Ceramide Np
Niacinamide
Squalane
Phytosphingosine
Allantoin
High
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 treatment for your combination skin, as glycerin, squalane, and ceramides enhance barrier resilience and hydration without greasiness.
- Niacinamide and squalane provide moderate benefits for oily shine by helping to regulate oil production, though stronger oil-control ingredients could further optimize results for your oily shine concerns.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis moisturizer is highly rated for its ability to soothe and repair compromised skin barriers, especially after treatments like chemical peels or retinoid use. Users frequently report significant improvements in hydration and a reduction in redness and irritation, making it a good choice for dry or post-procedure skin. Some users find it too heavy for oily or acne-prone skin, and the price point is considered moderate to high by many.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “soaks right in”
- “stays pretty hydrated all day”
- “comforting to winter dried out skin”
- “restores hydration for instant relief”
Soothes irritated skin Often Mentioned
- “really calms my skin”
- “so much less inflamed and irritated”
- “relieved the dry, itchy feeling”
Great post-procedure Sometimes Noted
- “helped my skin when I do a peel”
- “use this after peels and microneedling”
- “soothing effect on post-procedure skin”
- “first non-ointment moisturizer after peels”
Lightweight, non-greasy Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight, non-greasy”
- “Very light and smooth!”
- “glides on so smoothly”
- “without looking oily”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “five to six times the price”
- “drugstore creams sell for a fifth”
Dispenser issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenses more than most faces need”
- “dispenses more than most”
- “pump dispenses more”
Heavy for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “heavy on oily or acne-prone skin”
- “poorly suited to acne-prone”
- “congestion-prone users often prefer a lighter”
- “rich base is poorly suited”
Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, skincareessentials.com, dermstreet.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream a great fit for combination skin?
Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream is a great fit for your combination skin because glycerin, squalane, and ceramides boost moisture and strengthen your skin barrier without feeling greasy. Niacinamide and squalane also help calm oily shine, while the gentle formula keeps your skin safe from irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin, squalane, and ceramides make this cream a great fit for your combination skin because they build barrier strength and moisture without leaving a greasy feel. Niacinamide and squalane also help manage oily shine while keeping the formula gentle and safe for daily use.
What do Ceramides do for combination skin?
Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier in dry areas without feeling heavy on oily zones, keeping the skin smooth and comfortable. They play an essential role in maintaining the outer water barrier, and a moisturizer with ceramides and light hydrators works well for this skin type.
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes as the third step in your morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and as the final step in the evening after your cleanser, toner, and treatment. It is a great fit because ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and ceramides boost moisture and strengthen your skin barrier without leaving a greasy feel.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the cream to keep your skin soft and calm. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce dryness and irritation while your skin adjusts to the retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and balanced. Regular daily application is unlikely to cause irritation and helps improve skin moisture and barrier strength over time.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is safe for your combination skin and is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that trigger irritation. Glycerin, squalane, and ceramides help keep your skin soft and hydrated without feeling greasy.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because its safe formula is unlikely to irritate. However, because skin thickness varies across the body, a dedicated eye cream or rich body lotion may work better for targeted results in those areas.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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 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, 2005Squalane 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, 2025Topical application of an emulsion containing a complete mixture of ceramides III, IIIB, VI, phytosphingosine, cholesterol, and linoleic acid significantly accelerated barrier recovery after SLS damage and improved skin hydration after acetone treatment in human volunteers compared to an emulsion containing only two types of ceramides.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2002Phytosphingosine demonstrates anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity with excellent clinical results in acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Glycol Palmitate, Coconut Alkanes, Niacinamide, Hexyldecanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Tetraselmis Suecica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Bisabolol, Arginine, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Cholesterol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid
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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