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The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer for dry sensitive skin

The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer

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 squalane and glycerin provide excellent moisturization and barrier support, addressing dryness and flakiness effectively.
  • Numerous plant oils and extracts further enhance barrier repair and emollient benefits, complementing the primary hydrating ingredients.
  • 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

★4.8Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

This moisturizer is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-greasy feel and its ability to provide deep, long-lasting hydration, making it suitable for sensitive and dry skin. It is frequently noted for soothing redness and strengthening the skin barrier, leaving skin soft and nourished without irritation. A moderate number of users appreciate its clean, fragrance-free formula.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “nice light texture”
    • “never heavy or greasy”
    • “adheres to the skin without feeling greasy”
    • “absorbs quickly into the skin”
  • Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “provides immediate hydration”
    • “long-lasting moisture”
    • “super hydration”
    • “wonderfully hydrating”
  • Soothes sensitive skin Often Mentioned
    • “So good for sensitive skin”
    • “no reaction of redness”
    • “gentle and non-irritating”
    • “great to sensitive skin”
  • Clean, fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
    • “Clean ingredients list”
    • “virtually no smell”
    • “no fragrance added”
    • “vegan cruelty-free”
  • Faulty pump packaging Rarely Noted
    • “bottle pump doesn't work well”
    • “hard to use all the product”
    • “Cream is good but the bottle pump is not”
  • May clog pores Rarely Noted
    • “May Worsen Oily Skin”
    • “can clog pores if used in high concentrations”
    • “trigger breakouts”
  • Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
    • “Not hydrating enough for my skin”
    • “short on moisture”
    • “dry-ish skin needs more”

Sources: lovi.care, theoutset.com, nordstrom.com, cultbeauty.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes The Outset Nourishing Squalane Daily Moisturizer a great fit for dry sensitive skin?

This moisturizer is a great fit because squalane and glycerin deliver deep hydration and strengthen your skin barrier to tackle dryness and flakiness. Plant oils and extracts repair the skin further, and the gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Squalane and glycerin make this cream a great fit by providing deep moisturization and supporting the skin barrier to address dryness and flakiness. Numerous plant oils and soothing extracts further help repair the barrier and calm easily irritated skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Squalane do for dry sensitive skin?

Squalane helps keep dry sensitive skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture and calming irritation without causing flare-ups. It is unlikely to cause redness or discomfort, making it a gentle choice that supports the skin barrier. This type of skin needs ingredients that deeply hydrate and soothe, such as plant oils and antioxidants.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017Molecules, 2009

What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?

This cream is used as the final step of your evening routine after your treatment, and on weekly nights after a nourishing mask and treatment. Using a moisturizer helps lock in hydration and repair the skin barrier when dealing with dryness and flakiness.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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 with this moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinol helps reduce dryness and flakiness while making your skin more comfortable with the treatment.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

This moisturizer is a great fit to use twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin soft and smooth. Daily application helps boost hydration and supports your skin barrier, addressing dryness and flakiness effectively.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your dry sensitive skin. Reviewers rarely mention clogged pores, and the formula is designed to hydrate gently without harsh ingredients that irritate your skin.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

This cream is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula avoids harsh ingredients and is well tolerated by sensitive skin. Squalane and glycerin help keep dry skin smooth and comfortable without irritation.

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, 2017
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-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, 2025
  • 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • A 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, 2018
  • Topical 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, 2018
  • Topical 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, 2010
  • Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.

    Life, 2023
  • Topical cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
  • Topical treatment with SSFAO 50% or avocado oil increased wound contraction, reepithelialization, collagen density, and tensile strength while showing anti-inflammatory activity compared to petroleum jelly in rats.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013

Ingredients

Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Cassia Angustifolia Polysaccharide Seed, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Humulus Lupulus Extract, Helianthus Annuus Extract Sunflower Extract, Helianthus Annuus Wax Seed Sunflower Wax Seed, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Prunus Insititia Seed Oil, Rice Bran Extract, Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Jojoba Esters, Dicaprylyl Ether, Diheptyl Succinate, Glyceryl Stearate, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Oil, Xanthan Gum, Polyglycerin-3, Caprylyl Glycol, Capryloyl Glycerin Sebacic Acid Copolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Potassium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Formate, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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