🇩🇪Germany

CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum for combination skin

Superior

  • SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best moisturizers for combination skin.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your combination skin, as high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide superior hydration without exacerbating oiliness, while ceramides support your skin barrier.
  • Panthenol further enhances soothing and plumping effects, addressing your oily shine concerns.
  • The formula is safe for your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 2.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users frequently praise this serum for its lightweight, gel-cream texture that effectively hydrates without stickiness, making it suitable for sensitive or normal-to-dry skin. However, a notable number of recent reviews mention issues with defective pumps, inconsistent product texture such as clumping or solidifying, and occasional pilling when layered with other products.

Highlights

  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly into skin”
    • “non-greasy gel-cream”
    • “no sticky residue”
    • “feels weightless on face”
  • Effective hydration Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt intensely hydrated”
    • “plump and hydrated appearance”
    • “leaves skin soft and smooth”
    • “great for dry patches”
  • Gentle formula Often Mentioned
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “fragrance-free and non-irritating”
    • “doesn't cause breakouts”
    • “soothing vitamin B5”
  • Defective packaging Often Mentioned
    • “pump stopped working”
    • “dispenser never worked”
    • “hard to get product out”
    • “broken pump mechanism”
  • Good for layering Sometimes Noted
    • “sits well under makeup”
    • “works well under moisturizer”
    • “no pilling for me”
    • “smooth base for foundation”
  • Product consistency Sometimes Noted
    • “watery with solid chunks”
    • “texture like cottage cheese”
    • “product had solidified”
    • “thick and wax-like”
  • Texture issues Sometimes Noted
    • “balled up on face”
    • “pills under sunscreen”
    • “silicone texture peels off”
    • “clumps when rubbed”
  • Lack of results Rarely Noted
    • “didn't notice a difference”
    • “not hydrating enough”
    • “dried my skin out”
    • “just okay, nothing special”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, ulta.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Hydrating Hyaluronic Acid Serum one of the best fits for combination skin?

This serum is one of the best fits for your combination skin because high levels of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide deep hydration without making your face oily, while ceramides and vitamin B5 help calm your skin and support its barrier. These ingredients work together safely to keep your skin smooth and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this serum a great fit by providing deep hydration without making your skin oily, while ceramides support your skin barrier. Panthenol also helps soothe your skin and keeps oily shine under control.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

What do Ceramides do for combination skin?

Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier to keep dry areas hydrated without feeling heavy on oily zones. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol to maintain a smooth and calm feel across both dry and oily areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003Scientific Reports, 2022

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. Putting it in the evening helps keep things simple and adds extra safety around sun exposure.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to help keep your skin calm and hydrated while it adjusts to the retinol. This type of routine helps support your skin barrier and reduces the likelihood of dryness or irritation.

Cutis, 2006American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum in your evening routine, as treatments fit well there for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. Daily application helps boost skin moisture and supports your skin barrier.

Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is a very good fit for combination skin because it provides deep hydration and protects your skin barrier without making oily areas worse. It is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores since it lacks heavy, pore-blocking ingredients and includes soothing components that calm the skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

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

You can use this serum around the eyes because it is gentle, and on your body if you wish, though body skin is thicker than the very thin skin of the eyelids. This formula hydrates and supports the skin barrier safely without irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Polymers, 2023

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no fragrance and contains 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, 2017
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012
  • A comprehensive topical regimen incorporating niacinamide, Pro-Xylane, and panthenol following PicoWay laser treatment decreased transepidermal water loss, increased hydration and skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles and redness, and improved skin tone in 88 Chinese females compared to a standard care control group.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2026
  • 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
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Isopropyl Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin

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?

Scan your face, then any product.

Buy online

Prices checked 10 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Germany.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.