🇩🇪Germany

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream for combination skin

Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it 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 moderate suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration and plumping effects, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
  • The formula provides general skincare benefits and hydration from sodium hyaluronate and squalane, which are supportive for oily shine and combination skin, but it does not contain targeted ingredients to address your primary concern.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin 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 2.6k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with normal to dry skin highly recommend this cream for its exceptional ability to combat dehydration and improve skin's plumpness and radiance. The silky texture is frequently praised for its quick absorption without greasiness, making it an excellent base for makeup. Some users with very dry skin or sensitivity to fragrance find it less effective or irritating, occasionally preferring a richer formula or a fragrance-free option.

Highlights

  • Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “Literally melts into the skin creating a perfectly soft feel.”
    • “A skin saver for the drying winter months.”
    • “Instantly quenched my dehydrated patches.”
    • “Keeps my face moisturized all day without feeling heavy.”
  • Silky texture Often Mentioned
    • “Absorbs right away with no greasy residue.”
    • “Sinks in beautifully, making it a great makeup base.”
    • “Feels luxurious and velvety, not sticky at all.”
    • “Lightweight but packs a punch of moisture.”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Smells fresh, clean, and like a spa.”
    • “The fragrance is luxurious and calming.”
    • “Love the signature Clarins botanical scent.”
    • “Has a crisp smell that isn't too floral.”
  • Plumping and radiance Sometimes Noted
    • “My skin looks instantly more plump and dewy.”
    • “Gives a healthy, radiant glow to dull skin.”
    • “Noticed improved elasticity and bounciness.”
    • “Smooths out fine lines caused by dehydration.”
  • Price vs. quantity Sometimes Noted
    • “Too expensive for how quickly the jar runs out.”
    • “Product is great but the price is steep for daily use.”
    • “I go through the small jar in less than a month.”
    • “Wish it came in a larger size for the cost.”
  • Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “The perfume is way too strong for my sensitive nose.”
    • “Smells nice but caused my eyes to water.”
    • “Wish they had a fragrance-free version.”
    • “Scent lingers too long after application.”
  • Not rich enough Rarely Noted
    • “Good for summer, but I need the Rich version for winter.”
    • “My skin felt tight again after a few hours.”
    • “Better for normal skin than truly dry skin.”
  • Reformulation issues Rarely Noted
    • “Miss the old Hydra-Quench formula, this isn't the same.”
    • “New formula caused a breakout unlike the previous one.”
    • “Preferred the texture of the discontinued version.”
    • “Not as effective as the original cream I used for years.”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, boots.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Clarins Hydra-Essentiel Silky Cream work for combination skin?

This moisturizer offers a moderate fit for combination skin because ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration, though it lacks targeted ingredients to control shine in oily areas. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs effective oil-control, brightening, and soothing ingredients along with balanced hydration.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this cream a good fit for combination skin by providing essential hydration and keeping the skin soft. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients for oil control, along with soothing agents and antioxidants.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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 does Squalane do for combination skin?

Squalane helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports the skin barrier and provides lightweight hydration that works well for both dry and oily areas.

Skin Health and Disease, 2024Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 2025

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

This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment step in the evening. Combination skin needs a product of this type to include targeted ingredients for oil control on oily areas.

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

You can use this moisturizer alongside retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with the cream to help keep your skin soft and comfortable. This type of routine is unlikely to cause irritation due to the gentle formula, but combination skin also needs targeted ingredients for oil control.

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizer twice a day, in both your morning and evening routines, to keep your combination skin hydrated and soft. Regular daily use of a moisturizing cream helps maintain skin moisture and barrier function.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This cream is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your combination skin because it has an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for oil control, combination skin of this type needs lightweight formulas with oil-balancing ingredients.

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

You can use this moisturizing cream safely around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula lacks harsh ingredients. It helps keep these areas hydrated and soft, though a product of this type needs lighter textures and targeted ingredients to properly care for thin or dry areas.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Stearyl 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
  • Optimized transfersomes loaded with epigallocatechin-3-gallate and hyaluronic acid increased cell viability while reducing lipid peroxidation, intracellular ROS, and MMP expression in HaCaT cells, and exhibited higher skin permeation and deposition compared to plain EGCG.

    Drug Delivery, 2017
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Ointments formulated from the crude extract, aqueous fraction, and methanolic fraction of Kalanchoe petitiana leaves significantly improved wound healing parameters including wound contraction, epithelialization time, hydroxyproline content, and skin breaking strength in mice compared to negative controls.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2013
  • Topical formulations containing aqueous extract of Kalanchoe brasiliensis and Kalanchoe pinnata reduced croton oil-induced ear edema and carrageenan-induced paw edema in Swiss mice compared to untreated controls, with K. brasiliensis showing a better result by being active at the lowest concentration.

    Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & Pharmacotherapie, 2019
  • Topical treatment with a 5% Bryophyllum pinnatum leaf extract gel formulation promoted skin wound healing by reducing wound area, decreasing inflammatory infiltrate and IL-1β and TNF-α levels, and increasing VEGF expression in rats, showing an effect similar to Fibrinase.

    Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2022

Ingredients

Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Betaine, Propanediol, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Silica, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Glucoside, Squalane, Parfum, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sodium Hyaluronate, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethiconol, Polysorbate 60, Tocopherol, Disodium Edta, Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Marrubium Vulgare Extract, Citric Acid, Phenethyl Alcohol, Furcellaria Lumbricalis Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Lapsana Communis Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Maris Sal Sea Salt Sel Marin, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract

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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Prices checked 18 Oct 2026

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

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