Clinique moisture surge for dry skin
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf WaterAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, 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
- Offers moderate hydration for your dry skin, with hyaluronic acid and glycerin providing humectant benefits, while laminaria digitata extract and aloe barbadensis leaf water further support moisture retention.
- The formula is generally safe for your dry skin, as it lacks harsh or irritating ingredients and is well-suited for your skin type.
- This product provides basic skincare benefits that are supportive but not specifically targeted to address your dry or flaky skin concerns.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 8.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this oil-free gel-cream is highly recommended by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its deep hydration and non-greasy, dewy finish. Some users with very dry skin find it insufficient, particularly in winter, and a small number report mild breakouts or a tacky feel.
Highlights
Lightweight, absorbs fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “feels like water”
- “no greasy residue”
- “weightless on skin”
Good makeup base Often Mentioned
- “foundation glides on”
- “doesn't pill under makeup”
- “smooth canvas”
- “grips makeup well”
Plumping effect Often Mentioned
- “glass skin look”
- “bouncy texture”
- “fine lines disappear”
- “healthy glow”
Expensive for size Often Mentioned
- “jar is too small for the cost”
- “expensive for a basic moisturizer”
- “runs out too quickly”
Soothes sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging”
- “calms redness”
- “fragrance-free is a lifesaver”
Not enough hydration Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt tight after an hour”
- “need a second layer”
- “too light for winter”
- “disappears too fast”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me tiny bumps”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “whiteheads appeared next day”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “feels sticky to the touch”
- “hair sticks to face”
- “tacky film left behind”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, makeupalley.com, amazon.com, clinique.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Moisture Surge work for dry skin?
Clinique Moisture Surge works moderately well for dry skin, offering basic hydration through glycerin and hyaluronic acid. However, this skin type needs a richer formula loaded with heavy moisturizing ingredients and barrier-supporting emollients to deliver deep nourishment and prevent flaking.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe leaf water make this moisturizer a fair fit by providing moderate hydration and supporting moisture retention for dry skin. To truly thrive, dry skin needs products with highly effective, soothing ingredients and rich emollients that provide deep nourishment and strengthen the skin barrier.
What does Water do for dry skin?
Drinking more water helps increase skin hydration and may reduce clinical signs of dryness and roughness, particularly for individuals with lower prior water consumption.
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment in the evening. Using it as part of a daily routine helps improve visual dryness and keeps skin comfortable.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it absorb, and then following with the cream. This helps keep your dry skin comfortable, though dry skin generally needs richer ingredients like ceramides and heavier oils to truly soothe flaky areas.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening skincare routines to help keep your skin hydrated. Regular daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports the skin barrier. Dry skin needs richer creams packed with nourishing oils and butters to deeply soften and lock in lasting moisture.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for dry skin, as its formula is generally safe and lacks harsh ingredients. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from using it.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around your eyes and on your body, as its formula has very good skin tolerance. However, because skin is thinner around the eyes and varies in thickness across the body, a product for dry skin here needs rich oils and butters to deeply soften and lock in moisture.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl 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 hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022A novel anti-aging serum containing acetyl hexapeptide-8, dipeptide diaminobutyroyl benzylamide diacetate, gluconolactone, niacinamide, and laminaria extract significantly increased anti-aging biomarkers and improved static and dynamic wrinkles as well as skin quality in clinical studies.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012A 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, 2018Topical 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, 2018Topical 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
Why other moisturizers fit dry skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.
Nanomaterials, 2024Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Caprylyl Methicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isohexadecane, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Trehalose, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Polyethylene, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Silica, Disodium Edta, Tetrasodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides Ci 77491, Iron Oxides Ci 77492, Iron Oxides Ci 77499, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.