Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Active Hydramesh Technology
Sodium Hyaluronate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin, as Caprylic Capric Triglyceride and Glycerin provide emollient and humectant actions respectively, but it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to fully address your concerns with oiliness.
- The formulation provides excellent moisturizing benefits due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump the skin, but it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Arnica Montana Flower Extract.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this moisturizer as a hydration hero that effectively balances moisture levels for normal, dry, and combination skin without feeling heavy. While the vast majority report smoother, plumper skin and improved texture, a small minority experienced breakouts or found the price point too high for the quantity.
Highlights
Texture & absorption Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly... not greasy”
- “Glides on smoothly”
- “Sinks right in”
- “Lightweight but effective”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “Hydration hero... keeps it moisturized all day”
- “Infuses skin with 48 hours of hydration”
- “Perfect balance of hydration”
- “Saved my dry skin”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Soothing aloe and healing arnica”
- “No redness or sensitivity”
Improved skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves a glistening glow”
- “Skin feels instantly smoothing”
- “Plump and supple complexion”
- “Reduced congestion on forehead”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “A bit pricey”
- “Expensive”
- “Can't justify the cost”
- “Pricey but worth it”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Horrible breakouts”
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “Broke me out”
- “Prone to whiteheads”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “Left a bad texture”
- “Too heavy for day use”
- “Felt greasy”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Bad fragrance”
- “Natural scent is off-putting”
- “Smells like chemicals”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, sephora.co.uk, productreview.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for oily acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because it lacks oil-controlling and breakout-targeting ingredients. It helps hydrate and soothe the skin without causing irritation, but an option for this skin type needs oil-balancing and blemish-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream fits your oily acne-prone skin moderately well through hydrating ingredients like sodium hyaluronate and glycerin, alongside soothing aloe barbadensis leaf juice and arnica montana flower extract. An average fit like this needs lightweight hydrating agents and soothing extracts that do not clog pores, together with targeted blemish-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to fully manage oiliness and breakouts.
What does Active Hydramesh Technology do for oily acne-prone skin?
Active Hydramesh Technology helps keep oily, acne-prone skin moisturized without feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier while managing blemishes, making it a good fit for this skin type.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes in the third step of your morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and in the final step of your evening routine after your treatment. While it provides good hydration and a safe, soothing feel with ingredients like glycerin and aloe, oily acne-prone skin needs a product with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide and oil-controlling elements to properly target breakouts and excess shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. Using a moisturizer alongside a retinoid helps keep your skin comfortable and smooth by reducing dryness and irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and smooth while remaining gentle on your face.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to irritate your skin because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing aloe and arnica, but some reviewers do report that it caused breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer with oil-controlling and breakout-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is generally safe to use on the body and around the eyes, though it may not provide enough targeted care for specific body skin concerns. Because the skin around your eyes is thinner and more delicate, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate along with soothing ingredients like aloe to keep the area soft without irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl salicylate and linalool). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
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, 2023A 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 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019A 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, 2010Topical CE Ferulic plus resveratrol BE serum following ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment reduced erythema index (308.9 vs. 325.3), shortened complete scabbing detachment time (6.0 vs. 6.5 days), decreased melanin index (-7.4% vs. +0.2%), and improved skin hydration compared to normal saline in 51 Chinese patients.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Resveratrol cream improved skin hydration and tightening compared to cream without resveratrol in a group of probands.
Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2019Topical application of a water-in-oil emulsion containing 2% Muscat hamburg grape seed extract significantly improved melanin, elasticity, and sebum content compared to a placebo in human volunteers over 8 weeks, with no reported skin hypersensitivity.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone, Peg-8, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Saccharide Isomerate, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Hedera Helix Extract, Malva Sylvestris Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Trehalose, Algin, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Serine, Linoleic Acid, Phytosterols, Cananga Odorata Oil Flower, Urea, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Pullulan, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Amara Flower Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Hexanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Sodium Citrate, Disodium Phosphate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium, Amylopectin Glycerin Crosspolymer, Caprylyl Glycol, Potassium Phosphate, Citric Acid, Tocopherol, Methylpropanediol, Polysorbate 60, Panthenol, Polyquaternium-10, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Aminomethyl Propanol, Carbomer, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxystearic Acid, Bht, Benzyl Benzoate, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool
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
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