e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Face Cream for dry sensitive skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Peptides
Squalane
Glycerin
Average
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it 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
- Offers moderate suitability for your dry skin as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant action to hydrate and plump the skin. However, the formula lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients for optimal, long-lasting hydration.
- The product provides general hydration benefits for dry or flaky skin, addressing your main goal effectively.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis cream is highly praised for providing deep hydration without a heavy or greasy feel, making it ideal for combination and oily skin types. It is frequently noted for creating a smooth canvas for makeup. Some users with very dry skin found it insufficient, and a few experienced issues with the scent in the original formulation or eye irritation with the SPF version.
Highlights
Excellent makeup base Mostly Mentioned
- “Honestly the best face cream I have ever used under makeup!”
- “Smooths skin under makeup.”
- “Makeup just glides on.”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “My skin looks and feels like velvet.”
- “Keeps my skin soft, hydrated, and protected throughout the day.”
- “Replenishes lost moisture for supple skin.”
Lightweight & non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “Sinks in quickly to leave smooth, soft skin.”
- “Texture feels lightweight yet deeply moisturizing.”
- “Non-greasy formula sinks into skin.”
Gentle & non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Great everyday moisturizer for sensitive skin.”
- “Hypoallergenic and free of fragrance.”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Burn my eyes when I rub my skin near my eye.”
- “Causes eyes to burn like some SPFs do.”
- “Stinging sensation around the eye area.”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “Wish the packaging was in a tube instead of a jar.”
- “I wish this product came with a lil spatula.”
- “Prefer tubes/pump bottles.”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “Didn't feel like it gave me as much hydrating omph.”
- “Might be better for summer than winter.”
- “Not moisturizing enough for very dry skin.”
Scent issues Rarely Noted
- “Smells terrible like the oil in it is rancid.”
- “Scent is very subtle... but my skin can be sensitive.”
- “Wish I would have returned it sooner [due to smell].”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, byrdie.com, skinsafe-products.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Holy Hydration! Face Cream work for dry sensitive skin?
This cream works moderately well for dry sensitive skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide basic hydration, though it lacks enough smoothing and sealing ingredients for long-lasting moisture. It is unlikely to cause irritation since it avoids harsh ingredients, but a product for this skin type needs richer nourishing agents and skin-softening oils to lock in hydration and support the skin barrier.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help hydrate and plump dry skin by drawing in moisture. To provide the deep, long-lasting hydration and moisture locking that dry sensitive skin needs, a moisturizer of this type also requires rich emollient and occlusive ingredients.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for dry, sensitive skin because it brings a large boost in hydration, making the skin feel soft and smooth while improving barrier function. It helps calm tightness and dryness, and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Dermatology and Therapy, 2021
What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after your toner, or whenever your dry sensitive skin needs an extra hydration boost. It is unlikely to cause irritation and helps hydrate your skin, though dry skin generally needs richer rich creams with heavy softening and sealing ingredients for lasting comfort.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol as a moisturizer in your evening routine, applying it after your treatment. It helps keep your skin comfortable and is unlikely to cause irritation, though dry skin of this type needs richer, softening and sealing ingredients for lasting hydration.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream works well for your dry sensitive skin when used daily to provide moderate hydration. However, because it lacks sufficient softening and sealing ingredients, dry skin of this type needs rich creams with heavy-duty moisturizers and protective oils to lock in long-lasting moisture.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin, and it has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks rich smoothing and sealing ingredients, dry skin needs extra rich creams or facial oils to lock in long-lasting moisture.
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, as its gentle ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation on sensitive skin. However, because dry skin needs extra rich, softening, and sealing ingredients to lock in moisture for a long time, this product works best when paired with heavier creams or oils.
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, 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, 2022Topical 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, 2019Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-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, 2025The 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, 2012
Why other moisturizers fit dry sensitive 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Squalane, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol Vb5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyethylene, Disodium Edta, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer
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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