Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial for oily acne-prone skin
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter
Glycerin
Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil
Low
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside 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 moisturizing for your oily skin due to glycerin and shea butter, which hydrate without addressing your primary concerns of acne and oiliness.
- While Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide provides some soothing benefits, the formula lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to effectively manage breakouts and shine.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 6.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this prebiotic sleeping cream is highly regarded for its ability to make dull, thirsty skin appear plump and radiant by morning, thanks to its unique gel-cream texture that feels both lightweight and deeply nourishing. While many users enjoy its sweet, fruity scent, it is a polarizing feature that some find too strong, and a small number of users with very dry skin feel it may not be rich enough for winter use.
Highlights
Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
- “whipped silk feel”
- “melts into skin”
- “lightweight but rich”
- “non-greasy finish”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “smells like a tropical cocktail”
- “divine fruity aroma”
- “relaxing bedtime treat”
- “scent of summer”
Soft & plump Often Mentioned
- “baby soft skin”
- “plumped morning face”
- “erases fatigue lines”
- “bouncy texture”
Radiance & glow Sometimes Noted
- “morning glow”
- “brightens dullness”
- “looks well-rested”
- “dewy complexion”
Deceptive packaging Sometimes Noted
- “jar looks half empty”
- “huge air bubble inside”
- “misleading tub size”
- “less product than expected”
Overpowering fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “sickly sweet”
- “too strong/perfumed”
- “artificial candy smell”
- “migraine inducing”
Price vs. quantity Sometimes Noted
- “finished too quickly”
- “expensive for 50ml”
- “not worth full price”
- “runs out fast”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “not hydrating enough for winter”
- “need a thicker cream”
- “skin still felt dry”
Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, amazon.co.uk, boots.com, johnlewis.com, sephora.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Elemis Superfood Midnight Facial a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin because it relies on heavy butters and oils that hydrate without managing breakouts and shine. Oily acne-prone skin needs products with lightweight textures, acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide, and a lack of heavy oils to prevent clogged pores and excess oiliness.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a weak match for your skin because heavy ingredients like shea butter and cocoa seed butter can clog pores and worsen shine. A product for oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration alongside targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to manage breakouts.
What does Sweet Almond Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sweet almond oil is generally too heavy and rich in oleic acid for oily, acne-prone skin, as oils with high oleic acid content may disrupt the skin barrier and worsen breakouts. Oily and acne-prone skin types need lightweight ingredients with a higher linoleic acid to oleic acid ratio, such as sunflower seed oil, which helps preserve skin integrity without causing irritation.
What does Butyrospermum Parkii Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter helps protect the skin barrier, but because it is quite heavy, it may feel too rich for oily acne-prone skin. Skin of this type usually needs lighter, balancing ingredients like natural plant oils with a higher linoleic acid to oleic acid ratio that help keep pores clear and smooth.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is used as a moisturizer in the evening routine, though it is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration combined with active ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to manage breakouts and shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing treatment with retinol by applying it after your retinol has absorbed to help keep your skin soft. Because this is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help manage breakouts and shine.
How often should I use this cream?
This moisturizing treatment is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to manage breakouts and shine. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration combined with active ingredients such as salicylic acid and niacinamide to help control oil and clear blemishes.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin because it contains heavy butters and oils that may clog pores and worsen breakouts, as it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to manage shine and blemishes. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and pore-clearing ingredients to keep this skin clear and balanced.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment is generally safe to use on the body, but the thin skin around the eyes may be sensitive to its rich butters and oils. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and soothing ingredients to properly care for delicate areas without feeling heavy.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, benzyl alcohol, citronellol, and citral).
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, 2017A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 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, 2012Nanostructured lipid carriers prepared with glyceryl distearate and Passiflora edulis seed oil using ultrasonication exhibited superior physicochemical properties, high occlusion, and non-irritant potential in the HET-CAM assay compared to other tested formulations.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2020
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Co-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, Peg-8, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Sodium Polyacrylate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Hydroxyacetophenone, Phenoxyethanol, Theobroma Cacao Seed Butter, Parfum, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Bentonite, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Passiflora Edulis Seed Oil, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Propanediol, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Linalool, Benzyl Alcohol, Citronellol, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Theobroma Cacao Seed Extract, Litsea Cubeba Oil Fruit, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Musa Sapientum Flower Extract, Citral, Myrciaria Dubia Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
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?
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