La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Crème for combination skin
Thermal Water
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Squalane
Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate
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 moisturizing for your combination skin, as glycerin and squalane provide hydration and support barrier resilience without exacerbating oily shine.
- While beneficial for general skincare, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to specifically address concerns like oily shine on your combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation 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
★4.4Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers with sensitive, reactive, and combination skin widely praise this moisturizer for its ability to instantly soothe irritation, reduce redness, and alleviate tightness without clogging pores. While the lightweight, fragrance-free formula is celebrated for restoring the skin barrier and sitting well under makeup, some users with extremely dry skin find it insufficiently hydrating, often suggesting the "Riche" version instead.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly without grease”
- “Light and airy on skin”
- “Non-sticky and leaves no residue”
- “Perfect base under makeup”
Gentle & safe Often Mentioned
- “Safe enough for my baby”
- “Finally a cream that doesn't sting”
- “Completely fragrance and alcohol-free”
Soothing and calming Often Mentioned
- “Instantly calmed my stinging skin”
- “Redness disappeared within days”
- “Stopped the burning sensation immediately”
Price vs. quantity Often Mentioned
- “Tube is too small (40ml)”
- “Runs out in two weeks”
- “Expensive for the amount provided”
- “Wish it came in a larger size”
Restores skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “Fixed my damaged skin barrier”
- “Skin feels less fragile now”
- “Helped repair over-exfoliated skin”
- “Skin feels plump and protected”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “Skin felt dry again after an hour”
- “Not rich enough for winter”
- “Need to apply multiple layers”
- “Better for combo skin than dry”
Breakouts/reactions Rarely Noted
- “Caused small whiteheads”
- “Broke me out in cystic acne”
- “Stung my face upon application”
- “Caused a rash the next morning”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump stopped working halfway”
- “Hard to get the last bit out”
- “Tube feels half empty”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, superdrug.com, laroche-posay.co.uk, cocooncenter.co.uk, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Toleriane Sensitive Crème work for combination skin?
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Crème works moderately well for combination skin by delivering basic hydration through glycerin and squalane without making your oily zones shinier, though other products fit this skin type better. To work best for combination skin, a moisturizer needs ingredients that actively reduce oily shine while providing balanced hydration without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and squalane make this cream a good fit by providing hydration and supporting your skin barrier without making oily shine worse. Combination skin needs a moisturizer with ingredients that hydrate dry areas and help reduce oily shine while keeping the skin calm.
What does Thermal Water do for combination skin?
Thermal water helps hydrate dry areas and calm redness on combination skin, making it feel more comfortable. It is unlikely to clog pores and can be used throughout the day whenever skin needs a quick refresh.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes as the third step in your morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and as the last step in your evening routine after a treatment. It offers moderate hydration without making your skin oily, though combination skin needs a moisturizer with targeted ingredients to properly manage oily shine.
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 with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. This routine helps keep your combination skin hydrated and may reduce irritation from the retinol. A moisturizer for this skin works best when it also includes ingredients to balance oil and shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and supported. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier function without causing irritation.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for your combination skin because it has a safe formula with no harsh or irritating ingredients. However, a product for this skin needs targeted ingredients to help control oily shine.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cream around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle formula is well tolerated by delicate areas. While it provides good general hydration, combination skin also needs targeted ingredients to help control oily shine.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A formulation containing vitamin C, biopeptides, hyaluronic acid, and mineralizing water accelerated cell turnover to 17.1 days versus 19.2 days for untreated skin, and reduced crow's-feet, forehead, and nasolabial folds by 9%, 11%, and 5% respectively after 28 days in female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021Topical 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, 2005The 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, 2012Squalane 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, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Propanediol, Pentylene Glycol, Niacinamide, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Squalane, Dimethicone, Zea Mays Corn Starch, Ceramide Np, Myristyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Capryloyl Glycine, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sodium Hydroxide, Myristic Acid
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
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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