🇩🇪Germany

Sephora Hydrating Serum for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Sephora Hydrating Serum

Low

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A weak match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside 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 general hydration benefits for your oily shine and combination skin due to the presence of Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid, which provide excellent humectant action.
  • The inclusion of Polyglutamic Acid further enhances moisturizing capabilities, though stronger humectant support could improve comfort over time.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin 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

★4.6Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

This lightweight, unscented serum is widely praised for its ability to instantly plump and hydrate the skin, making it a favorite for those with dry or dehydrated complexions. While most users appreciate its fast absorption and clean formula, a notable minority experiences issues with the texture, specifically stickiness and pilling under other products.

Highlights

  • Deep instant hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “Skin looks more hydrated as if plumped up with water”
    • “Very effective and hydrating”
    • “Intensely hydrated for 24 hours”
    • “Gave me glass skin”
  • Lightweight absorption Often Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly without stickiness”
    • “Non-greasy texture”
    • “Sinks into the skin nicely”
    • “Lightweight but moisturizing”
  • Plumps and smooths Often Mentioned
    • “Skin feels plumped”
    • “Reduces appearance of wrinkles”
    • “Soft, dewy, and plump skin”
    • “Fine lines are reduced”
  • Gentle on sensitivity Sometimes Noted
    • “Great for sensitive skin”
    • “No irritation on my sensitive skin”
    • “Unscented and clean”
    • “Did not cause breakouts”
  • Great value Sometimes Noted
    • “Better for the price”
    • “Affordable and quality”
    • “Value for money”
    • “Good budget-friendly serum”
  • Pills under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “Pills extremely easily”
    • “Peels off every time I applied it”
    • “Started pilling like dead skin cells”
    • “Rolls off if you rub your face”
  • Difficult application Rarely Noted
    • “Time consuming application”
    • “Have to apply it very slowly”
    • “Runs down your face”
    • “Liquid consistency is hard to control”
  • Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
    • “No results”
    • “Didn't notice any improvement”
    • “Just surface-level moisture”
    • “Not enough hydration for dry skin”
  • Sticky texture Rarely Noted
    • “Formula is very sticky”
    • “A bit tacky at first”
    • “Feels slightly sticky”
    • “Left a sticky residue”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, kohls.com, influenster.com, skinsafeproducts.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Sephora Hydrating Serum a weak match for combination skin?

This serum is a weak match for combination skin because while it provides general hydration, it lacks stronger moisture-holding support to keep your skin fully comfortable over time. A product of this type needs richer hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients, ceramides, niacinamide, and peptides to balance moisture levels, control oily shine, and support the skin barrier without causing excess oiliness.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025

Which ingredients make this serum a poor fit for combination skin?

This serum is a weak match for combination skin because it lacks stronger moisture-holding support to keep your skin comfortable over time. To fit this skin type well, a product of this type needs effective hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides, peptides, and niacinamide that enhance vitality and balance moisture without causing excess oiliness.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Combination skin needs a product of this type that also includes stronger moisture-locking ingredients to keep skin soft and comfortable over time.

Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?

This serum may be used before your retinol product to help keep your skin comfortable, though this combination is a weak fit for your combination skin because it needs stronger moisturizing support and barrier-repairing ingredients to fully balance dryness.

How often should I use it?

This product is used in the evening in your combination skin routine, following a cleansing toner and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This serum is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts or purging for your combination skin. It has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation or breakouts.

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body because it is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin. However, since this product is a weak match for your skin type, a product of this type needs stronger moisturizing support with extra hydrating ingredients to keep your skin feeling fully comfortable over time.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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, 2017

  • Poly-gamma-glutamic acid derived from a novel Bacillus subtilis strain dose-dependently increased skin barrier markers, hyaluronic acid synthesis, and aquaporin 3 expression in keratinocytes, and elevated filaggrin, involucrin, CD44, and aquaporin 3 expression in a reconstructed skin model compared to the control.

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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, 2019

  • Curcumin-loaded polyglutamic acid and gum arabic electrospun nanofibers accelerated wound healing, increased TGF-beta1 and VEGF expression, reduced inflammatory factors, and enhanced re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration in a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024

  • Polyglutamic acid and polylysine composite hydrogels promote wound repair and hemostasis through high water absorption, bioadhesion, calcium ion-mediated coagulation factor activation, and inherent antibacterial properties in a deep skin defect model.

    Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid, Polyglutamic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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