Sephora Hydrating Serum for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Hyaluronic Acid
Polyglutamic Acid
Average
- 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 hydration for your oily skin, as Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid provide humectant benefits without adding excess oil. However, these ingredients do not specifically target your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The serum's functionality is excellent for moisturizing due to the high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid and Polyglutamic Acid, which deliver significant hydration.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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 500+ reviewsThis 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
How well does Sephora Hydrating Serum work for oily acne-prone skin?
Sephora Hydrating Serum works moderately well for your oily skin, as Glycerin and Hyaluronic Acid provide moisture without adding excess oil, but it does not specifically target acne and breakouts. A product of this type needs ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, and pro vitamin B5 that help manage acne and blemishes while providing a lightweight texture that does not clog pores.
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and polyglutamic acid make this serum a good fit by providing hydration without adding excess oil, though a product for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide or ceramides to also target acne and balance oil.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, and before moisturizing. It offers hydration for your oily skin without adding excess oil, but oily acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that specifically target blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this serum with retinol by applying the serum first to keep your skin hydrated without adding extra oil, followed by your retinol. A product for oily acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that specifically target breakouts and blemishes.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and keeps your skin feeling soft without adding excess oil.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this serum clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a gentle formula without harsh ingredients, though it does not actively treat blemishes either. For an acne-prone skin type, a product of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help keep pores clear.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this serum around the eyes and on the body because it is gentle and unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, a hydrating treatment with glycerin and hyaluronic acid helps lock in moisture there safely.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, 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, 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, 2022Poly-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, 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, 2012Topical 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, 2019Curcumin-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, 2024Polyglutamic 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
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Co-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, 2023
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.