SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream for oily acne-prone skin

Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Pitera Ferment Filtrate
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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 suitability for your oily skin as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and provides hydration, complemented by glycerin and hyaluronic acid for general skin hydration. However, the formula lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients and targeted treatments for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, which are your main concerns.
- The product's safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and panthenol, ensuring no irritation for your oily skin.
- Overall, it provides basic hydration and general skincare benefits without addressing your specific acne concerns.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report that this cream delivers intense hydration that leaves skin feeling bouncy, plump, and velvety soft, often citing visible improvements in radiance and texture overnight. While the rich formula is praised for smoothing fine lines and firming the skin barrier, reactions to the fragrance are mixed, and the high price point is a frequent consideration.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother”
- “burst of hydration after a quick absorption”
- “keeps my skin nice and moisturised”
- “leaves skin feeling bouncy and supple”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “silky texture that absorbs quickly”
- “melts into skin without leaving a sticky feeling”
- “rich yet smooth, absorbs well”
- “velvety moisturizer creates a constant cycle”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “wish it was not this expensive”
- “definitely an investment”
- “premium price tag”
- “hard to justify the cost”
Radiance and glow Sometimes Noted
- “noticeable skin brightening effect and glow”
- “skin looks better and has become more radiant”
- “woke up with a glow”
- “improves dullness and texture”
Visible anti-aging Sometimes Noted
- “reducing the appearance of fine lines”
- “skin felt firmer and looked healthier”
- “pores and wrinkles visibly reduced”
- “skin elasticity dramatically increased”
Heavy for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “quite thick consistency”
- “might be too heavy for day use”
- “prefer the Airy Milky Lotion version”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “did break out some while adjusting”
- “caused small bumps initially”
- “too rich for my acne-prone skin”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smells like tanning lotion”
- “too powerful of a smell that lingers”
- “scent is meh but doesn't bother me”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, influenster.com, sephora.sg, sephora.my, sephora.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream offers moderate suitability for oily skin by providing basic hydration and soothing components without irritation, though it lacks targeted treatments for acne and breakouts. To truly fit oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs lightweight, oil-free hydration alongside targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil control.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps regulate oil and provide gentle hydration for your skin, while glycerin and hyaluronic acid keep it soft. However, a moisturizer for oily acne-prone skin also needs strong oil-controlling ingredients and targeted breakout treatments.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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 this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes near the end of your morning and evening routines after your toner and any treatments. It gives your oily skin basic hydration safely, but this skin type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients and targeted treatments for breakouts.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. A moisturizing cream of this type used alongside acne treatments needs ingredients that actively control oil and target breakouts for the best fit.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily to keep your skin hydrated without causing irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product that also includes stronger oil-controlling ingredients and targeted treatments for breakouts.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has a very low complaint rate and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and panthenol that keep irritation at bay. However, because it only provides basic hydration and lacks targeted blemish treatments, oily acne-prone skin needs formulas with stronger oil-controlling ingredients and dedicated acne-fighting components.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body since its safe formula causes no irritation, though a product of this type needs specific ingredients for thin eye skin and body concerns. It is unlikely to harm these areas, but a product for the eyes needs targeted anti-aging actives, while a body product needs richer moisturizers for thicker skin.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2019Saccharomycopsis Ferment Filtrate inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and iNOS protein expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and protects artificial epidermis against lipopolysaccharide- or ultraviolet radiation-induced damages.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2006The 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, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-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, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Pitera Ferment Filtrate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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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