SkinMedica Dermal Repair Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Sodium Hyaluronate
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Dimethicone
GlycerinAverage
- AverageOily 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 moisturizing benefits for your oily skin, with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin providing hydration and supporting barrier function, though it lacks targeted ingredients for acne and breakouts.
- Dimethicone and phenyl trimethicone offer emollient properties suitable for oily skin, but the formula does not provide strong seboregulation to manage excess oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients like aloe barbadensis leaf juice and allantoin with no harsh or prohibited substances.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsThis product is highly praised for delivering intense, lasting hydration, significantly improving skin texture and softness, and promoting a more youthful appearance. It is particularly beneficial for dry, mature, or climate-stressed skin. Some users with oily or acne-prone skin find it too rich.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “My skin feels moisturized all day long.”
- “Provides intense skin hydration.”
- “Leaves my skin hydrated and soft.”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “My face feels so smooth and glowing.”
- “Significant change in skin texture.”
- “Skin feels soft and plump.”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “Wrinkles were reduced and pores shrunk.”
- “Helps retain youthfulness over time.”
- “Creases in my forehead became more shallow.”
Non-greasy feel Sometimes Noted
- “Rich but not heavy.”
- “Absorbs into skin well.”
- “Not greasy, feels great on face.”
Expensive product Sometimes Noted
- “Very expensive for the amount.”
- “Hard to justify the cost.”
- “Price is quite high.”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused acne.”
- “May clog pores if used in high concentrations.”
- “Too rich for acne-prone skin.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Not a fan of the new packaging.”
- “Feels like a waste of plastic.”
- “Difficult to get all the product out.”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “The smell is a little off-putting.”
- “Not a fan of the fragrance.”
- “Scent could be better.”
Sources: lovi.care, skinmedica.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, nlimedspa.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SkinMedica Dermal Repair work for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for oily acne-prone skin, providing hydration with sodium hyaluronate and glycerin while remaining safe and soothing. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts and excess oil, an oily skin type needs a lightweight formula with blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium hyaluronate and glycerin make this cream a good fit by providing hydration and supporting barrier function, while dimethicone offers lightweight smoothness for oily skin. To truly suit oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs targeted ingredients that manage excess oil and address breakouts effectively.
What does Vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps calm red and irritated skin and may improve the look of post-acne marks when used as part of your routine. For oily and acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs soothing ingredients and lightweight hydrators that keep pores clear without feeling heavy.
European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2017Archives of Dermatological Research, 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, right before sunscreen in the day and after your treatment step at night. Because it provides moderate hydration without targeting breakouts or managing excess oil, oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that also includes targeted blemish ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 soft and comfortable while it adjusts. A product of this type works best for oily acne-prone skin when it also includes ingredients that clear pores and control excess oil.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, though oily acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted ingredients for breakouts and excess oil to get the best results.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain exfoliating acids or retinoids at high treatment levels, but it may occasionally lead to breakouts for oily acne-prone skin. Because it lacks targeted ingredients for blemishes and excess oil, oily skin of this type needs a formula with acne-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on your body, as its safe formula is unlikely to irritate thinner areas like the eyelids or thicker skin elsewhere. Regular application may help hydrate the skin and smooth fine lines in those areas.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, geraniol, and citronellol) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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 cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, 2019Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Wearing 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, 2007The 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, 2012
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, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Panthenol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Algae Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Cetyl Esters, Brassica Campestris Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Panicum Miliaceum Seed Extract, Phytosterols, Tocotrienols, Squalene, Rice Bran Cera, Allantoin, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract, Squalane, Pyridoxine Dipalmitate, Stearyl Glycyrrhetinate, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Aspergillus Aspidosperma Quebracho Ferment, Zea Mays Oil, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polysilicone-11, Lecithin, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Hydroxide, Tromethamine, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Linalool, Geraniol, Citronellol, Beta-Carotene Ci 40800
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.