AHAVA Hydration Cream Mask for oily acne-prone skin
Dead Sea Minerals
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf JuiceAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other nourishing masks 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 suitability for your oily skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide excellent hydration, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for strong oil control to address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While the product offers general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing due to ingredients such as aloe barbadensis leaf juice, these are supportive rather than targeted for your specific concerns.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like aloe barbadensis leaf juice and urea.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using the creamy mask 3 times a week and slowly move to daily use.
- Apply the creamy mask after your cleanser and toner, but right before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently smooth a thin layer of the creamy mask over your face. Avoid any harsh rubbing motions.
- Apply the creamy mask evenly on clean and dry skin for the best results against blemishes. Let it sit comfortably without rushing the process.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area. Do a quick patch test before your very first application to check for safety.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.3k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this mask is widely praised as a winter savior for dry, parched, or sensitive skin, with users reporting immediate improvements in softness, suppleness, and hydration levels. Most users love the rich, creamy texture and versatile application, though a small minority experienced irritation or found the price point too high for the results.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “mega dose of moisture”
- “skin feels smooth/supple”
- “doesn't dry out”
- “leaves face hydrated”
Rich texture Often Mentioned
- “thick very creamy”
- “luxurious feel”
- “rich but not greasy”
- “slides easily”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “soft and fresh”
- “clean subtle scent”
- “smells like sweet water”
- “pleasant almost non-existent”
Soothing effect Sometimes Noted
- “calms the skin”
- “reduces redness”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “no stinging”
Versatile use Sometimes Noted
- “leave on overnight”
- “rinse after 3-5 mins”
- “sleeping mask”
- “daily moisturizer”
Expensive for value Sometimes Noted
- “way overpriced”
- “waste of product”
- “expensive for amount”
- “not worth full price”
Limited results Rarely Noted
- “didn't do much”
- “just okay”
- “no lasting changes”
- “not a miracle”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “face red and itchy”
- “caused burning”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “caused breakouts”
Strong scent Rarely Noted
- “heavy fragrance”
- “strong perfume”
- “scent irritated skin”
- “overpowering smell”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “waxy film”
- “greasy residue”
- “feels heavy”
- “hard to absorb”
Sources: lovi.care, ipsy.com, ahava.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does AHAVA Hydration Cream Mask work for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide good hydration and aloe juice helps soothe, but it lacks oil control ingredients for breakouts. A nourishing mask for this skin needs oil-controlling components and acne-fighting ingredients like Niacinamide and Ceramide Np.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, sodium hyaluronate, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, and urea make this mask a good fit by providing hydration and soothing benefits without causing irritation. However, a nourishing mask for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients for oil control and addressing blemishes, such as niacinamide and ceramides.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
What do Dead Sea Minerals do for oily acne-prone skin?
Dead Sea Minerals may help oily acne-prone skin by providing essential salts that balance moisture and wash away extra oil. Because this type of skin tends to get clogged easily, it needs ingredients like clay or salicylic acid to keep pores clear and calm.
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 mask go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This nourishing mask works as a weekly step for your oily acne-prone skin, fitting into a routine that includes a makeup remover, cleanser, enzyme powder, cleansing mask, hydrating toner, treatment, and moisturizer. While glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide good hydration, this mask needs strong oil control ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to properly address acne and breakouts.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask with retinol, applying the mask before your retinol or on a separate night depending on your skin's sensitivity. Because this mask hydrates well without harsh ingredients, it is unlikely to irritate your skin while using retinol.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this mask?
You can use this nourishing mask weekly as part of your routine for oily acne-prone skin. It offers moderate suitability and hydration, but an oily skin type needs targeted ingredients for oil control to effectively address acne and blemishes.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on oily skin, as it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like aloe leaf juice and urea. However, because it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients, oily and acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish-fighting and oil-balancing components.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, hexyl cinnamal, limonene, benzyl salicylate, and linalool). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
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, 2018Urea is a safe and effective dermatologic therapy with wide-ranging clinical utility for various skin conditions and minimal, non-systemic side effects based on a review of the clinical literature.
Dermatology Online Journal, 2013Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical 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, 2006
Why other nourishing masks fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water Mineral Spring Water, Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Propanediol Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Alanine, Creatine, Glycine, Magnesium Aspartate, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Urea, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Caprylyl Glycol, Chlorphenesin, Phenoxyethanol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sea Salt Dead Sea Water, Peg-40 Stearate, Xanthan Gum, Sorbitan Tristearate, Tocopherol Vitamin E Acetate, Sea Silt Dead Sea Mud, Parfum, Lactic Acid, Saccharide Isomerate, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Benzyl Salicylate, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal
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
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