CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- This product is highly suitable for your combination skin, as niacinamide helps regulate oil in your oily areas while hyaluronic acid provides essential hydration for your dry areas, addressing your acne and breakouts effectively.
- The inclusion of zinc gluconate further aids in controlling oil and reducing inflammation, complementing the moisturizing benefits for balanced skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin widely praise this gel-cream for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers a matte finish without drying out the face. A notable minority of reviewers report issues with the product pilling under makeup or sunscreen and experiencing a temporary burning or stinging sensation upon application.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “lightweight and super moisturizing”
- “feels refreshing upon application”
- “lightweight gel-cream texture”
- “barely feel it on”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into my face right away”
- “rapidly absorbed”
- “soaks in quickly”
- “no residue left behind”
Matte finish Often Mentioned
- “absorbs excess oil”
- “leaves a matte finish”
- “controls shine throughout the day”
- “skin looks balanced not shiny”
Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
- “doesn't leave me feeling greasy”
- “no sticky/tacky feeling”
- “residue-free”
- “non-greasy formula”
Balanced hydration Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating without making skin heavy”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “perfect balance of moisture”
- “hydrated but not oily”
Pilling with makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills with sunscreen”
- “peels with toner”
- “pills up during application”
- “rolls off the skin”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burns the skin”
- “burning sensation around eye area”
- “feels hot on skin”
- “stinging upon application”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “skin has broken out”
- “clogged pores”
- “caused small bumps”
- “acne flared up”
Not matte enough Rarely Noted
- “becomes even oilier”
- “soft matte not fully matte”
- “shiny after a while”
- “didn't control oil long”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream a great fit for acne-prone skin?
CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream is a great fit for acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps regulate oil while hyaluronic acid provides hydration without clogging pores, and zinc gluconate further aids in controlling oil and reducing inflammation. This formula has an excellent safety profile with very low risks of irritation thanks to its soothing components and lack of harsh ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and zinc gluconate help regulate oil and soothe breakouts, while hyaluronic acid and ceramides keep skin hydrated and smooth. This blend makes the gel-cream a great fit for acne-prone skin with very low likelihood of irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream goes in the moisturizer step of your morning and evening routines for acne-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it contains soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid that keep skin calm and hydrated.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the moisturizer first to help keep your skin calm and protected against dryness or irritation. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside active treatments helps maintain your skin's comfort and improves your overall routine.
How often should I use it?
This moisturizer is suitable for daily use on acne-prone skin to help control oil and keep your face calm and hydrated. Applying it twice a day is a great way to support your skin barrier and reduce breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is a great fit for acne-prone skin because niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and reduce inflammation while ceramides and hyaluronic acid keep skin balanced and hydrated without irritation. Complaints about breakouts are low, meaning this product is unlikely to clog pores.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around the eyes, where the skin is particularly thin. Its gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation and provides safe hydration for these delicate areas.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Topical 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Silica, Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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