CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil for dry sensitive skin

Ceraplex 5-Ceramide Blend
Sunflower Oil
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer
High
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for dry sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- High compatibility with your dry and sensitive skin is offered by sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and ceramides, which provide essential hydration and support barrier function. Glycerin further enhances humectant properties, contributing to overall skin comfort and resilience.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh or irritating ingredients, ensuring a gentle experience.
- While the product offers good moisturizing and barrier support, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly address dryness and flakiness, suggesting that additional targeted treatments might be beneficial for optimal results.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 5.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly recommended for dry, normal, and mature skin types, delivering significant hydration and a radiant glow. Its unique gel-to-oil texture is frequently praised for softening and plumping the skin. However, those with oily or acne-prone skin should be aware that the finish can appear too shiny and may potentially clog pores.
Highlights
Intense hydration Often Mentioned
- “Provides moisture without feeling heavy.”
- “Keeps skin soft, hydrated, and smooth.”
- “Relief for dry, tight skin within minutes.”
Radiant glow Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin with a healthy shine.”
- “Leaves a beautiful dewy glow.”
- “Skin was glowing and felt smooth, soft, and plump.”
Gentle formula Sometimes Noted
- “Fragrance-free and gentle on sensitive skin.”
- “Contains ceramides to support skin barrier.”
- “Non-comedogenic for many users.”
Unique texture Sometimes Noted
- “Gel-to-oil texture feels luxurious and lightweight.”
- “Transforms into an oil during application.”
- “Doesn't drip or make a mess.”
Too shiny Sometimes Noted
- “Dewy finish is too shiny for oily skin.”
- “Can leave a residue.”
- “Takes a long time to absorb.”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused breakouts for my acne-prone skin.”
- “Contains ingredients that can trigger acne.”
- “Not ideal for those prone to clogged pores.”
Product pilling Rarely Noted
- “Can pill under certain sunscreens.”
- “Does not layer well with some water-based products.”
Small size Rarely Noted
- “One-ounce bottle is smaller than typical CeraVe sizing.”
- “Expensive for the amount provided.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cerave.com, dermapproved.com, musingsofamuse.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil a great fit for dry sensitive skin?
CeraVe Skin Renewing Gel Oil is a great fit because sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and ceramides provide deep hydration and help strengthen your skin barrier. Glycerin further keeps your skin comfortable and soft, while the gentle formula ensures a safe, irritation-free experience.
Which ingredients make this oil a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Sodium hyaluronate crosspolymer and ceramides make this oil a good fit by giving essential hydration and supporting the skin barrier. Glycerin further helps keep the skin comfortable and resilient.
What does Ceraplex do for dry sensitive skin?
Ceraplex helps make dry sensitive skin feel soft and smooth by strengthening the outer barrier and keeping moisture locked in. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve the skin's natural balance with regular use.
What does Sunflower Oil do for dry sensitive skin?
Sunflower seed oil helps repair the skin barrier and improves hydration for dry, sensitive skin while being gentle enough to preserve skin integrity. It may also aid in calming the skin and protecting it against irritation, unlike certain other plant oils that can damage the outer layer.
Where does this oil go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This oil is used as an evening treatment after your toner and before your moisturizer. Applying it at night provides a safe and simple way to nourish your skin while helping to lock in hydration.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this oil with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this oil with retinol by applying the oil before your retinol to help calm and comfort dry, sensitive skin. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids is well-established to help reduce irritation and improve skin tolerability.
How often should I use this oil?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in your evening routine. Daily application helps boost hydration and keeps your skin soft and comfortable.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this oil clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This oil is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin because it is formulated without harsh or irritating ingredients to ensure a gentle experience. However, the potential for breakouts remains low for any product, so you may want to monitor how your skin responds.
Can I use this oil around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula provides essential hydration and barrier support for dry sensitive skin. Clinical studies on similar moisturizers show they are well-tolerated on delicate areas like the eyelids and effectively maintain skin comfort.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this oil fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, 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, 2017Application of Body Lotion for 5 weeks on cosmetic dry skin improved barrier properties, increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides, and long-chain fatty acids, increased beneficial skin bacteria, and enhanced microbiome functional potential compared to baseline.
Scientific Reports, 2022The 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Propylheptyl Caprylate, Sucrose Laurate, Sucrose Stearate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ns, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Ceramide Eos, Ceteareth-25, Behenic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Extract Sunflower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Cholesterol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Chlorphenesin, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sucrose Palmitate, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxymethoxyphenyl Decanone, Caprooyl Phytosphingosine, Caprooyl Sphingosine, Pentylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Rice Bran Extract
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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