Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for oily skin
Avocado Oil
Niacinamide
Panthenol Vitamin B5
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
DimethiconeCaution
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin, with glycerin and dimethicone providing hydration and texture smoothing, but Isopropyl Palmitate and Avocado Oil may exacerbate oiliness.
- The formula provides general skincare benefits, but lacks targeted ingredients to address your oily shine concerns.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 35.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lotion is a popular choice for sensitive and dry skin, appreciated for its lightweight, non-greasy feel that absorbs quickly and doesn't clog pores. However, a notable number of recent reviews indicate dissatisfaction with a formula change, with some users experiencing irritation and stinging. A small number of users also report an unpleasant scent or find it not moisturizing enough for very dry skin.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “doesn't leave a sticky residue”
- “perfect under makeup”
- “light texture”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “truly no smell”
- “doesn't clash with perfume”
- “great for my asthma”
- “no strong chemical odor”
Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “dermatologist recommended”
- “no redness after use”
Long-lasting hydration Often Mentioned
- “skin still soft next day”
- “helped winter dryness”
- “stopped the flaking”
- “healed my dry patches”
Versatile application Sometimes Noted
- “use it head to toe”
- “great hand cream”
- “simplified my routine”
- “good for whole family”
New formula irritation Sometimes Noted
- “burns my face now”
- “caused a rash”
- “new ingredients sting”
- “not safe for sensitive skin anymore”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused whiteheads”
- “broke me out”
- “too heavy for acne-prone skin”
- “clogged my pores”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “need the cream instead”
- “too watery for winter”
- “didn't fix my cracked heels”
- “evaporates too fast”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “feels tacky”
- “leaves a film”
- “sticky for minutes”
- “clammy feeling”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical odor”
- “has a masking scent”
- “smells off”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, cetaphil.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Cetaphil Moisturizing Lotion for oily skin?
This moisturizer may make oily skin even shinier because it contains avocado oil and isopropyl palmitate. It also lacks the targeted ingredients needed to control excess shine. A moisturizer for oily skin needs lightweight hydrating agents and soothing ingredients that keep the skin balanced without heavy oils.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a poor fit for oily skin?
Isopropyl palmitate and avocado oil may make this moisturizer a poor fit for your oily skin because they can worsen excess oiliness. A moisturizer for oily skin needs lightweight hydrating agents and peptides, no heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier while managing shine.
What does Avocado Oil do for oily skin?
This product type may feel too heavy for oily skin, which typically needs lightweight hydrators like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to stay smooth without clogging pores.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer is a poor match for oily skin because some of its ingredients may make oiliness worse, and it lacks targeted ingredients to control shine. Oily skin needs lightweight hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin, along with oil-controlling elements to balance hydration without adding excess grease.
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe the skin and reduce potential irritation. Oily skin used with retinol needs a lightweight, oil-balancing moisturizer containing niacinamide or salicylic acid to keep pores clear while maintaining hydration.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
This moisturizer is a poor match for your oily skin because some of its oils may make your shine worse, but if you still choose to use it, apply it once a day or as needed. Oily skin needs lightweight moisturizers with oil-absorbing ingredients and hydrating components like glycerin or hyaluronic acid instead.
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This moisturizer may make oily skin feel too heavy or greasy because it contains avocado oil and isopropyl palmitate. A product for this skin type needs lighter hydration from ingredients like glycerin and smoothing agents like dimethicone without the heavy oils.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may need extra care. For thin skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and soothing ingredients to smooth and protect the area without heaviness.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol). Cetearyl 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, 2017Topical cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil improved wrinkle grading, reduced nasolabial fold area and volume, and increased skin elasticity in twenty healthy volunteers over 12 weeks without allergic reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical treatment with SSFAO 50% or avocado oil increased wound contraction, reepithelialization, collagen density, and tensile strength while showing anti-inflammatory activity compared to petroleum jelly in rats.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2013Topical 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 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, 2002Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Wearing 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Isopropyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Pantolactone, Glyceryl Stearate, Sodium Benzoate, Benzyl Alcohol, Citric Acid
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.