Clinique moisture surge for acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf WaterAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it 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 formulation offers moderate moisturizing for your combination skin, as glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration without feeling heavy. These ingredients are supportive for acne, blemishes, and breakouts by maintaining skin hydration.
- The inclusion of aloe barbadensis leaf water and cucumber extract offers additional soothing benefits, which is beneficial for combination skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 8.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this oil-free gel-cream is highly recommended by users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin for its deep hydration and non-greasy, dewy finish. Some users with very dry skin find it insufficient, particularly in winter, and a small number report mild breakouts or a tacky feel.
Highlights
Lightweight, absorbs fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “feels like water”
- “no greasy residue”
- “weightless on skin”
Good makeup base Often Mentioned
- “foundation glides on”
- “doesn't pill under makeup”
- “smooth canvas”
- “grips makeup well”
Plumping effect Often Mentioned
- “glass skin look”
- “bouncy texture”
- “fine lines disappear”
- “healthy glow”
Expensive for size Often Mentioned
- “jar is too small for the cost”
- “expensive for a basic moisturizer”
- “runs out too quickly”
Soothes sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no stinging”
- “calms redness”
- “fragrance-free is a lifesaver”
Not enough hydration Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt tight after an hour”
- “need a second layer”
- “too light for winter”
- “disappears too fast”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me tiny bumps”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused cystic acne”
- “whiteheads appeared next day”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “feels sticky to the touch”
- “hair sticks to face”
- “tacky film left behind”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, makeupalley.com, amazon.com, clinique.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Moisture Surge work for acne-prone skin?
Clinique Moisture Surge works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, as glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration without feeling heavy. It is very unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients. A moisturizer for this skin needs effective ingredients that offer excellent benefits for acne and blemishes, safe soothing extracts, and peptides to keep the skin calm and clear.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe barbadensis leaf water make this moisturizer a good fit because they keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without feeling heavy or causing irritation. To work best for this skin type, a moisturizer of this type needs effective ingredients that target blemishes, hydrating agents and soothing extracts that prevent irritation, and helpful peptides.
What does Water do for acne-prone skin?
Water-based hydration helps keep acne-prone skin balanced by providing essential moisture without adding excess oil. Proper hydration also helps reduce dryness and flakiness that can sometimes result from harsh acne treatments.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes as the last step in your morning routine before sunscreen, and after your treatment in the evening routine. It provides essential hydration without feeling heavy, and acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydrators with soothing ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid, and aloe to keep skin calm and balanced.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol to help keep your skin calm and hydrated while minimizing dryness. Apply your retinol treatment first, let it absorb, and then follow with the moisturizer to lock in hydration without feeling heavy. An average-fitting moisturizer for acne-prone skin needs soothing ingredients like aloe and lightweight hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to support the skin barrier during strong treatments.
Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated. Regular daily application helps maintain moisture and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to cause breakouts for acne-prone skin, as it has a very low risk of clogging pores and features a very safe formulation without harsh ingredients. Acne-prone skin works best with lightweight hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that keep skin balanced without feeling heavy.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are safe for delicate skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh ingredients, and the glycerin and hyaluronic acid help keep skin hydrated.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl 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, 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, 2018The 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 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
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Titanium Dioxide, Zinc Oxide, Caprylyl Methicone, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Glycerin, Polyglyceryl-10 Pentastearate, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Sucrose, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Caffeine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Isohexadecane, Lecithin, Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Hyaluronic Acid, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Trehalose, Isostearic Acid, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Polysorbate 80, Dimethicone, Xanthan Gum, Polyethylene, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Silica, Disodium Edta, Tetrasodium Edta, Bht, Phenoxyethanol, Iron Oxides Ci 77491, Iron Oxides Ci 77492, Iron Oxides Ci 77499, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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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