La Mer Moisturizing Cream for combination skin
Miracle Broth
Algae Extract
Glycerin
Lime Tea Concentrate
Vitamin E
Low
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin due to glycerin's humectant action, but mineral oil and petrolatum are occlusive and may clog pores, which is not ideal for your oily shine concerns.
- While the formula is generally safe and free of harsh irritants for your combination skin, it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 10.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded for its intense hydration and soothing properties, with many users reporting a radiant complexion and improved skin texture. However, a significant number of users find the cream to be excessively expensive and note that its heavy texture can lead to clogged pores or breakouts, while some find the fragrance to be overpowering.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “heals dry patches overnight”
- “skin drinks it up”
- “saved my winter skin”
- “hydration lasts all day”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “astronomically expensive”
- “not worth the money”
- “glorified Nivea”
- “paying for the brand”
Plumping and glow Often Mentioned
- “gives the La Mer glow”
- “skin looks plump”
- “lines appear softened”
- “makeup sits beautifully”
Soothing Often Mentioned
- “soothed windburn instantly”
- “heals picking scars”
- “reduced redness significantly”
Luxurious experience Sometimes Noted
- “spa-like scent”
- “feels incredibly rich”
- “treat for myself”
- “relaxing ritual”
Breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “bad for acne-prone skin”
Heavy texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels like paste”
- “sits on top of skin”
- “too greasy for day”
- “hard to spread”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smells like old lady”
- “fragrance is overpowering”
- “scent gave me a headache”
- “too perfumey”
Sources: lovi.care, bluemercury.com, bloomingdales.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, nordstrom.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is La Mer Moisturizing Cream a weak match for combination skin?
This cream offers moderate moisture with glycerin, but mineral oil and petrolatum may clog pores and worsen your oily shine. Combination skin needs products with effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients that reduce oily shine without risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
Mineral oil and petrolatum are heavy and may clog pores, which is not ideal for your oily shine concerns. A product of this type needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients, soothing agents, antioxidants, and peptides to control oil and keep combination skin balanced.
What does Miracle Broth do for combination skin?
Miracle Broth is an average fit for combination skin because it lacks the lightweight hydration and oil-balancing ingredients this skin type needs. A product for combination skin needs to provide gentle moisture for dry areas without making oily zones greasy.
What does Algae Extract do for combination skin?
Algae extract helps balance combination skin by delivering lightweight moisture to dry areas while calming oily zones and protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also improve skin firmness and texture over time. To work well for combination skin, this ingredient needs to be paired with soothing hydration and gentle oil-controlling components.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes in your morning and evening routine as the final moisturizing step after your cleanser, toner, and treatments. Because this formula contains heavy oils that may clog pores on oily areas, combination skin needs a lighter moisturizer that hydrates without heavy pore-blocking ingredients and provides oil control.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the cream to help keep your skin comfortable and soft. However, because this heavy cream contains heavy oils and waxes that may clog pores on your combination skin, it lacks the oil control needed for your oily areas while you use retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily to help keep your skin hydrated, but because it contains heavy ingredients that may clog pores on your combination skin, watch out for extra oiliness and shine. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-control ingredients to properly balance combination skin without causing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
La Mer Moisturizing Cream may clog pores and cause breakouts on combination skin because it contains heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum that can worsen oily shine. Products for combination skin need lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to keep pores clear instead of heavy heavy oils and waxes.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This heavy cream is safe for the thin skin around the eyes or on the body, but it is much too rich for the face. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-control ingredients to properly care for combination skin.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, geraniol, parfum, linalool, citronellol, citral, benzyl salicylate, and benzyl alcohol).
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, 2017Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.
Marine Drugs, 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 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, 2024
Ingredients
Algae Extract, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydrogenated Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal Seed, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Potassium Gluconate, Paraffin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Alcohol
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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