Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream for combination skin
Retinol
Ascorbic Acid
Hyaluronic AcidAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
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
- Suitable for combination skin, this cream provides moderate moisturizing and treatment benefits with hyaluronic acid and retinol to hydrate and smooth your skin's texture.
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid offer general skincare support, but the formula does not directly address your concern of oily shine.
- The product is safe for your combination skin as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients, posing no risk of irritation.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is frequently praised for its hydrating, non-greasy formula that effectively smooths fine lines and improves skin texture. It is also noted for being gentle and suitable for sensitive skin. Some users with oily or acne-prone skin find it too thick, and those seeking dramatic anti-aging results may find the retinol concentration too low.
Highlights
Hydrating and moisturizing Mostly Mentioned
- “It also hydrates my skin. This cream has been so easy to add to my routine.”
- “The hyaluronic acid helps to hydrate my skin while giving it a plump and youthful appearance.”
- “My skin feels and looks more hydrated.”
- “It is much like a rich moisturizer.”
Absorbs quickly Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs really well into my skin without leaving a greasy residue behind.”
- “It absorbed quickly and wasn't greasy.”
- “Absorbs well and is not oily or greasy on my face.”
- “The cream is not sticky or tacky feeling, absorbs quickly.”
Smooths fine lines Often Mentioned
- “I can see a difference in my forehead wrinkles.”
- “The lines around my eyes are less notable.”
- “Some fine lines also appear softer.”
- “Noticed a reduction in fine lines, particularly around my smile lines.”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “I appreciate that it is so gentle. It does not cause redness or irritation.”
- “I don't feel the sting at all!”
- “I actually loved everything about this product, and it is perfect for sensitive skin.”
- “My skin hasn't been bothered by its ingredients at all.”
Scented version irritates Sometimes Noted
- “The original scented version is packed with this heavy floral perfume.”
- “The scent is slightly floral and fruity (not the most pleasant).”
- “Caused redness and contact headaches for hundreds of buyers.”
Low retinol concentration Rarely Noted
- “The retinol concentration in this product is too small for significant changes.”
- “Don't really think it lives up to claims of reduced fine lines and wrinkles.”
- “If you have mature skin and you're looking for something with a little more kick [look elsewhere].”
Too thick for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “Texture is also very thick so will not recommend to oily skin or acne prone.”
- “If you have oily acne prone skin that clogs super easily you might actually want to check out [another product].”
- “Skip this if you're dealing with active cystic acne.”
Unsanitary packaging Rarely Noted
- “It feels unsanitary to keep putting my fingers in the pot.”
- “Jar packaging has a pretty massive flaw... exposes active ingredients to oxygen.”
- “The jar packaging is not perfect.”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, target.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, samsclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Retinol Regenerating Cream work for combination skin?
This cream works decently for combination skin by hydrating and smoothing your texture, but it does not directly help with oily shine. To better fit combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that reduce excess oil while providing balanced moisture and soothing care without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid and retinol make this cream a good fit by hydrating dry areas and smoothing your skin's texture, though it does not directly target oily shine. Combination skin needs products with effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients that control oil and provide balanced hydration without irritation.
What does Retinol do for combination skin?
Retinol helps smooth fine lines, even out skin tone, and improve firmness in combination skin. It works by encouraging faster skin renewal and boosting collagen, though it may occasionally cause mild dryness or scaling while your skin adjusts.
What does Vitamin C do for combination skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dull areas and smooth out uneven texture on combination skin while protecting against daily environmental stress. It may also help keep pores clear and skin firm by supporting collagen production, though drier spots may need an added moisturizer to stay comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream goes in the evening routine as a treatment step, after cleansing and before your final moisturizer. It is safe for your combination skin and helps hydrate and smooth your skin's texture, though a product that also controls oily shine fits this skin type better.
Can I use this cream with niacinamide, and in what order?
You can use this cream with niacinamide, applying the niacinamide first and letting it absorb before putting on this cream. This combination is generally safe for your skin, though a product for combination skin also needs ingredients that control oily shine.
How often should I use this cream?
Use this cream as part of your evening routine to keep your combination skin safe around sun exposure. If your skin tolerates it well and you see good results, you may carefully use it more often.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it is safe and lacks harsh ingredients, though it may cause some purging from retinol. A product for this skin needs ingredients that control oily shine alongside hydration.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is safe to use on your body and around the eyes because it lacks harsh ingredients and poses no risk of irritation. However, because skin is very thin in the eye area and thicker on different body parts, a product for this skin needs targeted ingredients and lightweight moisture that absorb easily without feeling heavy.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2017Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical 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, Dimethicone, Retinol, Ascorbic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenoxyethanol
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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