Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream for sensitive skin
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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
- Highly suitable for your normal skin, as niacinamide and hyaluronic acid provide humectant action and barrier repair, addressing your redness and irritation with supportive soothing benefits.
- Glycerin and hyaluronic acid offer moderate moisturizing, hydrating your skin effectively.
- The formulation is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including niacinamide and panthenol for a soothing effect.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that provides long-lasting hydration, making it suitable for various skin types, including sensitive and combination skin. Users consistently report smoother, softer, and more radiant skin, with many highlighting its effectiveness in plumping the skin and minimizing the appearance of fine lines. This should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Non-greasy formula Mostly Mentioned
- “Hydrated my skin without leaving a greasy feel”
- “It isn't greasy”
- “Doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy”
- “No greasy residue”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Provides hydration for an extended period”
- “Really hydrates my skin”
- “Keeps my skin moisturized”
- “Unlock 24-hour hydration”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs like a dream”
- “Absorbs completely within a couple of minutes”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Sinks in”
Softens and plumps Often Mentioned
- “My skin felt soft, supple and healthy”
- “Makes my face silky soft”
- “Skin was brighter & softer”
- “Actual plumping of my skin”
Noticeable scent Sometimes Noted
- “Slight rose smell”
- “Afraid to put it in my face since it does have a strong scent”
- “Has a light fragrance”
Price concerns Rarely Noted
- “Not exactly cheap”
- “Product is too expensive for what you get”
Texture/residue issues Rarely Noted
- “Makes my face feel a bit rough to the touch”
- “Dried lotion on the part where you twist the lid”
- “Didn't feel or see that my skin was hydrated”
Sources: lovi.care, olay.com, walmart.com, samsclub.com, cvs.com, marianos.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Olay Hydrating Cream a great fit for sensitive skin?
Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream is a great fit because it is very safe for sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and using niacinamide and panthenol to soothe redness and irritation. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid also hydrate your skin effectively while helping repair your natural skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cream is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains niacinamide and panthenol for a soothing effect, along with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to hydrate and repair the skin barrier without harsh ingredients.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream goes in the evening routine as a treatment step, applied after cleansing and toning. It is safe for sensitive skin and helps calm redness and irritation.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol first, waiting for it to dry, and then following with this cream to help calm and hydrate your skin. This routine is unlikely to cause irritation because the formulation is safe and contains soothing ingredients like niacinamide and panthenol.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a great fit for your sensitive skin and is safe for daily use. It helps keep your skin calm and hydrated by supporting your natural skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on sensitive skin because it is free of heavy, pore-clogging ingredients and uses gentle, skin-friendly hydrators. It does not contain active ingredients that speed up skin shedding, so purging is not expected.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream safely around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula is well tolerated by delicate skin. The ingredients help keep skin soft and calm while providing effective moisture.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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 panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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 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, 2019The 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, 2012Moisturizer 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, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical 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
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta
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.
