Olay Retinol24 for oily acne-prone skin
Dimethicone
GlycerinAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 excellent moisturizing and anti-aging benefits for your oily skin, as retinol and niacinamide work to hydrate and minimize fine lines while also regulating oil and desquamation.
- While ingredients like dimethicone and glycerin provide general hydration supportive for acne-prone skin, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risk of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing niacinamide.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report waking up to noticeably smoother and softer skin, with many praising the product's ability to hydrate without feeling heavy or greasy. While effective for brightening dullness and reducing fine lines over time, some users with sensitive skin experienced initial irritation or breakouts typical of retinol products.
Highlights
Smoother skin Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “woke up to smoother skin”
- “texture is silky smooth”
- “face feels like velvet”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “very hydrating”
- “no dryness at all”
- “skin feels plump”
- “great moisture barrier”
Lightweight feel Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “no greasy residue”
- “lightweight formula”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Brightening effect Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks brighter”
- “glowy in the morning”
- “helped with dullness”
- “complexion looks more even”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “love that it's fragrance-free”
- “no strong smell”
- “great for sensitive noses”
- “zero scent is a plus”
Initial breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out bad”
- “skin started purging”
- “clogged my pores”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “hate the jar”
- “wish it was a pump”
- “unsanitary packaging”
- “exposed to air”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “burned my skin”
- “red and itchy”
- “stinging sensation”
- “too harsh for me”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “no change in wrinkles”
- “takes months to work”
- “expected faster results”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical smell”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “smells like glue”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, ulta.com, olay.com, amazon.com, goodhousekeeping.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Retinol24 work for oily acne-prone skin?
Olay Retinol24 works for oily acne-prone skin by hydrating and smoothing fine lines while helping control oil, though other options fit this skin type better. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but a product of this type needs specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes and breakouts, along with lightweight, non-clogging hydrators.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream works for your oily acne-prone skin because retinol and niacinamide help balance oil and smooth fine lines, while glycerin and dimethicone provide light hydration. However, a product of this type needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and lightweight, non-clogging hydrators like hyaluronic acid and ceramides to fully meet the needs of your skin.
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Dimethicone do for oily acne-prone skin?
Dimethicone helps protect oily, acne-prone skin from irritation, but it shows varying performance in keeping skin hydrated compared to other protectants. Because it can feel heavy, this type of skin often needs lighter ingredients like natural plant oils with a higher linoleic acid to oleic acid ratio to keep pores clear and the skin barrier strong.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, since active serums and treatments are best used at night for simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure. For your oily and acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that directly target blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use it with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night, as this routine keeps your oily skin safe and well-balanced. Oily acne-prone skin typically benefits from lightweight hydrators and ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to directly clear breakouts.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine, applying it after cleansing and toning. This product of this type needs specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes and breakouts for this skin.
Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This product may cause initial breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as reviewers commonly complain about this effect. Because the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes and breakouts, oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that clear pores and fight blemishes.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around the eyes, as it is safe for your skin. The skin on the body is thick, while the skin around the eyes is very thin, but this formula's soothing ingredients and gentle profile help it absorb well without irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017A 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, 2017Wearing 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, 2024Treatment 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, 2007The 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, 2012
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Retinol, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
How does it fit your skin?
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