Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ for acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sesamum Indicum Oil
Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract
Hordeum Vulgare Extract
Low
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside 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
- Offers excellent moisturizing for your combination skin due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump effectively, but the inclusion of mineral oil and petrolatum may pose a risk of worsening acne and blemishes for you.
- While generally safe for your combination skin, the formula lacks sufficient targeted ingredients to fully address your primary concerns with acne and breakouts.
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 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lotion is a highly regarded staple for dry and combination skin, frequently praised for restoring the moisture barrier and leaving a soft, non-greasy finish. Most users report improved hydration and a healthy glow. A moderate number of users experienced breakouts or found the texture too heavy for oily areas.
Highlights
Effective hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps my dry patches at bay all day”
- “Skin feels instantly plump and quenched”
- “Restored my moisture barrier after over-exfoliating”
- “Provides all-day comfort without tightness”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs quickly without feeling sticky”
- “Silky consistency that spreads easily”
- “Doesn't feel heavy or mask-like”
- “Sinks in within seconds”
Gentle/fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “Great for my sensitive, reactive skin”
- “No strong scents to irritate my nose”
- “Soothing on redness and irritation”
- “Doesn't sting even when my skin is raw”
Makeup compatibility Sometimes Noted
- “Foundation glides on perfectly over it”
- “Doesn't pill under sunscreen or makeup”
- “Creates a smooth, hydrated canvas”
- “My makeup looks less cakey”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Woke up with whiteheads on my chin”
- “Caused deep cystic acne after a week”
- “Too rich, clogged my pores”
- “My skin cleared up once I stopped using it”
Formula change Rarely Noted
- “New formula isn't as good as the original”
- “Caused a reaction unlike the old version”
- “Miss the yellow bottle from 10 years ago”
- “Feels different than I remember”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “Left an oily film on my T-zone”
- “Looked like a greaseball by noon”
- “Sits on top of skin rather than absorbing”
- “Too shiny for daytime use”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Has a weird plastic-like smell”
- “Smells a bit like stale chemicals”
- “No fragrance, but the natural scent is off-putting”
- “Smells medicinal in a bad way”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, clinique.com, amazon.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ a weak match for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match because mineral oil and petrolatum may worsen acne and breakouts, while the formula lacks targeted ingredients to address these concerns. A product of this type for acne-prone skin needs effective ingredients that manage blemishes, hydrate and repair without irritation, and include soothing extracts or peptides.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a poor fit for acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil and petrolatum in this moisturizer may worsen acne and breakouts by clogging pores. Acne-prone skin needs a product that includes targeted soothing extracts, peptides, and hydrating ingredients without any risk of clogging pores or causing irritation.
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
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning, and after your treatment step at night. Because mineral oil and petrolatum may worsen breakouts on acne-prone skin, a moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate alongside blemish-clearing ingredients that keep pores clear.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help buffer potential irritation. However, because this formula contains heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum, it may clog pores and worsen blemishes for acne-prone skin. To better support acne-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs lightweight hydrators and soothing, breakout-clearing ingredients without pore-clogging heavy oils.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day, in the morning and evening, as part of your daily skincare routine. Regular use helps keep your skin hydrated, but because it contains heavy oils that may worsen breakouts, this skin type needs a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide instead.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a weak match for your acne-prone skin because the heavy oils and petrolatum inside may clog pores and worsen breakouts. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that clear pores without heavy oils to properly care for acne-prone skin.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is generally safe for the body, but acne-prone skin needs a lightweight, oil-free formula with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide rather than heavy oils to prevent clogged pores.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 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 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, 2019Topical application of sesame oil combined with standard care significantly reduced infusion-related phlebitis in adults compared to a control condition, with a risk ratio of 0.54.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025Sesamol loaded silver nanoparticles gel showed a twofold increase in skin permeation and higher antioxidant activity compared to conventional formulations, demonstrating potential for topical wound healing delivery.
Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2024Treatment with moderately ozonated sesame oil accelerates cutaneous wound closure and enhances cell response, angiogenesis, and VEGF and cyclin D1 expression in SKH1 mice compared to oil with lower or higher peroxide values and controls.
Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2011Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.
Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.
The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-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, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Mineral Oil, Paraffinum Liquidum, Huile Minérale, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Sesamum Indicum Oil, Urea, Lanolin Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Hordeum Vulgare Extract, Extrait Dorge, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Trisodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Ci 15985, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Red 33 Ci 17200
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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