Drunk Elephant A-Gloei Maretinol Oil for acne-prone skin
Retinol
Ceramides
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil
Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil
Tocopherol
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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 moderate moisturizing and treatment for your combination skin, as Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil and Retinol hydrate and smooth texture, though these ingredients are not primarily targeted for acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- Retinol aids in desquamation regulation and tocopherol provides antioxidant activity, but the formula lacks sufficient humectant and seboregulating ingredients for optimal results across all areas of your combination skin.
- The product is safe for your acne-prone skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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 800+ reviewsUsers describe this oil as a gentle, hydrating retinol that smooths texture and boosts radiance without irritation, making it suitable for sensitive or dry skin types targeting fine lines and dullness. Some users with oily skin found the marula oil base too heavy, and a moderate number of reviews mentioned an unpleasant smell.
Highlights
Hydrating and moisturizing Mostly Mentioned
- “doused skin with moisture”
- “super hydrating”
- “leaves face soft”
- “good for dry winter skin”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “no flaking or redness”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “zero irritation”
- “gentle retinol”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels silky smooth”
- “woke up glowing”
- “smoother complexion”
- “restored bounce”
Good for beginners Sometimes Noted
- “perfect gateway retinol”
- “great introduction”
- “easy to tolerate”
- “best for newbies”
Greasy texture Sometimes Noted
- “sits on top of skin”
- “too oily”
- “thick and sticky”
- “doesn't absorb well”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “smells rancid”
- “stale cooking oil scent”
- “smells like food”
- “weird earthy odor”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “made me break out”
- “cystic acne flared”
- “clogged pores”
- “bad reaction”
High price Rarely Noted
- “too expensive”
- “pricey for the size”
- “not worth the money”
- “better cheaper alternatives”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, drunkelephant.com, kohls.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does A-Gloei Maretinol Oil work for acne-prone skin?
A-Gloei Maretinol Oil works moderately well for acne-prone skin by smoothing texture and hydrating, though it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts. An acne-prone skin type needs a product rich in ingredients specifically beneficial for blemishes and oil control, along with soothing agents and humectants.
Which ingredients make this moisturizing treatment a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Retinol and Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil make this treatment an average fit for your acne-prone skin by smoothing texture and hydrating, though it lacks the specific targeted ingredients needed for blemishes. A product of this type needs ingredients that target acne and blemishes, provide excellent hydration and repair, and include soothing extracts or peptides to properly balance acne-prone skin.
What does Retinol do for acne-prone skin?
Retinol helps acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and clearing pores to reduce breakouts. It regulates skin growth and fights inflammation, though it may cause some mild peeling or stinging when you first start using it.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What do Ceramides do for acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help acne-prone skin by restoring a damaged water barrier, reducing dryness and redness from acne treatments, and lowering inflammation. Because acne-prone skin often lacks these key fats, products for this skin type need ceramides to soothe irritation and keep the barrier strong.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Archives of Dermatological Research, 1995
Where does this moisturizing treatment go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine, placed after cleansing and before your moisturizer. It is safe for acne-prone skin, though this skin type does best with a product that adds more hydrating and oil-balancing ingredients.
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 product at night. This helps keep your skin smooth while avoiding potential irritation from mixing strong active ingredients.
How often should I use this moisturizing treatment?
You can use this moisturizing treatment in your evening routine, as treatments with active ingredients are placed at night for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. This product works for your acne-prone skin, though this skin type needs formulas with extra water-binding and oil-controlling ingredients for the best results.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This product is unlikely to cause irritation on acne-prone skin, though some users report occasional breakouts since it is not primarily targeted for blemishes. A product of this type needs more oil-balancing ingredients and water-attracting hydrators for optimal results on breakout-prone skin.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body as it has a very safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation. The oils and retinol help hydrate, smooth, and improve skin texture in these areas. For the delicate skin around the eyes and different body parts, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and soothing plant extracts to keep skin soft and comfortable.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015
What the research says
Topical application of Sclerocarya birrea nut oil is non-irritant, exhibits significant moisturising and hydrating effects on lipid-dry skin, and shows occlusive properties on normal skin in healthy caucasian adult female volunteers.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2015Topical 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, 2019Silicone 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 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
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
A 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, 2024Co-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
Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Retinol, Tocopherol, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Np
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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