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e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Face Cream for oily skin

Average

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by niacinamide for seboregulation and trehalose for humectant action, offering optimal texture and pH.
  • It offers moderate moisturizing due to the presence of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate in concentrations that hydrate and plump the skin.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
  • Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This cream is highly praised for providing deep hydration without a heavy or greasy feel, making it ideal for combination and oily skin types. It is frequently noted for creating a smooth canvas for makeup. Some users with very dry skin found it insufficient, and a few experienced issues with the scent in the original formulation or eye irritation with the SPF version.

Highlights

  • Excellent makeup base Mostly Mentioned
    • “Honestly the best face cream I have ever used under makeup!”
    • “Smooths skin under makeup.”
    • “Makeup just glides on.”
  • Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “My skin looks and feels like velvet.”
    • “Keeps my skin soft, hydrated, and protected throughout the day.”
    • “Replenishes lost moisture for supple skin.”
  • Lightweight & non-greasy Often Mentioned
    • “Sinks in quickly to leave smooth, soft skin.”
    • “Texture feels lightweight yet deeply moisturizing.”
    • “Non-greasy formula sinks into skin.”
  • Gentle & non-irritating Sometimes Noted
    • “Great everyday moisturizer for sensitive skin.”
    • “Hypoallergenic and free of fragrance.”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Burn my eyes when I rub my skin near my eye.”
    • “Causes eyes to burn like some SPFs do.”
    • “Stinging sensation around the eye area.”
  • Jar packaging Rarely Noted
    • “Wish the packaging was in a tube instead of a jar.”
    • “I wish this product came with a lil spatula.”
    • “Prefer tubes/pump bottles.”
  • Not rich enough Rarely Noted
    • “Didn't feel like it gave me as much hydrating omph.”
    • “Might be better for summer than winter.”
    • “Not moisturizing enough for very dry skin.”
  • Scent issues Rarely Noted
    • “Smells terrible like the oil in it is rancid.”
    • “Scent is very subtle... but my skin can be sensitive.”
    • “Wish I would have returned it sooner [due to smell].”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, byrdie.com, skinsafe-products.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream work for oily skin?

This cream works for oily skin, though other products fit it better. Oily skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with ingredients that manage shine without heavy oils or clogged pores.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Research and Technology, 2024

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?

Niacinamide and trehalose make this cream a good fit for oily skin by helping control shine while keeping a lightweight feel. Oily skin of this type needs a moisturizer with a lightweight texture, ingredients that balance oil and support the skin barrier without heavy oils, and effective hydrating agents.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Research and Technology, 2024

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes near the end of your morning and evening routines after cleansers, toners, and treatments. Oily skin works best with moisturizers that combine lightweight hydrating ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate with oil-balancing niacinamide to keep the skin feeling comfortable without feeling heavy.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol, and applying it first helps lower the risk of skin irritation while keeping your skin calm and smooth.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in your morning and evening routines. It helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated while carrying a very low risk of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily skin because it has a safe formula without harsh ingredients that irritate. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to stay smooth without feeling heavy.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients. However, because oily skin works best with lighter gels containing niacinamide to control shine, this richer cream may feel a bit heavy for everyday all-over use.

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

  • Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2024
  • 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, 2017
  • Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.

    Antioxidants, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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

Ingredients

Water, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Squalane, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol Vb5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyethylene, Disodium Edta, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.