Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream for acne-prone skin
Marine Extracts
Collagen
Glycerin
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract
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
- This formulation offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and shea butter provide hydration and support barrier resilience without causing irritation. These ingredients are beneficial for acne-prone skin by maintaining moisture levels, though they do not directly target blemishes.
- The product offers general skincare benefits and moderate moisturizing, which is supportive for your skin concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, 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
★4.7Overall rating based on 16.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with mature, dry, and combination skin frequently praise this gel-cream for its ability to provide intense hydration without feeling heavy, often describing it as a "drink of water" for the face. While many report visible improvements in skin plumpness, glow, and fine lines, results regarding deep wrinkle reduction are mixed, with the high price point being the primary point of contention.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “Absorbs almost immediately, and my skin feels well hydrated all day.”
- “Rich yet lightweight... feels heavenly on the skin.”
- “Deceptively lightweight... absorbs quickly.”
- “Non-greasy and leaves a silky satin finish.”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “Complete waste of money for me.”
- “Hefty price tag... recommend getting a mini to try first.”
- “Very expensive... I miss it when I run out.”
Excellent makeup base Often Mentioned
- “Sits nicely under make up... perfect base.”
- “Does not leave a greasy residue, making it perfect under makeup.”
- “Foundation glides right over it without pilling.”
- “My skin looks plump and hydrated but not shiny.”
Instant hydration Often Mentioned
- “Quenches thirsty skin... immediate improvement.”
- “Leaves skin feeling supple and hydrated.”
- “Gives me long-lasting hydration without being greasy.”
- “Skin feels plumper and bouncier.”
Spa-like scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like a spa... very relaxing.”
- “Love the scent... infused with rose and mimosa.”
- “Comforting and almost nostalgic.”
- “Fragrance resembles a mix of flowers and honey.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “The smell is very strong... could not handle for long.”
- “Smells kind of funky... don't love the smell.”
- “Too strong... smells like old lady perfume.”
- “Scent can be a little strong especially when you hold the jar directly under your nose.”
Pilling/peeling Rarely Noted
- “It peels horribly no matter how I apply it.”
- “Pilling did occur when layering under SPF.”
- “Starts to crumble if I've applied a little too much.”
- “Experienced some pilling when mixing with Vitamin C.”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Developed milia and closed comedones.”
- “Not for breakout prone skin.”
- “Caused a rash... burning sensation.”
- “My skin reacted badly... red scales.”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.co.uk, lookfantastic.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, johnlewis.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream work for acne-prone skin?
Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream works moderately well for acne-prone skin, as glycerin and shea butter help maintain moisture without causing irritation, though they do not directly target blemishes. An acne-prone skin type needs a moisturizing treatment with specific blemish-fighting ingredients and soothing extracts that manage breakouts while keeping skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and shea butter make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin because they provide hydration and support the skin barrier without causing irritation. However, a product of this type needs ingredients that directly target blemishes and treat breakouts to achieve a better fit for this skin type.
What does Marine Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Marine Extract helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and targeting bacteria that cause breakouts. These compounds support clearer skin while keeping it comfortable.
What does Collagen do for acne-prone skin?
Collagen does not directly target breakouts, but it helps keep dry or aging acne-prone skin soft and hydrated without clogging pores. Because this skin type often needs lightweight moisture and soothing care, a product of this type needs non-greasy hydrators and calming ingredients to support clear skin.
Current Issues in Molecular Biology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the morning and evening routine after your toner and before your sunscreen. It helps keep your skin hydrated and supports your skin barrier without causing irritation, though acne-prone skin typically does better with a lighter moisturizer that actively targets breakouts.
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 cream with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it dry, and then following with the cream to help keep your skin soft and comfortable. This type of skin needs a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer with ingredients like niacinamide or hyaluronic acid that hydrate and calm breakouts without feeling heavy.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated. Regular use is unlikely to cause irritation and helps maintain moisture levels, though acne-prone skin needs products that also directly target blemishes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts, as it has a very safe formula with gentle ingredients like glycerin that keep your skin hydrated without causing trouble. However, because it does not actively fight blemishes, acne-prone skin often does better with a product that includes targeted ingredients to clear pores and control breakouts.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on your body or around the eyes, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients that is unlikely to cause irritation. However, because the skin on the body and around the eyes is quite thin, an acne-prone skin type needs a lightweight moisturizer with soothing ingredients and blemish-fighting actives to fully address breakouts in those areas.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, citronellol, geraniol, and limonene). Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, 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, 2017Topical application of TAC/Collagen postbiotics gel improved skin moisture score and inflammation index, and reduced porphyrins and brown spots in 20 volunteers with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical collagen tripeptide application improved skin wrinkles, elasticity, and density while reducing advanced glycated end products in 22 Asian women over 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Marine collagen extracted from Greenland halibut skin showed a non-cytotoxic effect on fibroblast cells and provided a slight skin hydration effect when incorporated into cosmetic hydrogel formulations at dosages of 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5% in 23 healthy volunteers.
Marine Drugs, 2023The 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, 2012A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
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, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Isononyl Isononanoate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Polyacrylate-13, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Stearic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Polyisobutene, Parfum, Tocopherol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Chlorphenesin, Wheat Germ Oil, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract Carrot Root Extract, Glyceryl Acrylate Acrylic Acid Copolymer, Disodium Edta, Padina Pavonica Thallus Extract, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Porphyridium Cruentum Extract, Acacia Decurrens Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract Rose Flower Extract, Linalool, Citronellol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Geraniol, Limonene, Citric Acid
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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