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Elta MD AM Restore Moisturizer for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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

  • Offers moderate benefits for oily shine and oily skin due to the presence of niacinamide and willow bark extract, which help control sebum production and provide mild exfoliation.
  • The formula is highly suitable for oily skin, with niacinamide and willow bark extract offering seboregulation and mild keratolytic action respectively.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing ingredients like Niacinamide and Bisabolol.

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 700+ reviews

This lightweight, oil-free moisturizer is widely praised by users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin for its ability to hydrate without clogging pores or causing irritation. While it effectively improves skin texture and tone using niacinamide and willow bark extract, those with very dry skin often find it insufficiently moisturizing on its own and may need to layer it with other products.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs into my face quickly”
    • “feels very light”
    • “not heavy or greasy”
    • “leaves no detectable residue”
  • Good for sensitive/acne-prone Often Mentioned
    • “finally something that works for acne”
    • “calms my skin down”
    • “non-irritating”
  • Excellent under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “layers beautifully under tinted sunscreen”
    • “smooth base for foundation”
    • “no pilling”
    • “wears well under makeup”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin feels hydrated and smooth”
    • “evens skin color”
    • “helps with redness”
    • “gives a nice glow”
  • Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough for me”
    • “need to layer”
    • “skin felt tight later”
    • “better for summer than winter”
  • Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
    • “decent for the price”
    • “expensive for the size”
    • “wish the bottle was bigger”
    • “premium price point”
  • Rare breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “broke me out”
    • “caused tiny whiteheads”
    • “skin didn't like it”

Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, target.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Elta MD AM Restore a great fit for oily skin?

Elta MD AM Restore is a great fit because it helps control oily shine with niacinamide and willow bark extract. It also keeps skin calm and comfortable with soothing ingredients like bisabolol, making it very unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

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

Niacinamide and willow bark extract make this moisturizer a great fit for oily skin because they help control shine and gently smooth the skin. Soothing ingredients like bisabolol are also included, meaning the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

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

What does Willow Bark Extract do for oily skin?

Willow bark extract helps oily skin by continuously lowering skin oil levels without causing irritation or reactive oiliness. This botanical ingredient is often included in cleansers and lotions to keep the face feeling balanced and clear.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizer goes as the third step in your morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and as the final step in your evening routine after your treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin.

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

You can use this moisturizer with retinol, and applying it first helps keep your skin calm and comfortable while you use retinol. Using a gentle moisturizer alongside strong treatments like retinol is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use it?

This moisturizer is a great fit for oily skin and can be used daily as part of your routine. Ingredients like niacinamide and willow bark extract help control oil and provide mild exfoliation without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

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

Elta MD AM Restore Moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has an excellent safety profile and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and bisabolol. Reviewers report rare breakouts only negligibly, and the formula helps control oily shine without harsh ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This moisturizing treatment is well-suited for the skin on your body, but you should check with a doctor before using it around the eyes. The skin on the body is generally thicker than the very thin skin of the eyelids, which requires specially formulated eye products.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this moisturizer 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

  • 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
  • A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.

    Nanomaterials, 2022
  • A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Wearing 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, 2024
  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000
  • Treatment 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, 2007

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E, Panthenol, Allantoin, Bisabolol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cyclopentasiloxane, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Willow Bark Extract, Sodium Chloride, Piptadenia Colubrina Peel Extract, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Dimethicone Peg-10 15 Crosspolymer, Butylene Glycol, Capryloyl Glycine, Undecylenoyl Glycine, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide

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?

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