Epaderm Cream for combination skin
Yellow Soft Paraffin Bp
Liquid Paraffin Ph.Eur
Cetostearyl Alcohol
Glycerin
Water Ep
Caution
- CautionCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- Unsuitable for your combination skin due to the occlusive nature of yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin, which are more beneficial for dry skin and can exacerbate oily shine.
- While the formula offers moderate moisturizing benefits to hydrate and protect the skin barrier, these emollients are not ideal for managing excess oil.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsIt is frequently appreciated for its fast absorption and non-greasy feel, and many find its dual use as a cleanser and moisturizer convenient. Some users note a clinical scent and a minority experience stinging during severe flare-ups or find it insufficient for very dry skin.
Highlights
Absorbs quickly Often Mentioned
- “Very soft and easy to absorb, really fantastic product.”
- “Absorbs quickly without greasiness to support hydration.”
- “It has a smooth texture and doesn't feel greasy.”
- “Lightweight, non-greasy and fast-absorbing, perfect for daily use.”
Convenient pump Sometimes Noted
- “I love its container being in pump pack that make it easy to use.”
- “The push pump is good for those with Arthritis.”
- “Convenient application of the cream using a pump.”
- “Can use pump 1 handed which means able to quickly get the job of moisturising over and done.”
Doubles as cleanser Sometimes Noted
- “I use this for washing and moisturising my body and face.”
- “My daughter-in-law uses it in the shower instead of soap.”
- “I use Epaderm cream as a face wash.”
- “Serves as a soap replacement for moisturising skin.”
Unpleasant smell Sometimes Noted
- “Has an off putting unpleasant smell which is very strong.”
- “Does have a medical smell.”
- “Some users have reported experiencing... a strange smell.”
- “Sadly this discourages me from using it.”
Not for severe dryness Rarely Noted
- “Does very little for flare ups, so I have to use something else.”
- “Emollient cream isn't sufficient for me and wasn't in childhood either.”
Slightly sticky Rarely Noted
- “It kind of sat on my face all day long.”
- “A little bit sticky, maybe but I don't mind it.”
- “I put it on without cleansing beforehand and it trapped bacteria under the heavy emollients.”
- “Might get absorbed by the skin and clothes a bit.”
Stings flare-ups Rarely Noted
- “She hates having it applied, says it stings and gets upset.”
- “It doesn't matter what cream I use, even emollient, it stings like buggery!”
- “Symptoms such as burning, stinging, itchiness, or redness may occur.”
- “Some individuals may experience allergic or sensitivity reactions.”
Sources: lovi.care, productreview.com.au, epaderm.co.uk, hollandandbarrett.com, boots.ie, independenceaustralia.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Epaderm Cream for combination skin?
This moisturizer is a poor match for your combination skin because heavy ingredients like yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin can make oily shine worse. A moisturizer for combination skin needs to provide hydration and brightness to reduce oily shine without risk of irritation, containing soothing agents, antioxidants, peptides, or natural moisturizing factors.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
This cream is a poor match for your combination skin because it contains yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin. These heavy oils can make oily shine worse, so a moisturizer for this skin needs ingredients that provide hydration and brightness without excess oil.
What does Yellow Soft Paraffin do for combination skin?
Yellow Soft Paraffin works well for combination skin by sealing in moisture to keep dry areas soft without causing breakouts, as it has a very low risk of clogging pores. It helps repair the skin barrier and protect against irritation while keeping your face smooth and comfortable.
The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2016Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2024
What does Liquid Paraffin do for combination skin?
Liquid paraffin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by locking in moisture without feeling overly heavy. This type of ingredient is generally safe for daily use, though skin that tends to get oily may need a lighter formula containing balancing ingredients like urea and glycerin instead.
Pharmaceutics, 2020Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2022
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream is a poor match for your combination skin because heavy ingredients like yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin can worsen oily shine. Combination skin needs lighter, balancing hydrators and barrier-protecting ingredients that hydrate without adding excess oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
This cream is a poor match for your combination skin because heavy heavy mineral oils can increase oily shine, so it is best used only on dry areas. When combining it with retinol, apply your treatment first and let it absorb before putting this moisturizer on top to protect the skin barrier. A product for combination skin needs lighter hydrators like glycerin or hyaluronic acid that soften the skin without adding extra oil.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is not a good match for combination skin because its heavy, sealing ingredients are meant for dry skin and may increase oily shine. Combination skin needs lighter hydrators and ingredients that balance moisture without clogging pores or adding excess oil.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is a poor match for combination skin because its heavy, sealing ingredients like yellow soft paraffin and liquid paraffin can worsen oily shine and clog pores in areas that produce excess oil. A moisturizer for this skin type needs lighter hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to balance moisture without feeling heavy.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on your body, but you should use caution around the eyes because the skin there is much thinner. This moisturizer helps lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier, though a product for this area needs lighter ingredients that hydrate without feeling heavy.
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, 2017The 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, 2020Topical treatment with skin-identical lipids in a petrolatum-rich cream base showed no superiority over pure petrolatum in promoting normalization of barrier recovery and inflammation in detergent- and tape-stripped-perturbed human skin over 14 days.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2000Topically applied extra virgin olive oil and petrolatum both significantly improved skin barrier function and microtopographic features in 54 healthy adult volunteers, with petrolatum exerting stronger occlusive effects and extra virgin olive oil uniquely promoting epidermal renewal.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Ten 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 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A hydrogen water mask pack increased skin density by 18.41% compared to 9.93% for a commercial sample in participants after 4 weeks.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2020Topical application of magnetized saline water serum improved skin hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, sebum content, melanin index, and erythema index, and activated autophagy by increasing Beclin-1 and decreasing mTOR in females wanting to enhance facial and neck skin appearance.
Cureus, 2023Reconstruction of human skin equivalents under reduced relative humidity of 40% increased pyrrolidone carboxylic acid levels to match native tissue, but stratum corneum hydration levels remained lower unless water was topically applied.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008
Ingredients
Yellow Soft Paraffin Bp, Liquid Paraffin Ph.Eur, Cetomacrogol Emulsifying Bp Wax Contains Cetostearyl Alcohol And Macrogol Cetostearyl Ether 22 Wax, Glycerin, Water Ep, Chlorocresol
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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