Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Facial Moisturizer for dry skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
DimethiconeAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 hydration for your dry skin, as glycerin and panthenol work to draw water into the skin and enhance barrier resilience. Niacinamide also contributes to overall skin health and texture improvement.
- The formulation is generally safe for your dry skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- While providing good basic hydration, the product does not offer targeted solutions for significant dryness or flakiness.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this moisturizer for its lightweight, non-greasy formula that effectively hydrates sensitive and acne-prone skin without clogging pores. Most find it soothing and compatible with makeup. A minority of users with highly reactive skin report stinging sensations or dislike the chemical scent associated with the SPF variant.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “feels like nothing”
- “absorbs instantly”
- “no oily residue”
- “super light texture”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “calms redness”
- “doesn't burn”
Hydrating & softening Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “eliminates dry patches”
- “keeps face moisturized”
- “smooths texture”
Good under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “perfect base”
- “no pilling”
- “makeup sits well”
- “doesn't slide off”
Non-comedogenic Sometimes Noted
- “won't clog pores”
- “no new breakouts”
- “acne-safe”
- “clear skin maintained”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “chemical smell”
- “strong sunscreen odor”
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird fragrance”
Formula change Rarely Noted
- “preferred old formula”
- “new version is worse”
- “consistency changed”
- “not as effective”
Greasy finish Rarely Noted
- “left a shine”
- “too dewy”
- “made me oily”
- “slick residue”
Insufficient moisture Rarely Noted
- “not hydrating enough”
- “need to reapply”
- “too thin for winter”
- “skin felt tight”
Stinging sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my face”
- “stings upon application”
- “caused redness”
- “irritated my eyes”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, hometesterclub.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Facial Moisturizer work for dry skin?
Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Facial Moisturizer offers moderate hydration for dry skin, as glycerin and panthenol help draw in water and support the moisture barrier. While it is generally safe and provides good basic hydration, it does not offer targeted solutions for significant dryness or flakiness. A moisturizer for this skin needs rich, nourishing ingredients and moisture-retaining agents like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to ensure optimal hydration and barrier support.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and panthenol make this cream a good fit for dry skin by drawing in water and supporting the skin barrier. A moisturizer for this skin needs rich, nourishing ingredients and moisture-retaining agents like hyaluronic acid to provide significant hydration and tackle flakiness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cream goes towards the end of your morning routine after your hydrating toner, and as the final step of your evening and weekly routines. Using a daily moisturizer helps improve dry skin by keeping it soft and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with the moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer alongside retinol is supported by studies showing it helps make the routine more comfortable.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps maintain basic hydration and supports skin barrier health.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin. The formula avoids heavy ingredients that typically trigger blemishes, making it safe for daily use.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is safe to use around your eyes and on your body because it is gentle, but dry skin in these areas generally needs richer ingredients like heavier butters and oils to stay soft and fully hydrated.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A 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, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025The 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, 2012Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Wearing 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, 2024A 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, 2000Treatment 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
Why other moisturizers fit dry skin better
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.
Nanomaterials, 2024Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dicaprylyl Ether, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetyl Alcohol, Cetearyl Alcohol, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Phenoxyethanol, Stearic Acid, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Ceteareth-20, Sodium Hydroxide, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Citrate, Tocopheryl Acetate, 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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