Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream for combination skin
Glycerin
Hyaluronic AcidAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your combination skin, as glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide hydration without excessive richness, which can help manage oily shine.
- Dimethicone and hyaluronic acid work synergistically to hydrate and plump the skin, supporting your combination skin's need for balanced moisture.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, featuring soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid and lacking harsh or prohibited substances.
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 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is widely celebrated as a "holy grail" for dry and sensitive skin due to its lightweight, fragrance-free formula that delivers deep hydration without a greasy finish. While the vast majority of users report plump, dewy skin and improved texture, a small minority experienced breakouts or found it insufficient for extremely arid conditions.
Highlights
Intense lightweight hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “quenches thirsty skin immediately”
- “feels like a drink of water for my face”
- “hydrating but not heavy”
- “keeps flakes away all day”
Fast absorption non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “sinks in instantly”
- “leaves no sticky residue”
- “dry to the touch in seconds”
- “perfect under makeup”
Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no stinging or redness”
- “finally a moisturizer that doesn't burn”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels like a baby's bottom”
- “smooths out fine lines”
- “makes my face look plump and dewy”
- “got rid of rough patches”
Price vs. quantity Sometimes Noted
- “jar is tiny for the price”
- “runs out too fast”
- “too expensive for the amount you get”
- “wish it came in a bigger tub”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my skin upon application”
- “felt hot and stung my face”
- “caused immediate redness and heat”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me deep cystic acne”
- “woke up with whiteheads”
- “clogged my pores after a week”
- “caused bumps on my forehead”
Insufficient for severe dryness Rarely Noted
- “need to apply two layers”
- “not enough for winter months”
- “skin felt tight again after an hour”
- “had to layer an oil on top”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, target.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream work for combination skin?
Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream works moderately well for combination skin, offering hydration through glycerin and hyaluronic acid without feeling overly rich, which helps manage oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a moisturizer also needs effective brightening ingredients, multiple peptides, soothing agents, and antioxidants to target diverse skin concerns while reducing shine.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid make this cream a fit by providing hydration without excessive richness, which helps manage oily shine. To work best for combination skin, a moisturizer of this type also needs effective brightening and nourishing ingredients, soothing agents, and antioxidants that target multiple concerns without causing irritation or imbalance.
What does Water do for combination skin?
Water helps keep combination skin hydrated, though a product of this type needs additional barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides or petrolatum to lock in that moisture and support overall skin health.
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizer goes after your cleanser and hydrating toner in the morning, and after your makeup remover, cleanser, cleansing toner, and treatment in the evening. Combination skin needs a balanced hydrator with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to provide moisture without feeling too heavy or making oily shine worse.
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 your retinol treatment first and following with the moisturizer to help keep the skin hydrated and comfortable. Using a barrier-enhancing moisturizer alongside retinoids is supported by studies showing it facilitates the skin adjustment process and reduces irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day, morning and evening, to keep your combination skin hydrated and balanced. Regular daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports the skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your combination skin because it provides balanced hydration without excessive richness. However, a product for this skin needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid alongside oil-controlling ingredients to keep pores clear and skin smooth.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around the eyes and on the body because it has a gentle safety profile, though it works only moderately well for combination skin and other products may fit better. Combination skin needs a moisturizer with ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid to deliver balanced hydration without feeling too heavy or making oily shine worse.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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
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, 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 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Carbomer, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin
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
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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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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
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.