Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream for sensitive skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Algae Extract
Dimethicone
Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil Kukui Seed Oil
High
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 product offers moderate suitability for normal skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide essential hydration and plumping effects. Tocopheryl acetate and algae extract offer soothing benefits that can help with your redness and irritation.
- While the formula is generally safe and hydrating for normal skin, it lacks targeted ingredients to directly address redness and irritation.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like algae extract and glycerin.
How to apply
- Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
- You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
- Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers with normal to dry skin frequently praise this cream for its lightweight, quick-absorbing formula that doubles as an excellent makeup base, leaving skin soft and prepped. A significant number of reviewers criticize the strong herbal fragrance, and some with very dry or sensitive skin report that it provides insufficient hydration or causes irritation.
Highlights
Excellent makeup base Mostly Mentioned
- “doubles as primer”
- “foundation glides on”
- “smooth canvas”
- “makeup sits beautifully”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “non-greasy finish”
- “rich yet light”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “overpowering herbal scent”
- “smells like coriander”
- “lingers too long”
- “too perfumed”
Good for dryness Sometimes Noted
- “great for winter”
- “hydrates dry patches”
- “soothes tight skin”
- “no dry flakes”
Softens & smooths Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels velvety”
- “leaves face soft”
- “improves texture”
- “plumps skin”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for the size”
- “pricey jar”
- “not worth the cost”
- “small amount”
Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
- “not enough for very dry skin”
- “sits on top”
- “skin felt tight later”
- “need to reapply”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused breakouts”
- “tingling sensation”
- “burned my eyes”
- “redness appeared”
Sources: lovi.care, bobbibrowncosmetics.com, nordstrom.com, macys.com, boots.com, qvcuk.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream a great fit for sensitive skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for sensitive skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like glycerin and algae extract. These ingredients help keep your skin hydrated and calm.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for sensitive skin?
This cream is a great fit for sensitive skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like glycerin and algae extract. These ingredients help keep skin calm, hydrated, and smooth while being very unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cream is a great fit for your sensitive skin because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes calming components like glycerin and algae extract. In your routine, use it as the final step in the evening after your cleanser, toner, and treatment. In the morning, apply it right after your cleanser and soothing toner before your moisturizing SPF.
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, applying the retinol first and following with this moisturizer. Using a gentle moisturizer like this one helps keep your skin calm and is unlikely to cause irritation while using stronger treatments.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream daily as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your sensitive skin soft and well-hydrated. Regular application helps maintain moisture and supports your skin barrier without causing irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and includes gentle, soothing components like algae extract and glycerin. Reviewers rarely report skin irritation, though some note a strong fragrance.
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 lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like glycerin and algae extract. The thin skin in these areas may benefit from gentle moisturizers containing hyaluronic acid and botanical oils to maintain hydration and softness.
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. Cetyl alcohol and myristyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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, 2017Vitamin E in O/W and W/O emulsions significantly increased stratum corneum hydration and enhanced water-binding capacity, with an optimum concentration of 5%.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 1998Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Topical 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, 2019The 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 astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.
Marine Drugs, 2022Treatment with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells combined with Cystoseira algae extract significantly improved wound closure, tissue thickness, layer density, and skin elasticity while reducing oxidative indicators, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and immune markers in immunosuppressed rats compared to the control group.
PloS One, 2024Wearing 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
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Caprylic Capric Myristic Stearic Triglyceride, Aleurites Moluccana Seed Oil Kukui Seed Oil, Myristyl Myristate, Glyceryl Stearate, Algae Extract, Cetyl Phosphate, Polyperfluoromethylisopropyl Ether, Coriandrum Sativum Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Rosemary, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit Rose Oil Fruit, Elettaria Cardamomum, Lavandula Angustifolia Lavender, Jasmine, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cholesterol, Linoleic Acid, Trehalose, Glycerin, Caffeine, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Myristyl Laurate, Phytantriol, Acrylates Copolymer, Lecithin, Sodium Acrylates Acrylonitrogens Copolymer, Phytosphingosine, Propylene Glycol Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Sorbitan Laurate, Myristyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol Laurate, Tocopherol, Glycine, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Hydroxyproline, Proline, Citric Acid, Hexylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

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.