Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream for acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Squalane
Allantoin
Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract
Ceramides
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 suitability for combination skin as glycerin and squalane provide excellent hydration and barrier support, though stronger oil-controlling ingredients are absent for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- Allantoin and eucalyptus globulus leaf extract offer soothing benefits, which are generally supportive for combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.2k+ reviewsIt is praised for its light, whipped texture that absorbs quickly, providing deep hydration and a soothing effect for irritated skin. Some users find the quantity small for the price, and a few experienced breakouts or found it insufficient for extremely dry skin, particularly in winter.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “healed my dry patches”
- “skin feels plump and soft”
- “glowy finish”
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “light as air”
- “sinks in immediately”
- “fluffy and whipped consistency”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Gentle, non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “no stinging”
- “didn't irritate my sensitive skin”
- “safe for acne-prone skin”
Small quantity Often Mentioned
- “tiny jar”
- “finished in a month”
- “expensive for the amount”
- “wish it came in a bigger size”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “makeup sits beautifully”
- “no pilling”
- “smooth canvas”
- “non-sticky finish”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “clogged my pores”
- “caused small bumps”
- “breakouts on forehead”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “hate dipping fingers in”
- “prefer a pump”
- “unhygienic packaging”
- “needs a spatula”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “need to layer it”
- “too light for winter”
- “skin felt dry by morning”
- “needed more moisture”
Sources: lovi.care, curel.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, boots.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Curél Intensive Moisture Cream work for acne-prone skin?
Curél Intensive Moisture Facial Cream is an average fit for acne-prone skin because glycerin and squalane hydrate and support the skin barrier, but it lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients for breakouts. Moisturizers of this type that fit acne-prone skin better need effective ingredients that target acne and blemishes while providing hydration and balance without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, squalane, allantoin, and eucalyptus globulus leaf extract make this cream a good fit by offering hydration, barrier support, and soothing benefits. To better fit acne-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to help manage blemishes and breakouts.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What does Squalane do for acne-prone skin?
Squalane may help keep acne-prone skin soft and smooth, but peroxidated forms can trigger inflammation in skin cells. For a better fit on acne-prone skin, products need non-clogging, soothing ingredients that balance oil without causing irritation.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes as the last step in your morning routine before sunscreen, and after your treatment step in the evening. It keeps your skin soft and hydrated with glycerin and squalane, but acne-prone skin also needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage blemishes and breakouts.
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 with the moisturizer. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce dryness and irritation while keeping your skin calm and soft.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day, morning and night, to keep your skin hydrated and calm. Applying it regularly helps support your skin barrier and improves overall softness without irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation or heavy breakouts since it lacks harsh ingredients, though a few reviewers have mentioned occasional pimples. Acne-prone skin often needs added oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage breakouts.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around the eyes and on your body, as it has a very safe profile and is unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is very thin, it benefits from gentle hydration and soothing ingredients like glycerin and allantoin to keep the area soft and smooth.
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.
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, 2012Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Treatment with a moisturizer containing Eucalyptus extract significantly improved skin conductance and transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects with dry skin, accompanied by an increase in CER [NP] levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2013Topical and in vitro application of Eucalyptus extract increases ceramide levels and biosynthesis in keratinocytes and human stratum corneum, improving water-holding and barrier functions in dry skin compared to untreated solvent-induced dry skin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012Camphor oil treatment achieved complete cure of human facial demodicidosis at concentrations of 100%, 75%, and 50%, and an incomplete cure with a marked drop in infestation density at 25-20% concentrations.
Journal of the Egyptian Society of Parasitology, 2002
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetyl-Pg Hydroxyethyl Palmitamide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Squalane, Trisiloxane, Dimethicone, Peg-3 Dimethicone, Allantoin, Magnesium Sulfate, Butylene Glycol, Isostearyl Glyceryl Ether, Peg-12 Dimethicone, Succinic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Bis-Methoxypropylamido Isodocosane, Eucalyptus Globulus Leaf Extract, Tocopherol, Methylparaben
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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