🇮🇹Italy

Dermalogica Calm Water Gel for oily skin

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide humectant benefits without exacerbating oiliness, complemented by dimethicone's emollient action.
  • The inclusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate offers soothing properties, which are beneficial for maintaining comfortable skin.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and a formulation designed to avoid irritation.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
  • Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 1.4k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with very dry skin or living in colder climates often find it insufficiently hydrating on its own, requiring an additional serum or heavier cream.

Highlights

  • Soothes redness Mostly Mentioned
    • “takes the red out of my cheeks”
    • “cooling sensation feels amazing on irritated skin”
    • “best thing for my reactive skin”
  • Lightweight gel Often Mentioned
    • “melts into skin like water”
    • “disappears immediately”
    • “weightless feel”
    • “no greasy residue”
  • Not hydrating enough Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight after an hour”
    • “need to layer a cream over it”
    • “not enough for winter dryness”
    • “disappeared too fast without hydrating”
  • Good under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “makeup sits perfectly on top”
    • “doesn't pill under foundation”
    • “smooth canvas for application”
    • “keeps oil at bay during the day”
  • Non-comedogenic Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't clog my pores”
    • “safe for acne-prone skin”
    • “no new breakouts since using”
    • “perfect balance for oily/sensitive skin”
  • Expensive for size Sometimes Noted
    • “tube is very small for the price”
    • “finished it in a month”
    • “too expensive for a basic gel”
    • “wish it came in a bigger size”
  • Caused irritation Rarely Noted
    • “burned my sensitive skin”
    • “caused tiny bumps”
    • “made my face itch”
    • “triggered a rash”
  • Sticky texture Rarely Noted
    • “leaves a sticky film”
    • “feels tacky to the touch”
    • “hair sticks to my face”
    • “weird texture until it dries”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, spacenk.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Dermalogica Calm Water Gel work for oily skin?

Dermalogica Calm Water Gel works decently for oily skin by providing moderate hydration and a soothing touch without causing extra oiliness. However, an oily skin type often needs a lightweight formula with peptides and heavy-oil-free ingredients that support the skin barrier and manage oily shine even better.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for oily skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate make this moisturizer a good fit for oily skin by giving it light hydration, while aloe vera and dipotassium glycyrrhizate help soothe the skin without adding extra oil. Oily skin works best with moisturizers that combine peptides and light hydrating agents to keep a lightweight feel, avoid heavy oils, and support the skin barrier without causing breakouts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily skin?

Aloe vera leaf juice helps hydrate oily skin by increasing water content in the outer skin layer without adding heavy oils or modifying water loss. It is also often combined with treatments to help calm redness and reduce acne breakouts.

Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Skin Research and Technology, 2006

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes in your morning and evening routine right after cleansing and toning, and before sunscreen in the morning. It helps keep your skin comfortable and hydrated without adding extra oil. Oily skin often benefits from lightweight gel moisturizers that use ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate for moisture, alongside soothing plant extracts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable. Oily skin using retinol also needs a product that provides lightweight hydration with ceramides or soothing plant extracts to strengthen the skin barrier without feeling heavy.

How often should I use it?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your oily skin comfortable and hydrated. Daily application helps maintain skin moisture and barrier function without making your skin feel heavy or greasy.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it is formulated without harsh ingredients to avoid irritation. However, because it offers only moderate hydration, oily skin often needs a lightweight, oil-free gel with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide to balance moisture without a heavy feel.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, though oily skin of this type needs a lightweight fluid or gel that keeps the delicate eye area or body hydrated without feeling heavy.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool and limonene).

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, 2017
  • A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018
  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • Wearing 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, 2024
  • Treatment 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
  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015
  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015
  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Dimethicone, Butylene Glycol, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, 1,2-Hexanediol, Diethylhexyl Carbonate, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Extract Lavender Flower Extract, Stearyl Heptanoate, Cetyl Peg Ppg-10 1 Dimethicone, Hydroxyacetophenone, Sea Salt, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearyl Caprylate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Disodium Phosphate, Linalool, Limonene

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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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Italy.

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