Keys Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Bakuchiol
Squalane
Honey
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and oiliness or shiny skin, as niacinamide and bakuchiol help to regulate oil production and smooth texture. Glycerin provides humectant action, supporting your oily skin's hydration needs.
- The presence of sodium hyaluronate further enhances moisturizing properties, contributing to overall skin health.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is praised for its effective blend of bakuchiol, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid, which helps hydrate, plump, and smooth fine lines. While many users with sensitive or dry skin appreciate its gentle, non-irritating formula, some individuals with acne-prone or very oily skin find the texture too rich or potentially pore-clogging.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin feeling so moisturised”
- “delivering A-plus hydration”
- “hydrates, repairs the barrier”
Gentle, non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “Doesn't irritate my sensitive skin”
- “active ingredients don't sting”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
Softens skin Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels so soft”
- “plump, smoother and more supple”
- “softens lines without irritation”
Non-greasy finish Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs instantly”
- “not sticky”
- “cushiony, rich-but-smooth cream”
Too rich/heavy Sometimes Noted
- “Night cream feels too rich”
- “slightly heavier”
- “not super friendly towards oily skin”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Did not care for the strong scent”
- “smells like plastic”
- “musky for me”
Clogs pores Rarely Noted
- “Too rich for my sensitive acne prone skin”
- “risk clogging pores”
Subtle results Rarely Noted
- “Effect is more sensory than treatment”
- “didn't feel any transformation”
- “results more soothing than transformative”
Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, bustle.com, cultbeauty.com, thingtesting.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Keys Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
Keys Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as niacinamide and bakuchiol help regulate oil and smooth texture while glycerin provides hydration. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product with lightweight, oil-free hydration and ingredients that clear breakouts and support the skin barrier without clogging pores.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and bakuchiol help regulate oil production and smooth texture, while glycerin provides hydration for oily skin. To fit this skin type best, a moisturizing treatment needs lightweight texture, no heavy oils, and ingredients that clear breakouts while supporting the skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Bakuchiol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Bakuchiol helps clear oily acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and dark spots left behind. It is gentle on the face and is unlikely to cause the heavy peeling or stinging that often comes with traditional acne treatments.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product that helps regulate oil production and smooth texture with ingredients like niacinamide and bakuchiol, alongside light hydrators such as glycerin.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, and applying it after your retinol may help reduce dryness and irritation while supporting your skin barrier. Oily acne-prone skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with niacinamide, bakuchiol, and glycerin to manage oil and hydration without clogging pores.
How often should I use it?
This cream works for your skin, though other products fit it better, and it helps to manage oil and breakouts while keeping skin hydrated. A product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, or green tea extract to keep oily acne-prone skin clear and balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging, though some reviewers note it can feel too rich for oily skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators and ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide that help clear pores and balance oil without feeling heavy.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, as it has a very good skin tolerance and safe formula. It is unlikely to cause irritation on delicate areas, though oily acne-prone skin typically needs lighter, oil-free hydration and targeted blemish control ingredients in those regions.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A dermocosmetic containing bakuchiol, Ginkgo biloba extract, and mannitol improves inflammatory lesions, Investigator Global Assessment, and seborrhea intensity when added to adapalene 0.1% gel in patients with acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2015A 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, 2017Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Hyaluronic acid extracts are safe and efficacious products for skin repair when used in tissue regeneration alone or in combination with herbal or Western medicine.
Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2015Topical 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, 2005Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Topical application of a serum containing supramolecular Bakuchiol and Terminalia chebula extract significantly improved barrier function, reduced redness and sensitivity, and improved wrinkles and elasticity in 34 Chinese subjects with sensitive skin after 28 days.
Health Science Reports, 2025Bakuchiol functions as an anti-aging compound through retinol-like regulation of gene expression, producing significant improvements in lines, wrinkles, pigmentation, elasticity, firmness, and photo-damage after 12 weeks of twice-a-day facial application without usual retinol therapy-associated undesirable effects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014Squalane 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, 2025Honey-based dressings reduced mean healing duration, length of hospital stay, and VAS pain scores compared with povidone iodine-based dressings in 1236 participants.
Journal of Wound Care, 2021Topical honey application improved the mean duration of attacks and pain, occurrence of crusting, and healing time compared to acyclovir cream in 16 adult patients with recurrent labial and genital herpes lesions.
Medical Science Monitor, 2004
Ingredients
Water, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Dimethicone, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Squalane, Stearic Acid, Trehalose, Bakuchiol, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Honey, Sodium Hyaluronate, Malachite Extract, Phytosphingosine, Panthenol Vb5, Cholesterol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyacrylate-13, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyisobutene, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Polysorbate 20, Ethylhexylglycerin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Parfum
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
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