Obagi Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream for oily skin
Kinetin
Zeatin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Ascorbic Acid
Hydrolyzed ElastinAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 moisturizing for your oily skin, with ingredients like panthenol and kinetin supporting hydration and barrier resilience, though it lacks specialized ingredients for strong oil control.
- Dimethicone provides emollient action suitable for oily skin, but the overall formulation does not strongly address excess shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
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 200+ reviewsWhile many report visible improvements in skin texture and fine lines, some users find the price point too high and have experienced significant frustration with the airless pump packaging.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “hydrating for super-dry skin”
- “long lasting hydration”
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “plump and well-hydrated”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “velvety texture”
- “light like water”
Soothing & calming Often Mentioned
- “reduces redness”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “calms irritation”
- “hypoallergenic”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “skin younger looking”
- “improves fine lines”
- “skin feels radiant”
- “restores youthful look”
Faulty packaging Sometimes Noted
- “pump does not work”
- “bottle design is a scam”
- “wasted product”
- “impossible to open”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “not worth the money”
- “overrated”
- “pricey for the amount”
Acne/Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke out with acne”
- “caused small bumps”
- “not ideal for acne”
- “clogged pores”
Texture dislike Rarely Noted
- “too thick”
- “did not like texture”
- “feels heavy”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, obagi.com, dermstreet.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Obagi Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream work for oily skin?
Obagi Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream provides moderate moisture for oily skin and supports your skin barrier, but it does not strongly control excess shine. A product of this type needs lightweight hydration, peptides, and ingredients that target oiliness without heavy oils or clogged pores.
Annals of Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Panthenol, kinetin, and dimethicone make this cream a good fit for oily skin by supporting hydration, barrier resilience, and smooth texture without causing irritation. Oily skin works best with products that contain peptides, soothing extracts, and light hydrating ingredients that manage shine without heavy oils or clogged pores.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Annals of Dermatology, 2017
What does Kinetin do for oily skin?
Kinetin helps oily skin by smoothing texture and improving moisture without clogging pores. Because this product is a poor fit for your skin, an option for oily skin needs oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight hydration.
Annals of Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007
What does Zeatin do for oily skin?
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen, and in the evening routine as the final step. A moisturizer for oily skin like this needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to keep shine in check.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol, applying the retinol first at night followed by this moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Because this product provides moderate moisture without strong oil control, an oily skin routine also needs lightweight ingredients that balance oil and reduce shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular application helps keep your oily skin hydrated and supports your skin barrier without causing irritation, though a product for this skin also needs specialized ingredients to control excess shine.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has a very low complaint rate for acne and lacks harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. However, because it offers moderate moisture without strong oil control, an oily skin type needs lightweight formulas with balancing ingredients to keep excess shine and clogged pores in check.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Annals of Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around your eyes, but the skin there is among the thinnest on the body while body skin is much thicker. This product helps hydrate and support barrier strength, though an eye cream or body lotion specifically formulated for those areas may work better.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Kinetin treatment increased involucrin and keratin 1 mRNA expression in HaCaT cells and improved skin moisture and transepidermal water loss while decreasing skin texture roughness in subjects using kinetin-containing cream compared to baseline.
Annals of Dermatology, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2005Topical combination of kinetin and niacinamide exerts synergistic anti-aging effects with significant reductions in spot, pore, wrinkle, and evenness counts, alongside increased hydration and decreased erythema in Taiwanese subjects compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007Cosmetic formulations containing a liposomal dispersion of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, alpha-lipoic acid, and kinetin provided photoprotection against UV damage in hairless mouse skin and enhanced stratum corneum and deeper layer skin moisture in human volunteers after four weeks of daily applications.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2012Topical 0.1% kinetin cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks resulted in slight but statistically significant improvements in overall skin condition, texture, color, and wrinkles among 100 Thai subjects with facial photo-damage compared to baseline.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2015Pretreatment with trans-Zeatin significantly inhibits UVB-induced MMP-1 expression, c-Jun activation, and MAPK phosphorylation in cultured human skin fibroblasts compared to UVB irradiation alone.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2009Long-term treatment with zeatin in human skin fibroblasts undergoing aging in vitro prevented cell enlargement, reduced intracellular debris, prevented actin polymerization, and enhanced stress tolerance without increasing maximum proliferative capacity.
Rejuvenation Research, 2005Trans-Zeatin treatment attenuates ultraviolet-induced aquaporin-3 loss, delayed wound healing, and decreased water permeability in cultured human skin keratinocytes through the inhibition of MEK/ERK activation.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2010A 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, 2018Topical 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, 2018Topical 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, 2010Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of a 0.1% copper-zinc malonate-containing cream significantly enhanced elastin biosynthesis and induced elastic fibre regeneration in photoaged facial skin of 21 female patients after 6 weeks of treatment compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009A betaine-based deep eutectic solvent successfully enhanced the transdermal delivery of elastin peptide, which improved skin barrier repair, reduced melanin secretion and deposition, and stimulated the secretion of procollagen I and elastin.
Biomaterials Advances, 2024Bioactive recombinant humanized elastin (RHE) gel effectively restores skin elasticity, reverses UV-induced damage and oxidative stress, and promotes extracellular matrix remodeling in zebrafish and aged mice models compared to commercial vitamin E and recombinant humanized collagen gels.
Materials Today. Bio, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Stearyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-23, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Kinetin, Zeatin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium Edta, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Water-Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrochloric Acid
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.