SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Pitera Ferment Filtrate
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 your combination skin, as Niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation for your acne-prone areas, while Hyaluronic Acid provides hydration.
- Glycerin and Panthenol offer additional moisturizing benefits, though stronger oil-controlling ingredients would enhance performance on your oily zones.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report that this cream delivers intense hydration that leaves skin feeling bouncy, plump, and velvety soft, often citing visible improvements in radiance and texture overnight. While the rich formula is praised for smoothing fine lines and firming the skin barrier, reactions to the fragrance are mixed, and the high price point is a frequent consideration.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels deeply hydrated, plump, and smoother”
- “burst of hydration after a quick absorption”
- “keeps my skin nice and moisturised”
- “leaves skin feeling bouncy and supple”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “silky texture that absorbs quickly”
- “melts into skin without leaving a sticky feeling”
- “rich yet smooth, absorbs well”
- “velvety moisturizer creates a constant cycle”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “wish it was not this expensive”
- “definitely an investment”
- “premium price tag”
- “hard to justify the cost”
Radiance and glow Sometimes Noted
- “noticeable skin brightening effect and glow”
- “skin looks better and has become more radiant”
- “woke up with a glow”
- “improves dullness and texture”
Visible anti-aging Sometimes Noted
- “reducing the appearance of fine lines”
- “skin felt firmer and looked healthier”
- “pores and wrinkles visibly reduced”
- “skin elasticity dramatically increased”
Heavy for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “quite thick consistency”
- “might be too heavy for day use”
- “prefer the Airy Milky Lotion version”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “did break out some while adjusting”
- “caused small bumps initially”
- “too rich for my acne-prone skin”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smells like tanning lotion”
- “too powerful of a smell that lingers”
- “scent is meh but doesn't bother me”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
Sources: lovi.care, sk-ii.com, influenster.com, sephora.sg, sephora.my, sephora.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SK-II Skinpower Advanced work for acne-prone skin?
SK-II Skinpower Advanced Cream works moderately well for acne-prone skin, as Niacinamide helps control oil and Hyaluronic Acid provides light hydration without irritation. A product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients and soothing agents to better balance oily and breakout-prone zones.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps regulate oil and calm redness, while hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and panthenol provide hydration for acne-prone skin. However, this skin type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients for better performance on oily zones.
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after your cleanser, hydrating toner, and sunscreen in the morning, or after your makeup remover, cleanser, and cleansing toner in the evening. It provides safe hydration and helps balance oil, though acne-prone skin also benefits from stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the cream after your retinol treatment to help soothe and hydrate your skin. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your acne-prone skin, though acne-prone skin also benefits from stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and supports a balanced moisture barrier.
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 breakouts on acne-prone skin, as it has a very low rate of complaints and includes soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. However, because it only offers an average fit, a product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to truly enhance performance on your oily zones.
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 safety profile for the skin. However, because the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, you should apply it gently to avoid any tugging.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2002A 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, 2017Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Treatment with a combination of niacinamide and hyaluronic acid improved skin aging signs and demonstrated a senomorphic effect by decreasing SASP and autocrine signaling genes in women.
Scientific Reports, 2024Topical 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 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, 2019Saccharomycopsis Ferment Filtrate inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production and iNOS protein expression in RAW264.7 macrophages and protects artificial epidermis against lipopolysaccharide- or ultraviolet radiation-induced damages.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2006The 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, 2012Wearing 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
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, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Pentylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Pitera Ferment Filtrate, Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.
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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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