CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream for oily skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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 benefits for oily shine on your oily skin, as niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil production and reduce shine. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide excellent moisturization, hydrating and plumping your skin without adding excess oil.
- The formula is highly suitable for your oily skin type due to the seboregulating and anti-inflammatory actions of niacinamide and zinc gluconate.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.
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 800+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin widely praise this gel-cream for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers a matte finish without drying out the face. A notable minority of reviewers report issues with the product pilling under makeup or sunscreen and experiencing a temporary burning or stinging sensation upon application.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “lightweight and super moisturizing”
- “feels refreshing upon application”
- “lightweight gel-cream texture”
- “barely feel it on”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into my face right away”
- “rapidly absorbed”
- “soaks in quickly”
- “no residue left behind”
Matte finish Often Mentioned
- “absorbs excess oil”
- “leaves a matte finish”
- “controls shine throughout the day”
- “skin looks balanced not shiny”
Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
- “doesn't leave me feeling greasy”
- “no sticky/tacky feeling”
- “residue-free”
- “non-greasy formula”
Balanced hydration Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating without making skin heavy”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “perfect balance of moisture”
- “hydrated but not oily”
Pilling with makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills with sunscreen”
- “peels with toner”
- “pills up during application”
- “rolls off the skin”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burns the skin”
- “burning sensation around eye area”
- “feels hot on skin”
- “stinging upon application”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “skin has broken out”
- “clogged pores”
- “caused small bumps”
- “acne flared up”
Not matte enough Rarely Noted
- “becomes even oilier”
- “soft matte not fully matte”
- “shiny after a while”
- “didn't control oil long”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream a great fit for oily skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit because niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil production and reduce shine on oily skin. Glycerin and hyaluronic acid hydrate and plump your skin without adding excess oil, while ceramides help keep the skin barrier strong and healthy.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and zinc gluconate help control oil and reduce shine, making this cream a great fit for oily skin. Additionally, hyaluronic acid and glycerin hydrate and plump your skin without adding any extra oil.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
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.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cream goes in the moisturizer step, used in the morning after your toner and before sunscreen, and in the evening as the final step after your treatment. It hydrates and plumps your skin without adding excess oil, while helping to control shine.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the cream first to help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable while you use retinol. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce irritation and dryness often caused by retinoids.
How often should I use this cream?
This moisturizing treatment is a great fit for oily skin and can be used daily to help control shine while keeping your skin hydrated. It is unlikely to cause irritation, making it suitable for regular application in your routine.
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 or clog pores on your oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and uses lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling components. It has a very low risk of irritation and features soothing ingredients to keep your skin calm.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around the eyes and on the body because its gentle formula has an excellent safety profile with very good skin tolerance and is unlikely to cause irritation.
Polymers, 2023Clinical, 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, 2017A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Topical 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Silica, Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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