🇳🇱Netherlands

Cetaphil Ceramide Serum for oily acne-prone skin

High

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by glycerin and hyaluronic acid for humectant action, alongside ceramides and cholesterol for barrier repair, offering optimal hydration without exacerbating oiliness.
  • It offers moderate benefits for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and oiliness or shiny skin due to the presence of hyaluronic acid and panthenol in concentrations that provide hydration and soothing.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients, and the presence of soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol.

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

★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

Users with dry, sensitive, and combination skin praise this serum for its ability to repair the moisture barrier and calm redness without causing irritation. The lightweight, fragrance-free formula is frequently noted for improving skin texture and providing long-lasting hydration, though some users with oily skin find it leaves a slight tackiness.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs beautifully without feeling greasy”
    • “lightweight yet deeply hydrating”
    • “silky smooth feel”
    • “no sticky or heavy feeling”
  • Effective hydration Often Mentioned
    • “dry patches disappearing”
    • “locks in moisture”
    • “skin feels plump and balanced”
    • “wonderful drink of hydration”
  • Soothing & gentle Often Mentioned
    • “instantly feels calm and refreshed”
    • “zero irritation”
    • “great for reactive skin”
    • “soothing blue daisy complex”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “skin tone looking more even”
    • “smoother and softer”
    • “restores radiant appearance”
    • “decreased roughness”
  • Price vs. size Sometimes Noted
    • “volume is too small”
    • “pricey for the size”
    • “wish they released a larger size”
  • Insufficient for very dry Rarely Noted
    • “need a heavy cream on top”
    • “not enough for winter dryness”
    • “wanted more intense hydration”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “tricky to get the last bits out”
    • “dropper doesn't pick up enough”
    • “hard to dispense near the end”
  • Slight tackiness Rarely Noted
    • “slightly tacky finish”
    • “sticky initially”
    • “feels a bit tacky on the neck”

Sources: lovi.care, cetaphil.com, ulta.com, iherb.com, target.com, walmart.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes the Cetaphil Ceramide Serum a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit because it provides optimal hydration without making your skin oily, using glycerin and hyaluronic acid alongside ceramides and cholesterol. It also helps soothe breakouts and shiny skin while carrying an excellent safety profile with no risk of irritation for your skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and hyaluronic acid make this serum a great fit for your oily skin by adding moisture without making you shiny, while ceramides and cholesterol help repair your skin barrier. Soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol also help calm breakouts without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?

Ceramides help restore the protective barrier of oily, acne-prone skin, which often lacks these vital lipids and suffers from moisture loss and irritation. Using products with ceramides supports skin hydration, calms redness, and improves overall texture while managing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum goes in your evening routine, placed after your cleansing toner and before your moisturizer for simplicity and extra safety. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin because it contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this treatment with retinol by applying it before your retinol step to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Barrier-repair ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol support your skin against potential dryness, while soothing agents like panthenol help minimize irritation.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this serum?

You can use this serum in your evening routine, applying it daily after cleansing and toning. It is unlikely to cause irritation on your oily skin and helps keep your face hydrated without feeling heavy.

Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This serum is a great fit for your oily skin because it hydrates and soothes without clogging pores or causing breakouts. It has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients, making it very unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this serum around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula provides hydration without adding extra oil. It is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation, making it suitable for delicate skin areas.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

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 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, 2017
  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
  • 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
  • Topical application of an emulsion containing a complete mixture of ceramides III, IIIB, VI, phytosphingosine, cholesterol, and linoleic acid significantly accelerated barrier recovery after SLS damage and improved skin hydration after acetone treatment in human volunteers compared to an emulsion containing only two types of ceramides.

    Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2002
  • Phytosphingosine demonstrates anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity with excellent clinical results in acne vulgaris.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
  • Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017
  • Botulinum toxin-A encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol nanoliposomes delivered transdermally achieved a diffusion depth of 380 μm and showed a nonsignificant advantage in relieving post-acne scarring compared to hyaluronic acid hydrogel treatment in 12 facial patients.

    Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2024
  • Topical application of cholesterol sulfate increases stratum corneum thickness and inhibits protease-induced cell dissociation by competitively inhibiting serine proteases in mice and human stratum corneum.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1998
  • Topical lovastatin treatment impairs the recovery of cutaneous permeability barrier function and stratum corneum cholesterol levels after acetone disruption in mice, an effect normalized by simultaneous treatment with mevalonate or cholesterol.

    The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1990

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, 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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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 the Netherlands.

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