Cetaphil Moisturising Cream for combination skin
Glycerin
Petrolatum
DimethiconeWarning
- LowCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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
- Extremely low suitability for your combination skin as petrolatum and dimethicone can worsen oily shine and potentially clog pores in your oilier areas, while glycerin offers only moderate hydration for drier areas.
- The formula provides general hydration benefits, but the occlusive nature of petrolatum and dimethicone is not ideal for managing oily shine.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsHighlights
Long-lasting hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “healed my dry patches”
- “keeps skin soft all day”
- “hydration lasts 24 hours”
- “saved my winter skin”
Gentle, non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “fragrance-free”
- “doesn't burn cracked skin”
Tub packaging Often Mentioned
- “hate dipping fingers in”
- “needs a pump”
- “sanitary concerns”
- “gets under fingernails”
Non-greasy absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs surprisingly fast”
- “doesn't feel sticky”
- “matte finish”
- “soaks in completely”
Versatile use Sometimes Noted
- “use it head to toe”
- “great under makeup”
- “works for face and body”
- “safe for whole family”
Heavy texture Sometimes Noted
- “too thick for face”
- “takes effort to rub in”
- “feels heavy in summer”
- “leaves a film”
Clogs pores Rarely Noted
- “caused small bumps”
- “too rich for acne-prone areas”
- “triggered breakout on forehead”
- “greasy on T-zone”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical scent”
- “smells like glue”
- “medicinal odor”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, totalbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against Cetaphil Moisturising Cream for combination skin?
Lovi advises against this cream because petrolatum and dimethicone may worsen oily shine and clog pores in your oilier areas, while glycerin offers only moderate hydration for your drier areas. A moisturizer for combination skin needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients that reduce oily shine without clogging pores, along with soothing agents, antioxidants, and a balanced pH.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
Petrolatum and dimethicone make this cream a poor fit because they can worsen oily shine and clog pores in your oilier areas, while glycerin only offers moderate hydration for drier areas. Combination skin needs a product containing effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients, multiple peptides, soothing agents, and antioxidants that target hydration while reducing oily shine without risk of irritation or heaviness.
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Petrolatum do for combination skin?
Petrolatum helps lock in moisture and protect dry areas on combination skin by forming a strong seal over the surface. It is very effective at keeping water from escaping, though it may feel too heavy if applied heavily on naturally oily areas.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2023
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cream is a poor match for combination skin because petrolatum and dimethicone can worsen oily shine and clog pores in oilier areas, while glycerin offers only moderate hydration for drier areas. Combination skin needs a lightweight moisturizer with balancing ingredients that hydrate dry zones without adding excess oil to the T-zone.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You should not use this cream with retinol on combination skin, as petrolatum and dimethicone may worsen oily shine and clog pores in your oilier areas while only providing moderate hydration for drier zones. A suitable moisturizer for this skin type needs lighter hydrating ingredients and barrier-supporting ceramides to manage oil and keep skin soft.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for your combination skin because petrolatum and dimethicone may worsen oily shine and clog pores in your oilier areas, while glycerin provides only moderate hydration for drier areas. This skin type needs lightweight, balancing hydrators and non-clogging moisture that soften dry spots without adding extra oil.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause purging, but it may clog pores and worsen oily shine on combination skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and dimethicone trap oil in your oilier areas while offering only moderate hydration for dry spots. A product for this skin needs lighter, oil-free hydrators and non-pore-clogging ingredients that balance dry and oily areas without feeling heavy.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream on your body, but it is too heavy for the delicate skin around the eyes. A body moisturizer for this skin needs rich hydrators like glycerin and protective sealants like petrolatum to keep dry skin soft and smooth.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Ostomy/wound Management, 2005
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl 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, 2017The 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, 2001Topical treatment with skin-identical lipids in a petrolatum-rich cream base showed no superiority over pure petrolatum in promoting normalization of barrier recovery and inflammation in detergent- and tape-stripped-perturbed human skin over 14 days.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2000Topically applied extra virgin olive oil and petrolatum both significantly improved skin barrier function and microtopographic features in 54 healthy adult volunteers, with petrolatum exerting stronger occlusive effects and extra virgin olive oil uniquely promoting epidermal renewal.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025Wearing 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Petrolatum, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-30 Stearate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzyl Alcohol, 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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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