e.l.f. Skin Holy Hydration! Face Cream for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacinamide
Peptides
Squalane
Glycerin
Average
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your combination skin due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump without excess oiliness, complemented by niacinamide for seboregulation.
- While it provides general hydration benefits, the formula lacks targeted ingredients to specifically address oily shine.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis cream is highly praised for providing deep hydration without a heavy or greasy feel, making it ideal for combination and oily skin types. It is frequently noted for creating a smooth canvas for makeup. Some users with very dry skin found it insufficient, and a few experienced issues with the scent in the original formulation or eye irritation with the SPF version.
Highlights
Excellent makeup base Mostly Mentioned
- “Honestly the best face cream I have ever used under makeup!”
- “Smooths skin under makeup.”
- “Makeup just glides on.”
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “My skin looks and feels like velvet.”
- “Keeps my skin soft, hydrated, and protected throughout the day.”
- “Replenishes lost moisture for supple skin.”
Lightweight & non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “Sinks in quickly to leave smooth, soft skin.”
- “Texture feels lightweight yet deeply moisturizing.”
- “Non-greasy formula sinks into skin.”
Gentle & non-irritating Sometimes Noted
- “Great everyday moisturizer for sensitive skin.”
- “Hypoallergenic and free of fragrance.”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Burn my eyes when I rub my skin near my eye.”
- “Causes eyes to burn like some SPFs do.”
- “Stinging sensation around the eye area.”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “Wish the packaging was in a tube instead of a jar.”
- “I wish this product came with a lil spatula.”
- “Prefer tubes/pump bottles.”
Not rich enough Rarely Noted
- “Didn't feel like it gave me as much hydrating omph.”
- “Might be better for summer than winter.”
- “Not moisturizing enough for very dry skin.”
Scent issues Rarely Noted
- “Smells terrible like the oil in it is rancid.”
- “Scent is very subtle... but my skin can be sensitive.”
- “Wish I would have returned it sooner [due to smell].”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, byrdie.com, skinsafe-products.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream work for combination skin?
This cream works decently for combination skin, offering moderate hydration without excess oiliness, though other products fit it better. To truly excel for this skin type, a product needs targeted ingredients that specifically reduce oily shine while providing balanced moisture.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2024
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate and plump combination skin without excess oiliness, while niacinamide helps balance oil production. A product of this type needs targeted ingredients that specifically address oily shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2024
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizer goes as the last step in your morning routine before sunscreen, and after your treatment in the evening routine. It is safe for combination skin and hydrates without feeling greasy, though combination skin needs extra ingredients that specifically target oily shine.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it dry, and then smoothing on this moisturizer. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer helps reduce common dryness and flaking from retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily, both morning and night, to keep your combination skin hydrated and soft. Regular daily application helps maintain moisture and smooth texture without feeling heavy or greasy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. Combination skin often needs lightweight hydrators paired with targeted ingredients that help control excess shine and balance oily areas.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment on your body and around your eyes, as it is safe for your skin with no risks of irritation. However, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients to specifically address oily shine when used on combination skin.
Is this cream 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, 2017Treatment 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 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, 2019Topical 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, 2005Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Squalane, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol Vb5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyethylene, Disodium Edta, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Carbomer
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.