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Face Reality hydraBalance gel for oily acne-prone skin

Face Reality hydraBalance gel

High

  • HighOily 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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin as Syringa Vulgaris Cells Stem and Totarol offer seboregulation and antimicrobial action to address acne and oiliness.
  • Hyaluronic Acid provides moderate moisturizing benefits, and Phenyl-N-Butyl Nitrone Spin Trap offers antioxidant protection, further supporting your skin's health.
  • The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

This product is praised for its lightweight, water-based formula that hydrates acne-prone, oily, and combination skin without pore blockage. It is frequently reported to soothe irritation from acne treatments and layer well with other products, making it a popular choice for maintaining a balanced, non-greasy complexion.

Highlights

  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “Feels like a drink of water”
    • “Very light”
    • “Absorbs quickly”
  • Acne-safe formula Often Mentioned
    • “Doesn't clog pores”
    • “Perfect for acne-prone”
    • “Non-comedogenic”
  • Soothes irritation Often Mentioned
    • “Calms irritation”
    • “Reduces redness”
    • “Helps with dryness”
  • Versatile layering Sometimes Noted
    • “Layers well under sunscreen”
    • “Great under moisturizer”
    • “Works with serums”
  • Not enough moisture Rarely Noted
    • “Need extra moisturizer”
    • “Not a replacement”
    • “Too light alone”
  • Slight stickiness Rarely Noted
    • “Note slight stickiness”
    • “Sticky during application”
    • “Tacky until dry”
  • Unclear usage Rarely Noted
    • “Can't figure out use”
    • “Confusing packaging”
    • “What is it for?”

Sources: lovi.care, facerealityskincare.com, artofskincare.com, lazskincare.com, skinlovecream.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes HydraBalance Gel a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Face Reality HydraBalance Gel is a great fit because it helps manage oil and reduce breakouts using lilac stem cells and totarol. It also keeps your skin soft and comfortable with hyaluronic acid while protecting it with antioxidants, all without any harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

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

Syringa Vulgaris Cells Stem and Totarol make this moisturizer a great fit because they help control oil and target acne, while hyaluronic acid adds light moisture without feeling heavy. Phenyl-N-Butyl Nitrone Spin Trap also offers antioxidant protection to help keep oily acne-prone skin healthy.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

What do Lilac Stem Cells do for oily acne-prone skin?

Lilac Stem Cells help oily acne-prone skin by reducing excess oil production, calming inflamed blemishes, and fighting bacteria. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and may help keep your skin clear and smooth.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

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 moisturizer go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer fits in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen. In the evening, it goes on as the final step after your treatment.

Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this gel. This helps keep your oily skin comfortable while keeping the routine safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

How often should I use this moisturizer?

You can use this moisturizing treatment daily to help keep your skin balanced and hydrated. Applying it regularly supports your skin barrier while helping to control oiliness and breakouts without causing irritation.

Health Science Reports, 2021Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

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

Face Reality HydraBalance Gel is unlikely to clog pores, cause breakouts, or lead to purging on oily acne-prone skin. Its formula features ingredients like Syringa Vulgaris Cells Stem and totarol to manage oil and target blemishes safely without harsh additives that trigger irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

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

You can use this moisturizer on your body, but it is not specifically designed for the very thin skin around the eyes. Hyaluronic Acid provides moderate moisture while being gentle on the skin.

Polymers, 2023

What the research says

  • Phenylpropanoids from Syringa vulgaris plant cell culture reduced lipid storage, pre-inflammatory mediator release, and P. acnes growth while increasing antimicrobial peptide synthesis in human skin models, and decreased sebum production, inflamed blemishes, and retentional lesions in volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
  • 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

Ingredients

Syringa Vulgaris Cells Stem, Hyaluronic Acid, Totarol, Phenyl-N-Butyl Nitrone Spin Trap

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.