Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Petrolatum
Mineral Oil
Beeswax
Candelilla Wax
Hydrogenated Soy Glyceride
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for oily acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it 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
- Offers moderate moisturizing for your oily skin due to petrolatum and mineral oil enhancing barrier resilience, but these occlusive ingredients may clog pores and worsen acne and breakouts.
- Beeswax and candelilla wax provide some emollience, though they do not directly address your primary concerns of acne and oiliness.
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 200+ reviewsThis product is highly effective for extremely dry skin and rough patches, with many users reporting transformative results on areas like elbows, heels, and lips. However, some users find its thick, petroleum-based texture to be too greasy or heavy for regular facial application.
Highlights
Heals rough patches Often Mentioned
- “Works wonders on tough, dry areas!”
- “Heels and elbows have lost that bumpy, scaly look.”
Intense hydration Often Mentioned
- “It moisturizes my skin very well.”
- “Lifesaver when your skin is desperately dry.”
- “Replenishes hydration in very dry areas.”
Greasy/sticky texture Often Mentioned
- “It felt very sticky on my hands.”
- “It is quite greasy, though not as bad as straight Vaseline.”
- “It feels too heavy and doesn't seem to absorb well.”
Long-lasting value Sometimes Noted
- “A little goes a long way.”
- “Tube has lasted over a year.”
- “Since I only use it on a selected area... it is lasting me a long time.”
Versatile usage Sometimes Noted
- “I use this around my eyes and on my lips.”
- “Excellent for dry patches, especially on hands, elbows, and feet.”
- “Can be used anytime your skin needs extra moisture.”
Not for oily Sometimes Noted
- “Definitely not suitable for those with oily skin.”
- “May be too heavy for oily skin types.”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “The scent is a bit strong; I wish it had a milder fragrance.”
- “It has a very strong scent that many find unpleasant.”
- “Smells chemically scented.”
Potential staining Rarely Noted
- “Be careful if you sleep on your stomach, as it might stain your pillow.”
- “Hair ends up sticking to your face.”
Sources: lovi.care, marykay.com, influenster.com, shespeaks.com, womensblogtalk.com, vanityroutine.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Extra Emollient Night Cream for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil may clog your pores and worsen breakouts. A moisturizer for this skin type needs to be lightweight, free of heavy oils, and include ingredients like peptides or soothing extracts that hydrate without adding excess oil.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Petrolatum and mineral oil are heavy, sealing ingredients that may clog pores and worsen breakouts on oily, acne-prone skin. This skin type needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators, soothing extracts, and blemish-clearing ingredients that provide moisture without excess oil.
What does Petrolatum do for oily acne-prone skin?
Petrolatum is generally safe for oily acne-prone skin because it has a very low chance of causing allergic reactions or clogging pores. It acts as an effective moisturizer to keep skin soft and protect its barrier without causing irritation.
What does Mineral Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil helps lock in moisture and calm dry or irritated skin with a very low chance of causing allergies or irritation. Because it sits on top of the skin rather than absorbing deep into pores, it is unlikely to clog them, though oily acne-prone skin generally needs lightweight, non-greasy ingredients that help balance oil production.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is not a good match for oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil may clog your pores and worsen breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with ingredients that hydrate without trapping oil or causing blemishes.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
This heavy cream is not a good fit for your oily acne-prone skin because its thick waxes and oils may clog your pores and worsen breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with ceramides and soothing ingredients instead.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil may clog pores and worsen breakouts. Oily and acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin that add moisture without heaviness.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, this cream may clog pores and worsen acne or breakouts on oily acne-prone skin because it relies heavily on heavy barrier ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil. A product for this skin needs lightweight, non-clogging hydrators and ingredients that help clear pores without leaving a greasy layer.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is too heavy for the delicate skin around the eyes, but it works well on dry body skin. A body moisturizer for this area needs rich, protective ingredients like petrolatum and mineral oil to lock in moisture and keep skin soft.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2020Topical 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, 2025Repeated application of concentrated water-in-oil emulsions over four weeks caused no skin irritation, positively affected skin properties, and delivered almost 50% of the applied fluorescein sodium, with isopropyl myristate showing superior penetration performance compared to liquid paraffin in healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019Topical application of a honey, olive oil, and beeswax mixture three times daily for up to 4 weeks resulted in clinical responses in 86% of patients with pityriasis versicolor, 78% with tinea cruris, and 75% with tinea corporis.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2004A prototype body cream containing bee venom, propolis, honey, beeswax, and royal jelly demonstrated stability for 90 days, high antioxidant capacity of 85.45%, lack of cytotoxicity with over 70% cell viability, and no irritation or allergic reaction in dermatological analysis, while improving skin parameters in a panel test.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022MUD1 protected human dermal fibroblasts against AAPH-induced oxidative stress by increasing cell viability, reducing oxidative damage, improving mitochondrial functionality, and enhancing wound healing capacities.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
Ingredients
Petrolatum, Mineral Oil, Paraffin, Beeswax, Candelilla Wax, Hydrogenated Soy Glyceride, Carnauba Wax, Stearic Acid, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Menthol, Red 17
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
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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
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
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