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Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer for acne-prone skin

Average

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and betaine provide excellent hydration and barrier support, though they do not directly address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The formula is safe for your combination skin, lacking harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While it offers general moisturizing benefits, it lacks specific ingredients for optimal oil control on your oily areas.

How to apply

  • Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
  • Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
  • Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
  • Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

This moisturizer is widely praised for its lightweight, non-greasy formula that hydrates effectively and improves skin texture, making it a popular choice for those looking to address fine lines and maintain a radiant complexion. While many users with normal, combination, and oily skin report excellent results, some individuals with sensitive skin have experienced breakouts or irritation.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face with a smooth matte finish”
    • “Doesn't leave my face greasy”
    • “Very lightweight”
  • Improves texture Often Mentioned
    • “Skin texture improve after just three days”
    • “Leaves my skin silky smooth”
    • “Skin looked a lot smoother”
  • Quick absorption Often Mentioned
    • “Absorbs on contact”
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “Doesn't take much time to put it on”
  • Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
    • “Fine lines around my mouth has disappeared”
    • “Reduces the appearance of fine lines”
    • “Helps delay signs of aging”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “Slightly expensive”
    • “My only problem is the price”
    • “That's a lot”
  • Limited availability Sometimes Noted
    • “Must be ordered online or via... representative”
    • “Moved to another product”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Broke my face out so bad”
    • “Concerned about... breaking out”
    • “Teenage acne look”
  • Causes sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “Red as a McIntosh apple”
    • “Skin is extremely sensitive to their cosmetics”
    • “Non irritating”

Sources: lovi.care, facebook.com, influenster.com, reviewstream.com, fabellis.com, ebay.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer work for acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer works moderately well for acne-prone skin because glycerin and betaine help keep the skin soft and support the skin barrier, though it lacks ingredients that directly target breakouts or control oil. A product of this type needs specific blemish-fighting ingredients, oil-controlling agents, and soothing extracts to properly balance and care for acne-prone skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Molecules, 2024

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

Glycerin and betaine make this cream a good fit because they provide hydration and help keep the skin barrier strong without causing irritation. However, a moisturizer for acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that actively control oil and target breakouts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Molecules, 2024

What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

What does Dimethicone do for acne-prone skin?

Dimethicone forms a light, breathable layer on the skin that helps hold in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. It is generally safe for acne-prone skin, though it does not treat acne itself.

Ostomy/wound Management, 2005Military Medicine, 2024

Where does it go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment at night. A moisturizer of this type works well for general hydration, but acne-prone skin also needs ingredients for oil control and blemishes.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

You can use this moisturizer with retinol to help keep your skin soft and comfortable, applying it after your retinol treatment. Using a moisturizer alongside acne treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and may help reduce dryness while supporting your skin barrier. To best fit acne-prone skin, this type of product needs specific oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-fighting additions.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use it?

You can use this moisturizer daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but an acne-prone skin type also needs ingredients for oil control and clearing breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This cream is unlikely to cause severe irritation, but it may cause breakouts for acne-prone skin because it lacks specific ingredients for optimal oil control. Acne-prone skin needs lightweight formulas with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help clear blemishes and control oil.

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizer around your eyes and on your body, but keep in mind that the skin around the eyes is very thin compared to most body areas. While the formula is safe and hydrating, the skin around the eyes and body may need specialized ingredients like targeted firming agents or rich barrier protectants for best results.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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 combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.

    Molecules, 2024
  • Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2003
  • Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.

    Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
  • 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
  • Wearing 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, 2024
  • A 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, 2000
  • Treatment 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
  • Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
  • Topical dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.

    Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007
  • Mixed surfactant systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine significantly reduce acute skin irritation potential in human volunteers compared with the individual surfactants, demonstrating that irritation potential cannot be predicted by simple summation.

    Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998
  • Polyhexanide/betaine may be nontoxic and effective in enhancing wound healing, whereas the majority of other topical cleaning agents are locally toxic and of limited or no proven efficacy.

    Advances in Skin & Wound Care, 2013

Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ceteareth-20, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Silica, Carbomer, Diazolidinyl Urea, Lauramine Oxide, Disodium Edta, Betaine, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Methylparaben, Sodium Pca, C9-15 Alkyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitol, Propylparaben, Serine, Threonine, Proline, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

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.