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Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture

Low

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A weak match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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

  • Suboptimal compatibility with oily skin as the glycerin and cyclomethicone provide light hydration without addressing oily shine concerns. Tocopherol offers some antioxidant benefits, but specialized oil-controlling ingredients are absent.
  • The formula offers general skincare benefits, but lacks targeted ingredients to manage excess oil production effectively for your oily skin.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing tocopherol.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
  • Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, fragrance-free moisturizer is a long-time favorite for users with sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin due to its gentle formula that hydrates without clogging pores or causing breakouts. It is praised for its non-greasy finish and compatibility with makeup. However, recent reviews are dominated by frustration over its discontinuation in many markets, with some users also noting it may be insufficient for very dry skin or winter months.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & Non-Greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “feels light on skin”
    • “absorbs in seconds”
    • “no oily film”
    • “perfect under makeup”
  • Discontinued / Hard to Find Mostly Mentioned
    • “why was this discontinued”
    • “can't find anywhere”
    • “looking for replacement”
    • “price is now triple”
  • Non-Comedogenic Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't clog pores”
    • “kept acne at bay”
    • “face stayed clear”
    • “no new pimples”
  • Safe for Sensitive Skin Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't burn my face”
    • “only thing I can use”
    • “no allergic reactions”
  • Fragrance-Free Sometimes Noted
    • “truly unscented”
    • “no chemical smell”
    • “great for migraines”
    • “neutral scent”
  • Insufficient Hydration Sometimes Noted
    • “skin still felt tight”
    • “not enough for winter”
    • “too thin for dry patches”
    • “need to apply twice”
  • Packaging Issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump stops working”
    • “can't get bottom bit”
    • “straw is too short”
    • “wasteful bottle”
  • Shiny Finish Rarely Noted
    • “leaves a film”
    • “shiny T-zone”
    • “looks greasy at first”
    • “makes me sweat”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, purplle.com, productreview.com.au, amazon.com, neutrogena.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture for oily skin a weak match?

Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture is a weak match for oily skin because it offers light hydration without managing oily shine or excess oil production. While it has a safe, non-irritating formula with vitamin E, it lacks specialized oil-controlling ingredients and peptides. Oily skin needs a moisturizer with hydrating agents, peptides, and ingredients that support the skin barrier while maintaining a lightweight texture without heavy oils.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?

This moisturizer is a weak match for oily skin because it lacks specialized oil-controlling ingredients to manage excess shine. A product of this type needs peptides, light hydrating agents, and ingredients that support the skin barrier without heavy oils to control shine and prevent breakouts.

What does Glycerin do for oily skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.

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

What does Cyclomethicone do for oily skin?

Cyclomethicone gives oily skin a smooth, silky feel without making it greasy, as it spreads easily and evaporates quickly. It helps other ingredients feel light on your face and keeps your skin soft throughout the day.

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizer goes as the last step in your morning routine and before your treatment step in the evening, though it is a weak match for oily skin. Oily skin needs targeted ingredients that manage excess oil production and reduce shine.

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

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. This routine helps keep your skin comfortable, though oily skin of this type needs specialized oil-controlling ingredients to manage excess shine effectively.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizer daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but because it lacks oil-controlling ingredients, oily skin needs a formula with specialized ingredients that manage excess shine and oil production.

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cream is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, but it does not help control shine. A moisturizer for this skin needs oil-absorbing ingredients to manage excess oil production effectively.

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

This moisturizer is safe to use on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body because its formula has a very safe profile with no harsh ingredients. However, a product for oily skin in these areas needs specialized oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight hydration to properly manage shine.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl 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, 2017

  • A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Water, Cyclomethicone, Cetyl Caprylate, Glycerin, Cetyl Ricinoleate, Stearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Acrylates Copolymer, Lysine Carboxymethyl Cysteinate, Lysine Thiazolidine Carboxylate, Tocopherol, Silica, Xanthan Gum, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Benzalkonium Chloride

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

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

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