Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream for acne-prone skin
Ceramide Np
Niacinamide
Squalane
Phytosphingosine
Allantoin
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
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 moisturizing for your combination skin, as glycerin and squalane hydrate and support barrier resilience, which is beneficial for acne-prone skin by providing soothing effects.
- Niacinamide and Bisabolol further contribute to calming and improving skin texture, though the formulation may not fully address oilier zones.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like Allantoin.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis moisturizer is highly rated for its ability to soothe and repair compromised skin barriers, especially after treatments like chemical peels or retinoid use. Users frequently report significant improvements in hydration and a reduction in redness and irritation, making it a good choice for dry or post-procedure skin. Some users find it too heavy for oily or acne-prone skin, and the price point is considered moderate to high by many.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “soaks right in”
- “stays pretty hydrated all day”
- “comforting to winter dried out skin”
- “restores hydration for instant relief”
Soothes irritated skin Often Mentioned
- “really calms my skin”
- “so much less inflamed and irritated”
- “relieved the dry, itchy feeling”
Great post-procedure Sometimes Noted
- “helped my skin when I do a peel”
- “use this after peels and microneedling”
- “soothing effect on post-procedure skin”
- “first non-ointment moisturizer after peels”
Lightweight, non-greasy Sometimes Noted
- “lightweight, non-greasy”
- “Very light and smooth!”
- “glides on so smoothly”
- “without looking oily”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “five to six times the price”
- “drugstore creams sell for a fifth”
Dispenser issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenses more than most faces need”
- “dispenses more than most”
- “pump dispenses more”
Heavy for oily skin Rarely Noted
- “heavy on oily or acne-prone skin”
- “poorly suited to acne-prone”
- “congestion-prone users often prefer a lighter”
- “rich base is poorly suited”
Sources: lovi.care, dermapproved.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, skincareessentials.com, dermstreet.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Obagi Rebalance Cream work for acne-prone skin?
Obagi Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing soothing moisture and calming benefits through ingredients like glycerin, squalane, and niacinamide, though it may not fully control oilier zones. To fit acne-prone skin best, a moisturizing treatment needs ingredients that target blemishes, balance oil, and hydrate without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, squalane, niacinamide, and allantoin make this cream a good fit by hydrating, calming, and supporting barrier resilience for acne-prone skin. Because it may not fully address oilier zones, a product of this type needs ingredients that provide effective benefits for blemishes, maintain balance without excess oil, and offer soothing extracts for this skin.
What do Ceramides do for acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help acne-prone skin by restoring a weak water barrier, which is often damaged and low in these protective lipids in people with acne. Using them helps reduce dryness, redness, and irritation caused by acne treatments while keeping the skin calm and smooth.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Archives of Dermatological Research, 1995
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cream goes as the last step of your morning routine after your hydrating toner, and after your treatment step in the evening. It provides moderate hydration and soothing effects for acne-prone skin, though this skin type also needs lightweight formulas that balance oilier zones.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying it either before or after your retinol treatment to keep skin calm and hydrated. A moisturizer of this type for acne-prone skin needs barrier-supporting ceramides, niacinamide, and squalane to help soothe dryness without clogging pores.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream works well when used daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular application helps hydrate your skin and calm irritation, though this skin type also needs a product that targets oilier zones.
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 breakouts or clog pores on acne-prone skin because it contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and is free of harsh irritants. However, since it is a bit heavy for oilier zones, acne-prone skin generally needs lighter, oil-free hydration and targeted clarifying ingredients to keep pores clear.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is safe to use on the body and around the eyes, as its gentle ingredients are well-tolerated on delicate areas. However, because skin is thinner around the eyes and varies in thickness across the body, a product of this type for acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydrators and calming agents to keep these diverse zones soft and comfortable.
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, 2017A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Topical 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, 2025Topical application of an emulsion containing a complete mixture of ceramides III, IIIB, VI, phytosphingosine, cholesterol, and linoleic acid significantly accelerated barrier recovery after SLS damage and improved skin hydration after acetone treatment in human volunteers compared to an emulsion containing only two types of ceramides.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2002Phytosphingosine demonstrates anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity with excellent clinical results in acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone 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, 2024Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Squalane, Glycol Palmitate, Coconut Alkanes, Niacinamide, Hexyldecanol, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Maltodextrin, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Cetylhydroxyproline Palmitamide, Hydroxyphenyl Propamidobenzoic Acid, Tetraselmis Suecica Extract, Lactobacillus Ferment, Brassica Campestris Sterols, Punica Granatum Pericarp Extract, Bisabolol, Arginine, Allantoin, Tocopherol, Cholesterol, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Stearic Acid, Acacia Senegal Gum, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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