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Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, niacinamide helps regulate oil production while hyaluronic acid provides essential hydration, supporting your goal of reducing oily shine.
  • Glycerin and panthenol further enhance the moisturizing benefits, offering general skincare support for your skin type.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
  • Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that provides long-lasting hydration, making it suitable for various skin types, including sensitive and combination skin. Users consistently report smoother, softer, and more radiant skin, with many highlighting its effectiveness in plumping the skin and minimizing the appearance of fine lines. This should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Non-greasy formula Mostly Mentioned
    • “Hydrated my skin without leaving a greasy feel”
    • “It isn't greasy”
    • “Doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy”
    • “No greasy residue”
  • Effective hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Provides hydration for an extended period”
    • “Really hydrates my skin”
    • “Keeps my skin moisturized”
    • “Unlock 24-hour hydration”
  • Fast absorption Often Mentioned
    • “Absorbs like a dream”
    • “Absorbs completely within a couple of minutes”
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “Sinks in”
  • Softens and plumps Often Mentioned
    • “My skin felt soft, supple and healthy”
    • “Makes my face silky soft”
    • “Skin was brighter & softer”
    • “Actual plumping of my skin”
  • Noticeable scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Slight rose smell”
    • “Afraid to put it in my face since it does have a strong scent”
    • “Has a light fragrance”
  • Price concerns Rarely Noted
    • “Not exactly cheap”
    • “Product is too expensive for what you get”
  • Texture/residue issues Rarely Noted
    • “Makes my face feel a bit rough to the touch”
    • “Dried lotion on the part where you twist the lid”
    • “Didn't feel or see that my skin was hydrated”

Sources: lovi.care, olay.com, walmart.com, samsclub.com, cvs.com, marianos.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream a great fit for combination skin?

This cream is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oil while hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and panthenol provide deep moisture without feeling heavy. It keeps your skin hydrated and smooth while working to reduce oily shine. The gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?

Niacinamide helps control oily shine, while hyaluronic acid and glycerin provide essential moisture without feeling heavy. Panthenol and tocopheryl acetate further support your skin type by keeping it calm and hydrated.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

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

This cream goes in your morning and evening routine as your moisturizer step. It is a great fit for your combination skin because niacinamide helps balance oil while hyaluronic acid and glycerin provide essential hydration without heaviness.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

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

You can use this cream with retinol, applying the retinol first and following with this moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. This formula is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in both your morning and evening routines. Regular application helps keep your skin hydrated while managing oily shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as it features a safe formula with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation. It helps balance your skin while keeping it hydrated without heavy residue.

Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021

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

You can use this cream on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body because its gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation. Hyaluronic acid and panthenol help hydrate and support these delicate areas.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • 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
  • 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
  • A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • 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
  • 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
  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
  • 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

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta

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?

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How does it fit your skin?

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