Perricone MD Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Rejuvenating Moisturizer for acne-prone skin

Acyl-Glutathione
Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate
Lactic Acid
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil
Vitamin F Blend
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024
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 benefits for your combination skin, with glycerin and S-palmitoylglutathione providing hydration and plumping effects, though it does not specifically target your acne concerns.
- Palmitoyl glycine and macadamia ternifolia seed oil offer antioxidant support and nourishment, which are generally beneficial but not directly aimed at reducing blemishes.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and poses no irritation risk.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis moisturizer is highly praised for its rich, velvety texture that absorbs quickly to provide intense hydration, making it a favorite for dry and mature skin types. Users frequently report a visible improvement in skin softness, radiance, and a firmer, more supple appearance, though some note that it may not fully erase deep-set wrinkles.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps skin hydrated all day.”
- “Great for dry patches.”
- “Feels very moisturizing.”
Fast absorbing Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs fast, not greasy.”
- “No residue feel afterwards.”
- “Absorbs quickly without stickiness.”
Pleasant texture Often Mentioned
- “Light, velvety texture.”
- “Not too heavy, not too light.”
- “Creamy, not greasy.”
Expensive price Often Mentioned
- “On the steep side.”
- “More expensive side.”
- “Price is quite high.”
Improves radiance Sometimes Noted
- “Produces a radiant glow.”
- “Skin looks healthier.”
- “Imparts a beautiful radiance.”
Limited wrinkle results Sometimes Noted
- “Haven't noticed much difference.”
- “Not as good as advertised.”
- “Deep lines remain.”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Fragrance too strong.”
- “Concerned about fragrance.”
- “Experienced minor irritation.”
Sources: lovi.care, perriconemd.com, mecca.com.au, macys.com, nordstrom.com, ipsy.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Rejuvenating Moisturizer work for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for acne-prone skin, providing moderate hydration and antioxidant support, though it does not specifically target blemishes. A product of this type for acne-prone skin needs ingredients that actively help clear blemishes and breakouts, soothe irritation, and balance moisture without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
This cream works for acne-prone skin because glycerin and S-palmitoylglutathione provide hydration, while palmitoyl glycine and macadamia seed oil offer nourishment and antioxidant support. However, a product for this skin needs ingredients that directly target blemishes and breakouts while providing safe hydration and soothing benefits without irritation.
What does Acyl-Glutathione do for acne-prone skin?
Acyl-Glutathione helps support antioxidant defense and calm skin, but acne-prone skin typically needs ingredients that clear pores and reduce breakouts.
What does Vitamin C do for acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten dark spots left behind by breakouts and calms redness in acne-prone skin. Daily use may also help improve overall skin clarity and support an even skin tone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment step in the evening. It provides moderate hydration and nourishment, but acne-prone skin works best with a product of this type that also targets blemishes.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe the skin and lock in moisture. Acne-prone skin works best with a moisturizer that offers blemish-fighting and pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
How often should I use this cream?
This moisturizing treatment works well for daily hydration, but because it is an average fit for acne-prone skin, it lacks specific ingredients to target blemishes. To properly care for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs blemish-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help keep pores clear.
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 irritation on your acne-prone skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, but it does not target blemishes either. Acne-prone skin works best with products that contain soothing and clearing ingredients to help keep pores clear.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is safe to use around the eyes or on the body, as it poses no irritation risk. However, acne-prone skin generally needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and lightweight hydration to properly care for delicate or body areas without clogging pores.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citronellol, limonene, and linalool). 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, 2017Glutathione amino acid precursors effectively increase cellular glutathione levels, reducing oxidative stress, ATP depletion, and DNA damage in human keratinocytes, clinical subjects, and ex vivo skin compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Topical oxidized glutathione significantly decreases the skin melanin index and improves moisture content, smoothness, wrinkle formation, and elasticity compared to placebo in healthy women.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2014Topical glutathione improves hyperpigmentation, reduces ultraviolet-induced erythema and wrinkles, decreases transepidermal water loss, and enhances antioxidant capacity.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998Topical conjugated linolenic acid significantly reduced edema on post-procedure Day 3 and itching on Days 1 and 3, and improved wrinkling at Day 14 compared to 1% dimethicone ointment in 34 subjects undergoing fractionated CO2 laser resurfacing of the face.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2017Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
Co-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, 2023A 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, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Polysorbate 60, Palmitoyl Glycine, S-Palmitoylglutathione, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Peg-100 Stearate, Ribose, Lactic Acid, Linum Usitatissimum Seed Oil, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Sodium Hydroxide, Polyacrylamide, Sodium Acrylates Copolymer, Polysilicone-11, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Phenoxyethanol, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Limonene, Linalool
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.