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CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 for oily skin

Superior

  • SuperiorOily Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best sunscreens for oily skin.

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

  • Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by ceramides and sodium hyaluronate, which effectively manage oiliness and support your skin barrier without being occlusive. Glycerin further enhances humectant action, ensuring your skin remains hydrated and balanced.
  • The combination of avobenzone, homosalate, octisalate, and octocrylene offers superior UV protection, safeguarding your skin from sun damage.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components that prevent irritation.

How to apply

  • Use this moisturizing sunscreen daily in your AM routine. Reapply every two hours when exposed to direct sun.
  • Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
  • Smooth an even layer of the moisturizing sunscreen over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing.
  • Apply the moisturizing sunscreen onto clean, dry skin for the best protection and even coverage.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and discontinue use if any irritation occurs.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 85.0k+ reviews

This moisturizer is a highly regarded, fragrance-free staple that offers effective hydration and sun protection, making it a favorite for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Based on a very large amount of data, it is frequently noted for its restorative ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide, and its excellent value. However, a significant number of users report issues with pilling, especially under makeup, and a noticeable white cast on darker skin tones. Some also find the texture greasy or experience eye irritation.

Highlights

  • Restorative ingredients Mostly Mentioned
    • “contains essential ceramides”
    • “niacinamide calms redness”
    • “hyaluronic acid hydrates”
  • Pilling under makeup Mostly Mentioned
    • “rolls off skin”
    • “clumps under makeup”
    • “flakes like eraser dust”
  • Effective sun protection Often Mentioned
    • “prevents daily burn”
    • “good everyday SPF”
    • “peace of mind”
  • Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't clog pores”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
    • “no fragrance irritation”
  • Visible white cast Often Mentioned
    • “leaves white residue”
    • “ghostly appearance”
    • “not for dark skin”
  • Value for money Sometimes Noted
    • “affordable drugstore gem”
    • “good price point”
    • “lasts a long time”
  • Greasy finish Sometimes Noted
    • “feels heavy/oily”
    • “shiny face all day”
    • “takes forever to absorb”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “stings my eyes”
    • “burns when sweating”
    • “makes eyes water”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, target.com, ulfa.com, walmart.com, cerave.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 one of the best fits for oily skin?

This moisturizer is a great fit for oily skin because ceramides and sodium hyaluronate manage oiliness and support your skin barrier without feeling heavy or greasy. Glycerin helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated, while chemical sunscreens protect against sun damage with minimal risk of irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

Which ingredients make this lotion a good fit for oily skin?

This lotion is a great fit for your oily skin thanks to ceramides and sodium hyaluronate, which manage oiliness and support your skin barrier without feeling heavy. Glycerin helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated, while the gentle formula prevents irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What do Ceramides do for oily skin?

Ceramides help keep oily skin balanced by strengthening the skin barrier and retaining essential moisture without clogging pores. When paired with ingredients like niacinamide, they may also help improve skin texture and reduce blemishes. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight hydrators and pore-balancing ingredients.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017

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

This lotion goes in the morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and before applying sunscreen. It helps manage oiliness and keeps your skin balanced without feeling heavy.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying it before your retinol treatment in your evening routine to help protect your skin from irritation. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside active treatments is generally safe and helps maintain skin comfort.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use this lotion?

You can use this moisturizing spf every morning to keep your oily skin hydrated and protected from the sun. Daily application helps maintain skin barrier balance without feeling heavy or greasy, while its chemical filters have a strong safety profile for regular use.

Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

This moisturizer is a great fit for oily skin because its ceramides and sodium hyaluronate manage oiliness and keep your skin balanced without clogging pores. It contains no harsh ingredients, so it is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024

Is this lotion fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

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
  • Encapsulating avobenzone in low-porosity TiO2-embedded mesoporous silica (TiO2/SBA-S) reduced cutaneous avobenzone absorption from 0.76 to 0.50 nmol/mg while providing effective pollutant adsorbability, UVA protection, and a two- to three-fold reduction in photoaged skin cytokines/chemokines compared to the non-treatment control.

    European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2023
  • Chemical sunscreens containing avobenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, and octisalate showed no to minimal risks of dermal irritation, sensitization, photo-allergy, and photo-irritation in human subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
  • The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024
  • 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
  • Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011
  • Microencapsulation of the BMDBM/HP-beta-CD complex in lipid microparticles significantly decreased the percutaneous penetration of the UV filter into the stratum corneum of human volunteers compared to the non-encapsulated sunscreen agent.

    Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis, 2011
  • Following human skin application of an O/W emulsion containing 2% BMDBM loaded in lipospheres, 15% of the sunscreen accumulated in the uppermost layers of the stratum corneum without remarkably modifying skin permeation compared to unencapsulated sunscreen.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2008
  • Dermal application of a sunscreen containing 10% homosalate in four volunteers resulted in delayed elimination with terminal half-times around 24 h and a bioavailability of cis-homosalate a factor of 2 lower than trans-homosalate, while metabolite ratios supported using oral-route urinary excretion fractions for dermal exposure assessments.

    Archives of Toxicology, 2024
  • Homosalate exhibited the highest permeation among tested filters with a relative permeability rate of 4.2% and a depth of 60 um, and specific thickeners and emulsifiers successfully reduced its permeation without inhibiting the skin permeation of niacinamide.

    Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2026
  • An online-SPE-LC-MS/MS method successfully quantified specific urinary homosalate metabolites for up to 96 hours after dermal sunscreen application in a volunteer and detected metabolites exclusively in three German pilot participants who had used sunscreen within five days.

    Analytica Chimica Acta, 2021
  • Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.

    Antioxidants, 2025
  • Early application of sunscreen after ablative fractional skin resurfacing significantly increased the sensitization rate of the UV-filter, octocrylene, and the sunscreen compared to intact skin.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2015
  • Dermal sunscreen exposure in 20 healthy volunteers led to plasma concentrations of avobenzone, octocrylene, and its metabolite CDAA reaching up to 11 μg/L, 25 μg/L, and 1352 μg/L, respectively.

    Environment International, 2019

Ingredients

Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Water, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methyl Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Crosspolymer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyacetophenone, Citric Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, T-Butyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin

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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

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