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CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion for combination skin

Caution

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • RiskySafety

A poor match for combination skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it 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

  • Offers low suitability for your oily shine and combination skin as glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide hydration but lack sufficient ingredients for significant oil control on oily areas.
  • Dimethicone offers general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive, but do not directly address your main goal of reducing oily shine.

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

★4.7Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This lotion is highly praised by users with dry, itchy, or flaky skin for its ability to provide deep, long-lasting hydration without the heavy grease associated with traditional intensive creams. The inclusion of 5% Hydro-Urea is frequently highlighted as a key differentiator that helps smooth rough texture and relieve itchiness, though it can cause temporary stinging on broken or sensitive skin.

Highlights

  • Fast Absorption Mostly Mentioned
    • “Sinks in quickly”
    • “Non-greasy finish”
    • “Dries down faster than expected”
  • Deep Hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin moisturized all day”
    • “Effective for winter dryness”
    • “Restores moisture barrier”
  • Lightweight Feel Often Mentioned
    • “Richer than daily lotion but feels light”
    • “Breathable”
    • “Not sticky”
  • Itch Relief Sometimes Noted
    • “Soothes itchy skin”
    • “Comfortable on tight skin”
  • Texture Improvement Sometimes Noted
    • “Smooths rough patches”
    • “Reduces flakiness”
    • “Softens "alligator skin"”
  • Stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
    • “Burns on open sores”
    • “Stings broken skin”
    • “Temporary tingling”
  • Price/Value Rarely Noted
    • “Expensive for size”
    • “Small bottle”
    • “Higher cost than standard lotion”
  • Residue Rarely Noted
    • “Can feel tacky initially”
    • “Slightly shiny finish”
    • “Greasy if over-applied”
  • Scent Rarely Noted
    • “Faint "chemical" smell”
    • “Medicinal odor”

Sources: lovi.care, hometesterclub.com, reddit.com, ulta.com, target.com, staples.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why does Lovi advise caution with CeraVe Intensive Moisturizing Lotion for combination skin?

Lovi advises caution because this moisturizer offers low suitability for your oily shine and combination skin since glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide hydration but lack sufficient ingredients for significant oil control on oily areas. A product for this skin needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients, soothing agents, antioxidants, multiple peptides, natural moisturizing factors, and a balanced pH to reduce oily shine and maintain skin health without irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this moisturizer a poor fit for combination skin?

This moisturizer is a poor fit for your combination skin because glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide hydration but lack sufficient ingredients for significant oil control on oily areas. A moisturizer for this skin needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients that align with reducing oily shine, along with soothing agents, antioxidants, multiple peptides, and natural moisturizing factors.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hydroxyethyl Urea do for combination skin?

Hydroxyethyl Urea helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by drawing in moisture without feeling heavy or greasy. It supports hydration and is unlikely to cause irritation when used regularly in your routine.

Cureus, 2025Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 2016

What do Ceramides do for combination skin?

Ceramides help keep combination skin balanced by supporting the skin barrier to lock in moisture without feeling heavy. They are a good fit because they help protect dry areas while keeping oily zones calm and comfortable. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and skin-repairing ingredients to keep the barrier strong across both oily and dry areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003

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

This moisturizer goes as the third step in the morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and as the final step in the evening routine. Because it offers low suitability for combination skin by lacking sufficient oil control, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients to better manage oily areas.

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

You can use this moisturizer with retinol to help keep your skin comfortable, applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinol helps reduce dryness and irritation while you treat your skin.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use this moisturizer?

This moisturizer is a poor match for combination skin because it provides hydration but lacks oil control for shiny areas, so a moisturizer for this skin needs oil-absorbing ingredients and lightweight balancing hydration instead.

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

This moisturizer is unlikely to cause purging, but it may feel heavy and contribute to breakouts on combination skin because it lacks sufficient oil-controlling ingredients for oily areas. A product for this skin needs oil-balancing ingredients and lightweight hydrators to manage shine while keeping dry areas soft and smooth.

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

This moisturizer is suitable for use on the body and around the eyes, where the skin is much thinner. It provides good moisture, but combination skin needs a product that also helps control excess shine in oily areas.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this moisturizer 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, 2017
  • Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.

    Dermatologic Therapy, 2022
  • Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.

    Ostomy/wound Management, 2005
  • Topical 40% urea cream achieved improvement in less time and showed superiority over 12% ammonium lactate lotion in skin roughness, fissure reduction, thickness, and dryness at day 14 in patients treated for moderate to severe xerosis.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
  • Topical treatment with K101 achieved a significantly higher mycological cure rate compared to placebo in patients with ≤50% nail involvement (27.2% vs 10.4%), while showing early visible improvements in nail appearance and no safety issues.

    Mycoses, 2012
  • A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.

    Lasers in Medical Science, 2025
  • A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
  • 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

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Petrolatum, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, 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

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