CeraVe Moisturizing Cream for combination skin
3 Essential Ceramides
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Dimethicone
Cholesterol
Low
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak 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 moderate hydration for your combination skin due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, but petrolatum and dimethicone may increase oily shine in certain areas.
- While ceramide NP, AP, and EOP support the skin barrier, the formula lacks targeted ingredients for oil control, which is your main goal.
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 71.0k+ reviewsA small number of users with acne-prone skin reported breakouts, and some experienced a stinging sensation, particularly on compromised barriers.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “saved my dry skin”
- “keeps skin soft”
- “long-lasting moisture”
- “healed my cracked hands”
Gentle and soothing Often Mentioned
- “no fragrance”
- “doesn't irritate”
- “calms redness”
Non-greasy texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “thick but not sticky”
- “matte finish”
- “doesn't feel oily”
Value and versatility Sometimes Noted
- “huge tub lasts forever”
- “use on face and body”
- “great price point”
- “good for whole family”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump stopped working”
- “tub is unhygienic”
- “broken pump on arrival”
- “hard to get last bit out”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “stung my face”
- “burned upon application”
- “caused a rash”
- “irritated my eyes”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “too heavy for face”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “feels waxy”
- “too thick to spread”
- “leaves a film”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, cerave.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is CeraVe Moisturizing Cream a weak match for combination skin?
This cream is a weak match for combination skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and dimethicone may increase oily shine in certain areas, and it lacks the targeted oil control ingredients you need. A moisturizer for this skin type needs balancing and brightening ingredients that hydrate without adding excess oil.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for combination skin?
Petrolatum and dimethicone make this cream a weak fit for your combination skin because they may increase oily shine in certain areas, and the formula lacks targeted ingredients for oil control. A moisturizer for combination skin needs effective brightening and moisturizing ingredients to reduce oily shine without causing irritation, along with soothing agents, antioxidants, peptides, and natural moisturizing factors.
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.
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 toward the end of your morning and evening routines after your lighter steps, though it is a weak match for combination skin. Heavier moisturizers for this skin need lighter hydrators and ingredients that help control oil shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the cream to help keep your skin soft and reduce potential irritation. Combination skin of this type needs a lightweight hydrator with targeted oil control ingredients instead of heavy petrolatum and dimethicone.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a weak match for your combination skin because heavy ingredients like petrolatum and dimethicone may increase oily shine in certain areas. To better fit this skin type, a moisturizer should provide hydration while also including targeted ingredients for oil control.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, though reviewers mention it happens rarely. Combination skin needs a moisturizer with oil-balancing ingredients to manage shine.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is suitable for use on the body and around the eyes, where the skin is much thinner than on the rest of the face. It helps keep these areas soft and protected, though a body moisturizer typically needs ingredients like ceramides and rich oils to support skin everywhere.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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, 2017Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Botulinum toxin-A encapsulated in phosphatidylcholine/cholesterol nanoliposomes delivered transdermally achieved a diffusion depth of 380 μm and showed a nonsignificant advantage in relieving post-acne scarring compared to hyaluronic acid hydrogel treatment in 12 facial patients.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2024Topical application of cholesterol sulfate increases stratum corneum thickness and inhibits protease-induced cell dissociation by competitively inhibiting serine proteases in mice and human stratum corneum.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1998Topical lovastatin treatment impairs the recovery of cutaneous permeability barrier function and stratum corneum cholesterol levels after acetone disruption in mice, an effect normalized by simultaneous treatment with mevalonate or cholesterol.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 1990
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetyl Alcohol, Ceteareth-20, Petrolatum, Dimethicone, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Phosphate, Tocopherol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, 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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Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
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Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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