CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion for oily acne-prone skin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin as niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and sodium hyaluronate provides essential hydration without clogging pores. Glycerin further enhances this moisturizing effect, supporting your acne-prone skin by maintaining a balanced skin barrier.
- The inclusion of ceramides and cholesterol strengthens your skin's natural defenses, which is beneficial for managing breakouts and preventing further irritation.
- This formula is safe for your skin, with no reported risks of irritation and a composition that actively soothes and supports your skin's health.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 60.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly praised for its lightweight, non-greasy texture and its effectiveness in repairing the skin barrier without causing breakouts, making it a favorite for oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin. While most users find it gentle and effective, a moderate number of users with very dry skin report it's not hydrating enough for nighttime use, and a low number experience mild stinging or have concerns about potential formula changes.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “Sinks right into your skin”
- “Leaves no greasy residue”
- “Perfect under makeup”
Barrier-repairing ingredients Often Mentioned
- “Helped repair my moisture barrier”
- “Niacinamide calms my redness”
- “Great ingredients for the price”
Safe for acne-prone skin Often Mentioned
- “Never breaks me out”
- “The only moisturizer that doesn't clog my pores”
- “Safe for my acne-prone skin”
Fragrance-free & gentle Sometimes Noted
- “No strong scent”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “Not enough for winter dryness”
- “Need to layer it with something heavier”
- “Skin felt tight after an hour”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump stopped working halfway through”
- “Hard to open”
- “Bottle is too small for the price”
Reformulation concerns Rarely Noted
- “New formula is watery”
- “Used to be better”
- “Caused breakouts after they changed it”
Stinging sensation Rarely Noted
- “Burned my face instantly”
- “Stings around my eyes”
- “Caused redness and heat”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, target.com, cerave.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This lotion is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oil and sodium hyaluronate gives lightweight moisture that will not clog your pores. Ceramides and cholesterol strengthen your skin barrier to help manage breakouts, while phytosphingosine may soothe irritation and support overall skin health.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, and glycerin make this cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because they help balance oil and provide light moisture without clogging pores. Ceramides, cholesterol, and phytosphingosine also strengthen your skin's natural defenses and calm breakouts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help restore the protective barrier of oily, acne-prone skin, which often lacks these vital lipids and suffers from moisture loss and irritation. Using products with ceramides supports skin hydration, calms redness, and improves overall texture while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes near the end of your morning and evening routines, right before sunscreen in the morning and after your treatment step at night. It is safe for oily skin and helps keep your skin balanced without clogging pores.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it absorb, and then following with the cream to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids is unlikely to cause irritation and may help your skin tolerate the treatment better.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application is unlikely to cause irritation while helping to keep your skin hydrated and balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps balance oil production while sodium hyaluronate and glycerin provide essential hydration without clogging pores. Ceramides and phytosphingosine further support your skin barrier and help manage breakouts with a low risk of irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this moisturizing treatment on your body, but keep in mind that the skin there differs greatly in thickness from facial skin. Body skin is generally much thicker than the very thin skin around the eyes and on areas like the eyelids, which requires tailored care.
Is this cream 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, 2017Application of Body Lotion for 5 weeks on cosmetic dry skin improved barrier properties, increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides, and long-chain fatty acids, increased beneficial skin bacteria, and enhanced microbiome functional potential compared to baseline.
Scientific Reports, 2022Phytosphingosine demonstrates anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activity with excellent clinical results in acne vulgaris.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Topical 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, 2012Topical application of an emulsion containing a complete mixture of ceramides III, IIIB, VI, phytosphingosine, cholesterol, and linoleic acid significantly accelerated barrier recovery after SLS damage and improved skin hydration after acetone treatment in human volunteers compared to an emulsion containing only two types of ceramides.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2002Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Phytosphingosine inhibits melanin synthesis in cultured melan-a cells and a reconstructed human skin model by modulating MITF through suppression of gene expression and induction of protein degradation.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Potassium Phosphate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Dimethicone, Ceteareth-20, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, 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
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