Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer for oily acne-prone skin
Avobenzone
Octocrylene
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin EHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few sunscreens 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
- Offers high suitability for your oily skin, as niacinamide helps regulate sebum and glycerin provides essential hydration, addressing your concerns with oiliness and breakouts.
- The inclusion of panthenol and niacinamide offers moderate effectiveness for managing acne and blemishes, complementing the product's primary benefits.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive and combination skin frequently praise this moisturizer for being lightweight and non-irritating, often noting it provides effective hydration without clogging pores or causing acne breakouts. A notable subset of users experiences a burning or stinging sensation upon application, and those with darker skin tones often report a visible white cast, particularly with the SPF 35 and SPF 50 versions.
Highlights
Gentle for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Great for my acne-prone skin, doesn't cause breakouts.”
Lightweight & non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “Glides on smoothly and absorbs quickly without leaving residue.”
- “Feels light on the skin, not heavy or sticky like other sunscreens.”
- “Perfect for under makeup because it isn't oily.”
Effective hydration Sometimes Noted
- “Keeps my dry patches moisturized all day.”
- “Leaves my skin feeling soft and plump.”
- “Good balance of moisture for my combination skin.”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “Love that it has no strong perfume smell.”
- “Great for people sensitive to scents.”
- “Doesn't clash with my perfume.”
Burning sensation Sometimes Noted
- “Stings my face immediately after applying.”
- “Causes a burning feeling around my eyes.”
- “Had to wash it off because the burning wouldn't stop.”
White cast Sometimes Noted
- “Leaves a purple/white film on my dark skin.”
- “Takes a long time to rub in so I don't look pale.”
- “The SPF 50 version makes me look like a ghost.”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Makes my eyes water if I get it anywhere near them.”
- “Migrates into my eyes and stings badly.”
- “Can't use it on my forehead because it runs into my eyes.”
Greasy finish Rarely Noted
- “Left my face looking shiny and oily by midday.”
- “Felt like a layer of grease sitting on top of my skin.”
- “Too heavy for my very oily skin type.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, cetaphil.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oil and glycerin delivers essential hydration without feeling heavy. It also includes panthenol and vitamin E to help manage breakouts safely, with a very low risk of irritation for oily and acne-prone skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and niacinamide make this cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps balance oil while glycerin delivers hydration without clogging pores. Panthenol and niacinamide also help manage blemishes, and the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
What does Avobenzone do for oily acne-prone skin?
Avobenzone helps protect your skin from sun damage, but it does not treat oily or acne-prone skin on its own. Sunscreens for this skin type need ingredients that feel light, absorb excess oil, and won't clog your pores.
What does Octocrylene do for oily acne-prone skin?
Octocrylene helps protect oily acne-prone skin from the sun without worsening breakouts or causing facial dysbiosis. However, because it may act as a contact allergen for some people, products for this skin type also need soothing ingredients and a lightweight, oil-free formula to keep skin calm and clear.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
Apply this moisturizer in the morning as the final step before your sunscreen. It provides essential hydration without heavy oils, making it a great fit to keep oily and breakout-prone skin balanced and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
This moisturizer is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin and helps keep it calm and hydrated while you use retinol. Apply your retinol treatment first in your evening routine, and follow it with this moisturizer to lock in hydration and keep your skin comfortable.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing spf daily in your morning routine as the final step before sun exposure. Regular daily application helps keep oily and breakout-prone skin hydrated while protecting it from UV rays.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin, as niacinamide helps control oil and glycerin provides hydration without clogging pores. The product is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging, and vitamin E shows non-comedogenic potential in studies.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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, 2017The 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, 2024Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Encapsulation 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, 2011Microencapsulation 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, 2011Following 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, 2008Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025Early 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, 2015Dermal 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, 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 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 an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dipropylene Glycol, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Isopropyl Palmitate, Silica, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Sorbitan Olivate, Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E Acetate, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Palmitic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Leontopodium Extract Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Stearic Acid, 1,2-Hexanediol, Rice Extract Lees Extract, Propanediol, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Myristic Acid, Buddleja Davidii Leaf Extract, Thymus Vulgaris Leaf Extract, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Avobenzone, Octocrylene
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
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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