Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 for oily skin
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best sunscreens for oily skin.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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 zinc gluconate and aluminum octenylsuccinate starch, which effectively absorb excess oil and mattify your complexion, complemented by dimethicone for a lightweight, non-greasy feel.
- Glycerin and a blend of UV filters, including avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene, offer superior hydration and protection against sun damage, further enhancing the product's benefits for your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with glycyrrhetinic acid and panthenol providing soothing benefits and ensuring no irritation for your oily skin.
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 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its hydrating properties and SPF protection without pore clogging. A notable number of users report significant eye irritation and find the oil-absorbing claim to be ineffective, leading to a greasy finish for some.
Highlights
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “leaves my face feeling matte initially”
- “controls excess oil throughout the day”
- “helps reduce shine and keeps skin matte for hours”
Good sun protection Often Mentioned
- “provides excellent sun protection”
- “love that it has sunscreen in it”
- “SPF 30 is a nice bonus”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs super fast”
- “feels so lightweight and non-greasy”
- “blends like a dream”
Eye stinging Often Mentioned
- “burns your eyes like crazy”
- “stinging my eyes”
- “eyes will burn like crazy”
Acne-safe formula Sometimes Noted
- “won't clog pores”
- “doesn't cause breakouts”
- “great for acne-prone skin”
Greasy finish Sometimes Noted
- “makes me look like I just applied oil”
- “does not provide a matte finish”
- “plasters oil all over your face”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “strong scent of sunblock”
- “sunscreen smell”
- “smell might bother some people”
White cast Rarely Noted
- “leaves my pale face looking ashy”
- “white cast”
- “looks a little bit ashy”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, iherb.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil DermaControl Oil Control Moisturizer SPF 30 one of the best fits for oily skin?
Zinc gluconate and aluminum octenylsuccinate starch help absorb excess oil to keep your face matte, while dimethicone gives it a lightweight, non-greasy feel. Glycerin provides hydration and UV filters protect against sun damage, with glycyrrhetinic acid and panthenol helping to soothe the skin without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Zinc gluconate and aluminum octenylsuccinate starch make this cream a great fit for oily skin by soaking up extra oil and keeping your face matte. Dimethicone adds a lightweight, non-greasy feel, while glycerin, avobenzone, octisalate, and octocrylene deliver hydration and sun protection.
What does Avobenzone do for oily skin?
Avobenzone protects outdoor skin from the sun, but for oily skin, it needs to be paired with lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients to keep skin clear and shine-free.
What does Octisalate do for oily skin?
Octisalate helps protect oily skin from the sun as a chemical filter without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It is unlikely to cause irritation and works safely in daily sunscreens to shield the skin.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer with SPF goes in the morning routine after your cleanser and hydrating toner. It keeps oily skin protected from the sun while providing a lightweight, non-greasy feel with very low risk of irritation.
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 this cream to keep your oily skin calm and hydrated. Barrier-enhancing moisturizers help reduce dryness and irritation when using strong treatments like retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer with sunscreen every morning as part of your daily routine. Its lightweight ingredients help absorb excess oil and keep your skin protected without feeling heavy.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it features a lightweight, non-greasy feel and ingredients that absorb excess oil to keep your complexion matte. Glycerin and panthenol help maintain hydration and soothe your skin without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cream 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, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Encapsulation 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, 2008Simulated real-life dermal sunscreen exposure in twenty human volunteers leads to the systemic bioavailability and urinary excretion of the UV filter 2-ethylhexyl salicylate and its metabolite, reaching concentration peaks at 7 to 8 hours with 70-80% of overall excretion within 24 hours.
Archives of Toxicology, 2019The 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, 2024Controlled single dermal exposure to an EHS-containing sunscreen in three volunteers resulted in delayed systemic resorption with elimination half-lives between 6.6 and 9.7 hours, where the parent compound EHS occurred as the dominant urinary parameter.
Archives of Toxicology, 2024Incorporating 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 gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
Ingredients
Avobenzone, Octisalate, Octocrylene, Water, Isopropyl Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Diisopropyl Sebacate, Silica, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Sucrose Tristearate, Dimethiconol, Pentylene Glycol, Polysorbate 61, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Panthenol, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Carbomer, Potassium Sorbate, Zinc Gluconate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine Ceramide
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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