Clinique Moisture Surge Broad Spectrum SPF 28 Sheer Hydrator for oily acne-prone skin
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other sunscreens fit it 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 moderate hydration and UV protection for your oily skin, with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate providing humectant benefits while caffeine offers antioxidant activity.
- While the formula is generally suitable for oily skin and offers good hydration, it does not specifically target your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients like aloe barbadensis polysaccharides leaf and saccharide isomerate, with no harsh or prohibited substances.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with dry to combination skin frequently praise this product for its deep hydration and dewy glow, noting it is inclusive for darker skin tones due to its lack of white cast. Users with oily skin or sensitivity to scents often report a strong sunscreen smell, a greasy finish, and pilling under makeup.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “boost in hydration”
- “great for dry skin”
No white cast Often Mentioned
- “blends in sheer”
- “dark skin friendly”
- “invisible on skin”
Strong smell Often Mentioned
- “strong sunscreen scent”
- “smells like chemicals”
- “unpleasant odor”
Glowy finish Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin glowing”
- “dewy finish”
- “healthy glow”
Good for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “no irritation”
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “gentle formula”
Lightweight feel Sometimes Noted
- “cloud-like texture”
- “weightless on skin”
- “absorbs quickly”
Greasy finish Sometimes Noted
- “looks very oily”
- “greasy after hours”
- “too shiny”
Pills under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills under makeup”
- “rolls off skin”
- “crumbles when touched”
Low SPF Rarely Noted
- “wish it was SPF 30”
- “SPF 28 is low”
- “need more protection”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “tacky feeling”
- “thick cream not gel”
- “sticky residue”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, ulta.com, sephora.com, amazon.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clinique Moisture Surge SPF 28 Sheer Hydrator work for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer with SPF works for your oily skin by offering moderate hydration and sun protection, but it does not target acne and breakouts. Products of this type need lightweight, non-greasy formulas that hydrate without clogging pores, while containing ingredients that support skin barrier function and help address blemishes.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide lightweight moisture, while caffeine and aloe help soothe and protect your oily skin. For oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs non-greasy hydrating ingredients, a lightweight texture that does not clog pores, and specific components that actively target blemishes and breakouts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013
What does Aloe Bioferment do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Bioferment helps keep oily acne-prone skin feeling calm and hydrated without feeling heavy or greasy. Ingredients like this help soothe angry skin and balance moisture, which is especially helpful when dealing with breakouts.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing SPF goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before sun exposure. It helps keep oily skin hydrated and protected, but for this skin type, a product of this type needs acne-targeting ingredients to help clear blemishes.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizing spf during your morning routine before sunscreen, and apply your retinol at night instead. Oily acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer with blemish-fighting ingredients and barrier-repairing components like ceramides when using strong treatments like retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing SPF every morning as the final step of your daytime routine. It provides moderate hydration and sun protection, though oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free formulas with active ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help clear blemishes and prevent breakouts.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging, but since it does not target breakouts, oily acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish-clearing ingredients and a lightweight, oil-free feel.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl 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, 2017Topical caffeine acts as an active cosmetic compound by preventing excessive fat accumulation through phosphodiesterase inhibition, protecting cells against UV radiation with antioxidant properties, increasing skin microcirculation, and stimulating hair growth via 5-alpha-reductase inhibition.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2013Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Topical 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, 2012A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021Caffeine stimulates metabolic activity in hair follicles and acts as an antioxidant through adenosine pathway interactions, showing potential as an effective and safe management option for hair loss despite current study limitations.
Molecules, 2025Topical and ingested vitamin D3 significantly reduced chloasma severity scores and improved wound healing outcomes, skin hydration, and skin barrier function in 480 individuals compared to a placebo.
International Wound Journal, 2024Topical vitamin D administration in acne vulgaris lesions significantly reduced IL-1β levels and decreased inflammatory lesion severity compared to placebo.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024Topical calcitriol decreased UV-induced DNA damage and sunburn cell density in healthy volunteers while reducing Mantoux responses at high doses, demonstrating both protective and immunosuppressive effects.
Experimental Dermatology, 2010
Why other sunscreens fit oily acne-prone skin better
Biomimetic hyaluronic acid-stabilized zinc oxide nanoparticles selectively inhibited C. acnes, outperformed erythromycin in preclinical acne models, and safely reduced acne lesions and redness in a clinical trial.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2025Topical 0.5% hyaluronic-ZnO nanogel applied twice daily reduced inflammatory-lesion counts by 58% at week four in human subjects compared to baseline without causing erythema.
Biomedicines, 2025
Ingredients
Avobenzone, Homosalate, Octinoxate, Octisalate, Water, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexyl Methoxycrylene, Butyloctyl Salicylate, Dextrin Palmitate, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Glycerin, Lactobacillus Lysate Ferment, Aloe Barbadensis Polysaccharides Leaf, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Sodium Polyaspartate, 7-Dehydrocholesterol, Caprylyl Glycol, Acrylates Copolymer, Sorbitol, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Sucrose, Saccharide Isomerate, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Ppg-8-Ceteth-20, Sorbeth-30 Tetraisostearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Potassium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Dipropylene Glycol, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Hexylene Glycol, Acrylates Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bht, Disodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Red 4 Ci 14700
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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