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Dermalogica Active Moist for combination skin

Dermalogica Active Moist

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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

  • This product offers excellent moisturizing for your combination skin, with sodium hyaluronate and silk amino acids providing deep hydration to plump and balance your skin without exacerbating oiliness.
  • Ingredients like dimethicone and caprylic capric triglyceride further support hydration, making it suitable for managing oily shine.
  • The formulation is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing lavender and grape seed extracts and lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

Users with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this moisturizer for its sheer, lightweight formula that hydrates without clogging pores or leaving a greasy residue. Those with drier skin types or in colder climates often find it insufficient for their hydration needs, and a low frequency of users mention concerns about scent or formula changes.

Highlights

  • Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “feels like nothing”
    • “zero residue”
    • “super sheer”
    • “matte finish”
    • “light as water”
  • Absorbs instantly Often Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately”
    • “disappears into skin”
    • “no waiting time”
    • “makeup ready instantly”
    • “drinks it up”
  • Best for oily/acne skin Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't clog pores”
    • “no breakouts”
    • “controls oil”
    • “saved my acne”
    • “perfect for grease-balls”
  • Great under makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “no pilling”
    • “smooth canvas”
    • “primer-like finish”
    • “foundation sits perfectly”
    • “non-sticky base”
  • Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
    • “pricey for size”
    • “too expensive”
    • “wallet hurts”
    • “cost prohibitive”
    • “tiny tube”
  • Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “need more hydration”
    • “too watery”
    • “dry patches remain”
    • “useless in winter”
  • Formula change concerns Rarely Noted
    • “consistency changed”
    • “used to be better”
    • “new formula stings”
    • “waterier than before”
    • “quality dropped”
  • Herbal/earthy scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like plants”
    • “weird herbal smell”
    • “medicinal scent”
    • “strong lemon/cucumber”
    • “scent lingers”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, dermstore.com, ulta.com, acne.org, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Dermalogica Active Moist a great fit for combination skin?

This moisturizer is a great fit because sodium hyaluronate and silk amino acids provide deep hydration to plump and balance combination skin without adding extra oiliness. Ingredients like dimethicone and caprylic capric triglyceride further support hydration, helping to manage oily shine safely.

Life, 2023

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?

Sodium hyaluronate and silk amino acids make this cream a great fit for combination skin by delivering deep hydration to plump and balance your skin without making it oily. Ingredients like dimethicone, caprylic/capric triglyceride, soothing lavender, and grape seed extracts further support moisture and help manage oily shine safely.

Life, 2023Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025

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

What does Lavender Extract do for combination skin?

Lavender extract helps calm combination skin by reducing oxidative stress and supporting skin barrier recovery. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve overall skin cell health.

Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 2015

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment step in the evening. Using it daily helps keep your skin balanced and hydrated without making it oily.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol treatment first and following it with this moisturizer. This helps keep your skin balanced and calm while reducing the dryness that retinol may cause.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizer twice a day, in the morning and evening, as part of your daily routine for combination skin. Regular daily use helps keep your skin deeply hydrated and balanced without adding extra oily shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it hydrates and balances the skin without adding extra oiliness. Its ingredients support a very safe profile, though some reviewers do mention that it might not feel moisturizing enough for drier days.

Life, 2023Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this moisturizer anywhere on your body, including the thin skin around your eyes. Its light, hydrating ingredients help soften and balance dry or oily areas without causing irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Life, 2023

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.

    Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025
  • Tea tree oil effectively treated acne while lavender and rosemary oils demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties in derma cosmetic applications based on an evaluation of various essential oils.

    Frontiers in Medicine, 2025
  • A blend of Lavandula angustifolia flower extract and dipeptide-4 reduced oxidative and glycation markers, enhanced ATP, SOD, autophagy, and melatonin production, and improved tissue morphology in human skin models and fibroblasts.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
  • Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.

    Life, 2023
  • Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005
  • Silk fibroin wound dressings exhibit anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic properties that accelerate skin wound healing compared to commercially available dressings in preclinical and clinical settings.

    Biomolecules, 2022
  • Chitosan silk fibroin topical hydrogel accelerated tissue reformation and wound regeneration compared to other groups in adult male Wistar albino rats.

    Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2023

Ingredients

Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Lactamide Mea, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract Lavender Extract, Malva Sylvestris Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Hedera Helix Stem Extract Leaf, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract Flower, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf, Silk Amino Acids, Glycolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin Glycerin Crosspolymer, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium Edta, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil

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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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.