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Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers 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 benefits for your oily skin, as Zinc Gluconate and Resveratrol help regulate oil and provide antioxidant protection, while Glycerin and Shea Butter offer hydration and barrier support. Ceramides and fatty acids enhance barrier resilience, which is beneficial but not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The formula is highly suitable for oily skin and generally safe, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
  • This product provides excellent moisturizing treatment and barrier support, making it a generally safe option for your skin.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

This rich cream is highly effective for dry, mature, or compromised skin, providing deep, long-lasting moisture and barrier repair, often noted as a winter savior. Users with oily or acne-prone skin, however, frequently report experiencing congestion and breakouts due to its heavy, occlusive texture.

Highlights

  • Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “healed dry patches overnight”
    • “skin feels quenched all day”
    • “saved my skin this winter”
    • “no more flaking”
  • Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
    • “buttery and rich”
    • “feels like a protective layer”
    • “thick but absorbs well”
    • “glides on smoothly”
  • Hygienic packaging Sometimes Noted
    • “love the push pump”
    • “sanitary and easy”
    • “dispenses perfect flower shape”
    • “no waste packaging”
  • Soothing repair Sometimes Noted
    • “soothed retinol burn”
    • “reduced redness immediately”
    • “restored my barrier”
  • Causes breakouts Sometimes Noted
    • “broke me out immediately”
    • “caused whiteheads overnight”
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “too heavy for acne-prone skin”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “too expensive for the size”
    • “pricey for a moisturizer”
    • “not worth the money”
    • “finished too quickly”
  • Greasy finish Rarely Noted
    • “feels like vaseline”
    • “too greasy for day use”
    • “sat on top of skin”
    • “made me look oily”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like old sunscreen”
    • “weird chemical scent”
    • “unpleasant natural smell”
    • “smells like plastic”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.sg, spacenk.com, ulta.com, drunkelephant.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Bora Barrier Repair Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?

Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream works okay for oily acne-prone skin, as it provides moderate hydration and barrier support but lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. A product of this type needs lightweight ingredients that address acne and blemishes, enhance radiance and moisture without adding excess oil, and maintain a healthy complexion.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Zinc gluconate and resveratrol make this cream a good fit for oily skin because they help regulate oil and provide antioxidant protection, while glycerin and shea butter offer hydration and barrier support. To work best for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs powerful ingredients that specifically target blemishes and breakouts without adding excess oil.

What does 6-Butterlipid Complex do for oily acne-prone skin?

Heavy butters and oils in a 6-butterlipid complex are generally too rich for oily, acne-prone skin and may clog pores or trigger breakouts. Instead, this type of skin needs lightweight, oil-free hydrators with ingredients like hyaluronic acid or niacinamide to keep things smooth and clear without adding extra shine.

What does Zinc Gluconate do for oily acne-prone skin?

Zinc gluconate helps calm red, angry breakouts and controls extra oil on oily, acne-prone skin. It is unlikely to cause harsh side effects, making it a gentle option for clearing up blemishes.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Dermatologic Therapy, 2018

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream goes as the final step of your evening routine, after your treatment, and in your morning routine after a hydrating toner and before your sunscreen. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, though oily and acne-prone skin also needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to best manage breakouts.

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

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the moisturizer first to help reduce dryness and irritation from the treatment. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside retinoids is generally safe and helps keep your skin comfortable.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2016

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps improve skin moisture and barrier function while remaining generally safe for your skin type.

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 unlikely to cause purging since it does not contain exfoliating acids, but it may occasionally lead to breakouts for oily acne-prone skin. Reviewers sometimes complain about breakouts because richer ingredients like shea butter can feel heavy on blemish-prone skin.

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

You can use this cream safely around your eyes and on your body, as its soothing formula has a very good safety profile and lacks harsh ingredients. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-balancing ingredients that clear blemishes without clogging pores.

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

  • Application 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, 2022

  • A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

  • 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, 2017

  • Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023

  • Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2013

  • Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999

  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025

  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025

Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Propanediol, Ethylhexyl Olivate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, C10-18 Triglycerides, Cetearyl Alcohol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Cetearyl Olivate, Sorbitan Olivate, Beta-Sitosterol, Oenothera Biennis Oil, Sclerocarya Birrea Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Oleic Acid, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Glucosyl Ceramide, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Glycosphingolipids, Rosa Canina Oil Fruit, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, Alpha-Glucan, Resveratrol, Epigallocatechin Gallate, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Sodium Pca, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sorbitan Isostearate, Astaxanthin Extract, Quercetin, Astaxanthin, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Eop, Dextrin, Palmitic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lactate, Stearic Acid, Pentylene Glycol, Brassica Campestris Seed Oil, Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Tocopherol, Polysorbate 60, Carbomer, 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 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.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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