e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Peptides
Niacinamide
Squalane
Trehalose
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other sunscreens fit it 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
- Offers moderate suitability for your combination skin, as niacinamide helps with seboregulation and trehalose provides humectant action, though the richer formula may be more than needed for your oily T-zone.
- The product provides excellent moisturizing with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate and plump your skin, but these ingredients are not specifically targeted for your oily shine concerns.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen AM daily to protect your skin and control shine. Reapply as needed throughout the day.
- Use it as the final step of your morning routine after applying your moisturizer. It combines hydration and sun protection in one.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount evenly over your face, avoiding harsh rubbing. Let it absorb fully before putting on makeup.
- Apply it directly to clean, dry skin for the best oil-controlling finish. Ensure your face is completely dry so the product sets properly.
- Avoid the immediate eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 5.9k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is widely celebrated for delivering deep hydration with a lightweight, non-greasy feel that rivals high-end luxury creams. It is generally praised for smoothing skin texture and working well under makeup. Some users with acne-prone skin experienced breakouts, and others found the scented version too overpowering.
Highlights
Effective hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin looks plump and nourished”
- “keeps my skin hydrated without feeling greasy”
- “relieves dry, tight skin”
Lightweight & fast Mostly Mentioned
- “sinks in quickly to leave smooth, soft skin”
- “absorbs almost instantly”
- “lightweight feel... without feeling greasy”
Excellent value Often Mentioned
- “unbeatable price point”
- “comparable with more expensive face creams”
- “fraction of the price”
Makeup compatible Often Mentioned
- “layers smoothly under makeup”
- “works as more of a primer”
- “makeup just glides on”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “packed with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid”
- “peptides to promote collagen”
- “niacinamide to brighten”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is pleasant but... overpowering”
- “heavy fragrance”
- “smells like old school sea salt”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “got pimples the other day”
- “caused a little acne break out”
- “skin was fighting against it”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “texture feels pretty greasy to me”
- “leaves a weird film”
- “looks oily around my nose”
Not for dry skin Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “not moisturizing enough for very dry skin”
- “dry spots even just 15-20 mins later”
Packaging concerns Rarely Noted
- “wish it came with a spatula”
- “prefer a tube... for hygiene”
- “putting my finger into the jar”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, elfcosmetics.com, byrdie.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does e.l.f. Holy Hydration! Face Cream work for combination skin?
This cream works moderately well for combination skin because its niacinamide helps manage oil and its sodium hyaluronate and glycerin hydrate the skin, though the richer formula may feel like too much for an oily T-zone. A product of this type needs to be exceptionally safe with no risk of irritation, effectively address oily shine with lightweight hydrating and barrier-supporting ingredients, and offer sun protection to truly excel for combination skin.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and trehalose help make this cream a good fit for combination skin by balancing oil and holding in moisture. However, a product of this type needs a lightweight formula that manages oily shine, sun protection, and safe hydration without adding excess oil.
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 do Peptides do for combination skin?
Peptides help combination skin by keeping it smooth, supporting firmness, and boosting hydration. They also help reduce the appearance of lines and encourage skin repair, though absorption depends on the formula.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Food & Function, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizer goes in the morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen, and in the evening routine as the final step after any treatments. Combination skin typically needs a lightweight, balancing formula with niacinamide or lightweight hydrators that keep dry areas comfortable without making the oily T-zone overly shiny.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated. This type of product works well with retinoids because it provides gentle moisture without irritating ingredients, though a combination skin type needs a lighter formula that will not feel heavy on the oily areas.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream daily in your morning and evening routines as a moisturizer to hydrate your skin. Because your combination skin has an oily T-zone, a lighter gel or lotion texture without heavy oils may suit your skin better.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation for your combination skin since it lacks harsh ingredients, but the richer formula may feel heavy on your oily T-zone. A product for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate along with oil-balancing niacinamide to keep pores clear.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024A 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 hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022Topical 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, 2019Topical 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, 2005Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-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, 2025Topical chloramphenicol-betamethasone combined with sodium hyaluronate/trehalose/carbomer gel compared to chloramphenicol-betamethasone alone reduced most subjective symptoms at 1 week but increased blurred vision at 4 weeks following strabismus surgery in 31 patients, with no significant differences in conjunctival inflammation between treatments.
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2019Topical treatment with Thealoz Duo significantly improved dry eye disease symptoms, tear break-up time, and restored tear lipid layer functionality by reducing inflammatory response proteins in moderate to severe dry eye patients over 56 days.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025An injectable product combining different molecular weights of hyaluronic acid and trehalose reduced CML formation by 45% at baseline and 30% under methylglyoxal-induced stress while preserving cell viability in human skin explants compared to untreated controls.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025
Why other sunscreens fit combination skin better
Topical application of tocopherol succinate ethosomal gel decreased erythema, melanin, and sebum levels while improving moisture content and skin elasticity in 34 human women.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Isohexadecane, Stearyl Heptanoate, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Niacinamide, Cetearyl Olivate, Trehalose, Squalane, Dimethicone, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Octenylsuccinate Starch, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Silica, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Panthenol Vb5, Sorbitan Olivate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polyethylene, Disodium Edta, Polyacrylate-13, Polyisobutene, Polysorbate 20, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Parfum, Carbomer
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
How does it fit your skin?
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