EltaMD Skin Recovery Night Mask for oily acne-prone skin
Aacomplex
Sodium Hyaluronate
Tocopheryl Acetate
Bisabolol
Aloe Barbadensis Flower ExtractAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other nourishing masks 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 suitability for oily skin, as Propanediol and Sodium Hyaluronate provide essential humectant action to hydrate and support barrier resilience, which is beneficial for acne and breakouts. Saccharide Isomerate and Bisabolol further hydrate and soothe, offering general skincare benefits supportive for your concerns.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with Bisabolol and Tocopherol acting as soothing agents and the absence of harsh ingredients preventing irritation.
- While it provides excellent moisturizing and supportive care for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients for optimal results on oily skin.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using the creamy mask 3 times a week and slowly move to daily use.
- Apply the creamy mask after your cleanser and toner, but right before your moisturizer or SPF.
- Gently smooth a thin layer of the creamy mask over your face. Avoid any harsh rubbing motions.
- Apply the creamy mask evenly on clean and dry skin for the best results against blemishes. Let it sit comfortably without rushing the process.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area. Do a quick patch test before your very first application to check for safety.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis night mask is highly praised for its lightweight, gel-like texture that effectively calms redness and strengthens the skin barrier without leaving a greasy residue. While it is a favorite for sensitive and acne-prone skin types seeking overnight rejuvenation, a subset of users with severely dry skin noted that it may not provide enough intense moisture on its own.
Highlights
Hydrating and soothing Mostly Mentioned
- “Wake up the next morning to hydrated skin.”
- “My skin feels so soft and with glow.”
- “Hydrates and soothes.”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “Absorbing quickly and leaving no residue.”
- “Lightweight, calming gel-like texture.”
- “No greasy or sticky feeling.”
Reduces redness Often Mentioned
- “Takes down redness overnight.”
- “Redness around my cheeks and nose... was noticeably reduced.”
- “Helps reduce redness and irritation.”
Sensitive skin friendly Sometimes Noted
- “Non-reactive for my sensitive skin.”
- “Fragrance-free is also fantastic.”
- “Suitable for sensitive and acne-prone skin.”
Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
- “If you have severely dry skin, this is probably not for you.”
- “It might need more hydrating ingredients.”
- “Not as hydrating as CeraVe.”
Irritation potential Rarely Noted
- “Burnt my under-eye skin!”
- “This product dried my skin out.”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “It's not the most hygienic option.”
- “It would be nice if... a pump or a more sanitary dispenser.”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, ellemesmedspa.com, bluemercury.com, trustpilot.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does EltaMD Skin Recovery Night Mask work for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask works well enough for oily acne-prone skin by providing soothing moisture and supporting the skin barrier, but a product of this type needs more oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results on this skin type.
Molecules, 2021International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Which ingredients make this mask a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium Hyaluronate, Propanediol, Bisabolol, and Saccharide Isomerate make this mask a good fit by providing essential hydration and soothing benefits that support skin barrier resilience. However, a nourishing mask for oily skin also needs targeted oil control and mattifying ingredients for optimal results.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
What does AA Complex do for oily acne-prone skin?
AA Complex helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing skin irritation and redness while accelerating the skin repair process.
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 mask go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask works for your oily acne-prone skin, though this skin type needs a product that includes oil-balancing ingredients for best results. It is applied as the last step of an evening routine to provide moisture and soothe breakouts.
Can I use this mask with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this mask with your evening retinol, applying the retinol first and following with the mask once it absorbs. This mask helps keep your skin calm and hydrated while you use retinol, though oily skin of this type needs oil-controlling ingredients for optimal results.
How often should I use this mask?
This mask works for your oily acne-prone skin, though other products fit it better because oily skin needs oil-controlling ingredients.
Can this mask clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This mask is unlikely to cause breakouts or irritation on oily skin, as it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients like bisabolol and no harsh additives. However, because it lacks oil-controlling ingredients, oily skin types need a product with added seboregulating ingredients to properly manage excess oil and breakouts.
Is this mask fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.
Molecules, 2021Formulations containing saccharide isomerate significantly improved transepidermal water loss, sebum secretion, and scalp flaking compared to a placebo formulation in an adult Chinese population affected by dandruff scalp.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019An amino acid complex formulated in a Skin Recovery System reduced skin irritation and redness while accelerating the skin repair process in 37 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 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 application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A 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, 2010
Why other nourishing masks fit oily acne-prone skin better
A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Isononyl Isononanoate, Propanediol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Polyacrylamide, Phenoxyethanol, Taurine, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Arginine, Saccharide Isomerate, Citric Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Laureth-7, Tocopherol, Bisabolol, Lespedeza Capitata Stem Extract Leaf, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Phytate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Melia Azadirachta Leaf Extract, Melia Azadirachta Flower Extract, Glycine, Corallina Officinalis Extract, Coccinia Indica Fruit Extract, Solanum Melongena Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Flower Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Ocimum Basilicum Leaf Extract Flower, Curcuma Longa Root Extract
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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