ILIA Beauty The Base Face Milk for oily skin
Squalane
Sodium Hyaluronate
Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil
Allantoin
Lactic AcidAverage
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin, with ingredients like squalane and glycerin providing supportive benefits without exacerbating oiliness.
- Lactic acid offers mild exfoliation, and sodium hyaluronate and glycerin ensure excellent moisturizing and plumping effects.
- The product is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil and Allantoin, and lacks harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lightweight essence-moisturizer hybrid is widely praised for its ability to deeply hydrate dry skin, soothe redness, and create a smooth, plump canvas for makeup. While most users with sensitive or mature skin report excellent results, those with acne-prone skin have mixed experiences, and many reviewers debate whether the high price point is justified compared to more affordable alternatives.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “milky and non-greasy”
- “light but effective”
- “sinks in effortlessly”
High price point Mostly Mentioned
- “too expensive for the size”
- “$58 is steep”
- “pricey for a toner”
- “hard to justify the cost”
Deep hydration & plumping Often Mentioned
- “floods skin with moisture”
- “leaves face feeling soft”
- “extremely hydrating for dry patches”
- “skin feels bouncy”
Excellent makeup prep Often Mentioned
- “perfect base for foundation”
- “makeup glides on”
- “prevents clinging to dry spots”
- “gives a glass-skin glow”
Barrier support Sometimes Noted
- “strengthens skin barrier”
- “healed my dry barrier”
- “feels protective”
- “good for winter skin”
Soothing & redness reduction Sometimes Noted
- “calms irritation instantly”
- “reduces redness significantly”
- “soothing on sensitive skin”
Better value alternatives Sometimes Noted
- “Rhode/Laneige is cheaper”
- “similar to other milky toners”
- “not revolutionary enough for price”
- “good but not unique”
Messy packaging Sometimes Noted
- “dispenses too fast”
- “pours out quickly”
- “messy bottle opening”
- “hard to control amount”
Breakouts (acne-prone) Rarely Noted
- “caused small bumps”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged my pores”
- “not for acne-prone skin”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, iliabeauty.com, spacenk.com, reddit.com, reallyree.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ILIA Beauty The Base Face Milk work for oily skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for oily skin by offering moderate hydration and mild exfoliation without making your face overly greasy. To fit this skin type best, a product of this type needs peptides and lightweight hydrating agents that manage shine and maintain the skin barrier without heavy oils or breakouts.
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for oily skin?
This moisturizer works for oily skin thanks to ingredients like squalane and glycerin, which provide supportive hydration without adding extra oiliness. Sodium hyaluronate also helps plump the skin, while allantoin and argan oil help keep it calm and comfortable. To fit oily skin even better, a moisturizer of this type needs peptides and lightweight hydrating agents that control shine and support the skin barrier without heavy oils.
What does Squalane do for oily skin?
Squalane helps keep oily skin soft and smooth without feeling heavy, though oxidized forms may sometimes trigger irritation. To work well for oily skin, this type of product needs lightweight, non-clogging ingredients that balance moisture without adding excess grease.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen in the morning, and after your treatment in the evening. To better fit oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and hyaluronic acid, along with soothing ingredients like allantoin.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this moisturizer with retinol to help keep your skin comfortable and smooth. Apply your retinol first, let it sink in, and then smooth on this moisturizer to help calm any dryness.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer daily in your morning and evening routines. Daily application helps keep oily skin hydrated and smooth while supporting your skin barrier.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a low complaint rate for acne and contains soothing ingredients like allantoin. However, because it is an average fit, oily skin often does better with a lightweight, oil-free gel containing niacinamide or salicylic acid to help control shine.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use around the eyes, where the skin is very thin, and on the body. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and argania spinosa kernel oil.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Squalane 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 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, 2019A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Topical application of an argan oil NLC-based hydrogel formulation increased skin hydration in healthy volunteers over a one-month period through a synergistic effect of NLC occlusion and argan oil hydration.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2014Incorporating allantoin into argan oil enriched liposomes improved its accumulation in the dermis (~8.7μg/cm(2)) and permeation through the skin (~33μg/cm(2)) compared to conventional liposomes, water dispersion, and a commercial gel.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Propanediol, Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil, 1,2-Hexanediol, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Hydroxyacetophenone, Isohexadecane, Allantoin, Linoleic Acid, Phytosterols, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyglyceryl-10 Stearate, Hydrolyzed Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Lactic Acid
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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