Lancôme HYDRA ZEN for oily skin
Glycerin
DimethiconeCaution
- CautionOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for oily skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
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
- Unsuitable for oily skin as dimethicone and cyclomethicone can clog pores and exacerbate oiliness, rather than providing seboregulation for your oily shine.
- While glycerin offers moderate moisturizing benefits, the overall formula does not address your primary concern of oily shine.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this product is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-greasy texture that provides significant hydration and a healthy glow, making it suitable for dry and sensitive skin. Users frequently report that it effectively soothes irritation and redness, and works well as a makeup base. A small number of users with extremely dry skin found it insufficient on its own.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “keeps the skin soft and hydrated”
- “provides intense hydration and soothes the skin”
- “left my skin feeling hydrated and looking as radiant”
- “made my skin moisturized all day long”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “lightweight texture that absorbs quickly and penetrates into my skin without feeling heavy or greasy”
- “starts off as a very light, almost liquid texture and then becomes thicker”
- “lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer provides hydration”
- “absorbs quickly without leaving a greasy residue”
Good under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “perfect moisturizer to prep your skin before makeup”
- “works very well under the Dual Finish Powder”
- “works well as a makeup base”
- “used it on every skin type before my makeup applications”
Soothes sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “works great on my sensitive skin”
- “calms irritated skin to reveal a more beautiful, radiant-looking complexion”
- “gentle for sensitive skin”
- “reduces irritation and redness for sensitive skin”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “at this price point it should stand on its own”
- “expected better quality for this price”
- “nothing about it that is special enough to warrant the price tag”
- “expensive for a stress reliever”
Not moisturizing enough Rarely Noted
- “ultimately this moisturizer is a huge let down and dries out my skin”
- “I would not recommend if you have dry skin”
- “needs intervention by a second product”
- “After two hours my skin is completely dry, dull and covered in fine lines”
Unappealing scent Rarely Noted
- “the smell is very unappealing and almost has a motor oil smell to it”
- “The heavy fragrance is something that really puts me off”
- “the rosy roseness is a bit much for me”
- “the smell is slightly gross. It reminds me of daffodils”
Sources: lovi.care, lancome-usa.com, ulta.com, bloomingdales.com, macys.com, dillards.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Lancome Hydra Zen for oily skin?
Lovi advises caution because dimethicone and cyclomethicone may clog pores and worsen oily shine instead of managing it. An oily skin product needs lightweight hydrating agents and soothing extracts without heavy oils to control shine without causing breakouts.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?
Dimethicone and cyclomethicone make this cream a poor fit for oily skin because they can clog pores and make oily shine worse. A moisturizer for this skin needs a lightweight texture with peptides and hydrating agents, no heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier.
What does Water do for oily skin?
Water helps keep oily skin hydrated without adding grease or clogging pores. Keeping oily skin properly hydrated may also help balance oil production and reduce unwanted shine.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer is a poor match for oily skin because ingredients like dimethicone may clog pores and increase oiliness instead of controlling shine. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free formulas with balancing ingredients to manage excess oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Exercise caution when using this cream with retinol on oily skin, as heavier ingredients like dimethicone may clog pores and worsen shine. Instead, oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with balancing and pore-clearing ingredients like l-carnitine or salicylic acid used after your retinol treatment.
How often should I use this cream?
This moisturizer is a poor match for oily skin as it contains ingredients that can clog pores and worsen shine. Oily skin needs lightweight, oil-free hydration and balancing ingredients that control excess oil without heavy silicones.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream may clog pores and trigger breakouts on oily skin because ingredients like dimethicone can trap oil rather than balance your shine. Oily skin needs lightweight formulas with ingredients that control oil and keep pores clear without heavy silicones.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is not ideal for the thin skin around the eyes or on the body because its rich formula is designed for facial use and may clog pores. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that help control shine without heavy silicones.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, citronellol, geraniol, hexyl cinnamal, benzyl alcohol, benzyl salicylate, citral, and coumarin) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).
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, 2017The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Alcohol Denat, Cyclohexasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Triethanolamine, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Alcohol, Benzyl Salicylate, Citral, Coumarin, Hydroxycitronellal, Tocopherol
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
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