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Mary Kay TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer for oily acne-prone skin

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

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 suitability for oily skin, as glycerin and betaine provide excellent hydration and enhance barrier resilience, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
  • While it offers general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, these are irrelevant or mostly supportive for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts due to the lack of specialized ingredients.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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 200+ reviews

This moisturizer is widely praised for its lightweight, non-greasy formula that hydrates effectively and improves skin texture, making it a popular choice for those looking to address fine lines and maintain a radiant complexion. While many users with normal, combination, and oily skin report excellent results, some individuals with sensitive skin have experienced breakouts or irritation.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face with a smooth matte finish”
    • “Doesn't leave my face greasy”
    • “Very lightweight”
  • Improves texture Often Mentioned
    • “Skin texture improve after just three days”
    • “Leaves my skin silky smooth”
    • “Skin looked a lot smoother”
  • Quick absorption Often Mentioned
    • “Absorbs on contact”
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “Doesn't take much time to put it on”
  • Reduces fine lines Sometimes Noted
    • “Fine lines around my mouth has disappeared”
    • “Reduces the appearance of fine lines”
    • “Helps delay signs of aging”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “Slightly expensive”
    • “My only problem is the price”
    • “That's a lot”
  • Limited availability Sometimes Noted
    • “Must be ordered online or via... representative”
    • “Moved to another product”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Broke my face out so bad”
    • “Concerned about... breaking out”
    • “Teenage acne look”
  • Causes sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “Red as a McIntosh apple”
    • “Skin is extremely sensitive to their cosmetics”
    • “Non irritating”

Sources: lovi.care, facebook.com, influenster.com, reviewstream.com, fabellis.com, ebay.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does TimeWise Age-Fighting Moisturizer work for oily acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as it provides hydration and keeps your skin comfortable without causing irritation, though it lacks specialized ingredients to actively control oil or breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydrators, oil-controlling agents, and pore-clearing ingredients to effectively manage blemishes and excess shine.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Molecules, 2024

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

Glycerin and betaine make this moisturizer a fit by providing hydration and strengthening your skin barrier without irritation, though an oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-free formulations with specialized acne-fighting and oil-controlling ingredients for optimal care.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Molecules, 2024

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Dimethicone do for oily acne-prone skin?

Dimethicone helps protect oily, acne-prone skin from irritation, but it shows varying performance in keeping skin hydrated compared to other protectants. Because it can feel heavy, this type of skin often needs lighter ingredients like natural plant oils with a higher linoleic acid to oleic acid ratio to keep pores clear and the skin barrier strong.

Ostomy/wound Management, 2005Military Medicine, 2024

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

This moisturizer goes after your toner in the morning and after your treatment at night, as well as after your treatment during weekly routines. Oily acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer that balances hydration with oil-controlling and breakout-clearing ingredients.

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

You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying your retinol treatment first and following with the moisturizer. This product helps keep your skin soft and provides good hydration while you use retinol, and it is unlikely to cause irritation since it lacks harsh ingredients.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this moisturizer?

You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It is very gentle on your oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation, though it lacks the oil-controlling ingredients needed to fully manage breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation for your oily skin, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients. However, it may not help much with breakouts, because an oily acne-prone skin type needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to truly clear up blemishes.

Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021

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

You can use this moisturizer on your body and around your eyes, as it is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, this gentle formula helps keep it soft and hydrated.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

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, 2017
  • A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.

    Molecules, 2024
  • Dermatological 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, 2021
  • Lecithin-based nanoemulsions showed superior viability in human skin cells compared to SDS-based formulations, with components remaining in superficial stratum corneum layers indicating low skin irritation risk.

    International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2020
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • Wearing 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, 2024
  • A 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, 2000
  • Treatment 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
  • Topical 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, 2025
  • Topical 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, 2024
  • A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
  • Topical dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.

    Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007
  • Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2003
  • Mixed surfactant systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine significantly reduce acute skin irritation potential in human volunteers compared with the individual surfactants, demonstrating that irritation potential cannot be predicted by simple summation.

    Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998

Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Isostearyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Behenyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Bis-Diglyceryl Polyacyladipate-2, Ceteareth-20, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Silica, Carbomer, Diazolidinyl Urea, Lauramine Oxide, Disodium Edta, Betaine, Glyceryl Polyacrylate, Methylparaben, Sodium Pca, C9-15 Alkyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Sorbitol, Propylparaben, Serine, Threonine, Proline, Arginine, Glycine, Alanine, Lysine, Glutamic Acid, Thermus Thermophillus Ferment

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.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.