Obagi Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Kinetin
Zeatin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Ascorbic Acid
Hydrolyzed ElastinAverage
- 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 excellent moisturizing for your oily skin due to kinetin and panthenol, which hydrate and enhance barrier resilience, but lacks targeted ingredients for your primary concerns of acne and oiliness.
- Dimethicone provides emollient action suitable for oily skin, though stronger seboregulation ingredients are absent.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsWhile many report visible improvements in skin texture and fine lines, some users find the price point too high and have experienced significant frustration with the airless pump packaging.
Highlights
Deep hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “hydrating for super-dry skin”
- “long lasting hydration”
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “plump and well-hydrated”
Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “non-greasy feel”
- “velvety texture”
- “light like water”
Soothing & calming Often Mentioned
- “reduces redness”
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “calms irritation”
- “hypoallergenic”
Anti-aging benefits Sometimes Noted
- “skin younger looking”
- “improves fine lines”
- “skin feels radiant”
- “restores youthful look”
Faulty packaging Sometimes Noted
- “pump does not work”
- “bottle design is a scam”
- “wasted product”
- “impossible to open”
High price Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “not worth the money”
- “overrated”
- “pricey for the amount”
Acne/Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke out with acne”
- “caused small bumps”
- “not ideal for acne”
- “clogged pores”
Texture dislike Rarely Noted
- “too thick”
- “did not like texture”
- “feels heavy”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, obagi.com, dermstreet.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Obagi Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream provides good moisture and is safe for your oily skin, but it does not treat acne or control oiliness. To work best for this skin type, a product of this kind needs ingredients that target blemishes, clear excess oil, and keep pores clear without feeling heavy.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Kinetin and panthenol make this cream a good fit by hydrating your skin and strengthening its protective barrier. To work best for oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs acne-clearing ingredients, oil-control agents, and lightweight, non-clogging hydration.
Annals of Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Kinetin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Kinetin helps keep skin moisturized and may improve skin barrier function, but it lacks strong clinical evidence for treating acne itself. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight ingredients that balance oil and soothe irritation without clogging pores.
What does Zeatin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream goes as the moisturizer step in your morning routine, and as the final step after your treatment in your evening routine. While it offers good hydration, oily acne-prone skin also needs targeted acne-fighting and oil-controlling ingredients.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin comfortable and reduce dryness. Using a moisturizer alongside stronger treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and supports your skin barrier while you use retinol.
How often should I use this cream?
Use this cream twice a day to keep your skin hydrated and maintain a strong skin barrier, as it is safe for oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation. To properly care for oily acne-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs added ingredients that specifically target acne and excess oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your oily skin, though some reviewers mention low rates of acne. A product for this skin needs targeted ingredients to control oil and clear blemishes.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is safe to use around the eyes, where the skin is particularly thin, and on the body. It provides good moisture and is unlikely to cause irritation, though body skin and the periorbital area may benefit from targeted treatments depending on specific needs.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Kinetin treatment increased involucrin and keratin 1 mRNA expression in HaCaT cells and improved skin moisture and transepidermal water loss while decreasing skin texture roughness in subjects using kinetin-containing cream compared to baseline.
Annals of Dermatology, 2017A 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 combination of kinetin and niacinamide exerts synergistic anti-aging effects with significant reductions in spot, pore, wrinkle, and evenness counts, alongside increased hydration and decreased erythema in Taiwanese subjects compared to placebo.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007Cosmetic formulations containing a liposomal dispersion of magnesium ascorbyl phosphate, alpha-lipoic acid, and kinetin provided photoprotection against UV damage in hairless mouse skin and enhanced stratum corneum and deeper layer skin moisture in human volunteers after four weeks of daily applications.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2012Topical 0.1% kinetin cream applied twice daily for 12 weeks resulted in slight but statistically significant improvements in overall skin condition, texture, color, and wrinkles among 100 Thai subjects with facial photo-damage compared to baseline.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2015Pretreatment with trans-Zeatin significantly inhibits UVB-induced MMP-1 expression, c-Jun activation, and MAPK phosphorylation in cultured human skin fibroblasts compared to UVB irradiation alone.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2009Long-term treatment with zeatin in human skin fibroblasts undergoing aging in vitro prevented cell enlargement, reduced intracellular debris, prevented actin polymerization, and enhanced stress tolerance without increasing maximum proliferative capacity.
Rejuvenation Research, 2005Trans-Zeatin treatment attenuates ultraviolet-induced aquaporin-3 loss, delayed wound healing, and decreased water permeability in cultured human skin keratinocytes through the inhibition of MEK/ERK activation.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2010Topical 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of a 0.1% copper-zinc malonate-containing cream significantly enhanced elastin biosynthesis and induced elastic fibre regeneration in photoaged facial skin of 21 female patients after 6 weeks of treatment compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009A betaine-based deep eutectic solvent successfully enhanced the transdermal delivery of elastin peptide, which improved skin barrier repair, reduced melanin secretion and deposition, and stimulated the secretion of procollagen I and elastin.
Biomaterials Advances, 2024Bioactive recombinant humanized elastin (RHE) gel effectively restores skin elasticity, reverses UV-induced damage and oxidative stress, and promotes extracellular matrix remodeling in zebrafish and aged mice models compared to commercial vitamin E and recombinant humanized collagen gels.
Materials Today. Bio, 2025
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A peel-off facial mask containing myoinositol and trehalose-loaded liposomes improved adult female acne by decreasing lesion counts, sebum production, GAGS scores, and local androgen levels while increasing beclin-1 levels.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2017A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Octyldodecyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Cetyl Alcohol, Peg-12 Glyceryl Dimyristate, Stearyl Alcohol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Phenoxyethanol, Laureth-23, Dimethicone, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethoxydiglycol, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Kinetin, Zeatin, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Disodium Edta, Panthenol, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Water-Soluble Collagen, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrochloric 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
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