Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream for oily acne-prone skin
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this cream effectively addresses your concerns with niacinamide to regulate oil production and glycerin for essential hydration. Hyaluronic acid further supports moisture balance, helping to plump and refine your skin.
- The inclusion of panthenol offers additional soothing benefits, complementing the primary ingredients for overall skin comfort.
- This formula is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle composition with no harsh ingredients and beneficial components like niacinamide and panthenol.
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 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that provides long-lasting hydration, making it suitable for various skin types, including sensitive and combination skin. Users consistently report smoother, softer, and more radiant skin, with many highlighting its effectiveness in plumping the skin and minimizing the appearance of fine lines. This should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Non-greasy formula Mostly Mentioned
- “Hydrated my skin without leaving a greasy feel”
- “It isn't greasy”
- “Doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy”
- “No greasy residue”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Provides hydration for an extended period”
- “Really hydrates my skin”
- “Keeps my skin moisturized”
- “Unlock 24-hour hydration”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs like a dream”
- “Absorbs completely within a couple of minutes”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Sinks in”
Softens and plumps Often Mentioned
- “My skin felt soft, supple and healthy”
- “Makes my face silky soft”
- “Skin was brighter & softer”
- “Actual plumping of my skin”
Noticeable scent Sometimes Noted
- “Slight rose smell”
- “Afraid to put it in my face since it does have a strong scent”
- “Has a light fragrance”
Price concerns Rarely Noted
- “Not exactly cheap”
- “Product is too expensive for what you get”
Texture/residue issues Rarely Noted
- “Makes my face feel a bit rough to the touch”
- “Dried lotion on the part where you twist the lid”
- “Didn't feel or see that my skin was hydrated”
Sources: lovi.care, olay.com, walmart.com, samsclub.com, cvs.com, marianos.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream is a great fit because niacinamide helps regulate oil production while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration without heaviness. Panthenol also helps soothe your skin for overall comfort.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a great fit because niacinamide helps regulate oil production while glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration without heaviness. Panthenol also brings soothing benefits to keep your skin comfortable and calm.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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 cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream goes in your morning routine after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen, and in your evening routine as the final step after your treatment. Using a moisturizer helps lock in hydration and keep your skin comfortable without clogging pores.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with the cream to keep your skin calm and hydrated. A moisturizer like this helps reduce the irritation and dryness that often come with retinol use.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this cream daily as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated and balanced. Regular daily application helps maintain moisture and calm your skin without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it features a gentle composition without harsh ingredients. It helps regulate oil production while providing essential hydration, keeping your skin calm and balanced.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream safely around your eyes and on your body because its gentle formula provides reliable moisture and comfort without harsh ingredients. Studies show that panthenol in the formula helps calm irritation and improve hydration in sensitive areas.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetearyl 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, 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, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A 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 post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 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, 2019The 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, 2012Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical 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, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta
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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