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Paula's Choice RESIST Intensive Repair Cream for oily skin

Low

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak 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

  • Offers moderate benefits for your oily shine as retinol and niacinamide help regulate sebum production and promote cell turnover, but the inclusion of rich emollients like petrolatum and jojoba seed oil poses risks of worsening oily skin.
  • The product provides excellent moisturizing and anti-aging benefits due to retinol and multiple peptides, which smooth texture and minimize fine lines and wrinkles.

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

★4.4Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This rich, retinol-infused moisturizer is widely celebrated by users with dry to very dry skin for its ability to deeply hydrate and repair the moisture barrier without feeling greasy. While most users find it soothing and effective for softening fine lines, a minority report breakouts or dissatisfaction with recent formula and packaging changes.

Highlights

  • Deep Hydration Mostly Mentioned
    • “skin felt immediate relief”
    • “biggest drink of hydration”
    • “ridding me of flakes”
    • “heals barrier”
  • Luxurious Texture Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs perfectly”
    • “thick and luxurious”
    • “silky feel”
    • “not greasy at all”
  • Gentle Anti-Aging Sometimes Noted
    • “diminish fine lines”
    • “wake up glowing”
    • “gentle retinol”
    • “smoother skin”
  • Soothing & Calming Sometimes Noted
    • “calm again”
    • “soothing”
    • “no irritation”
    • “great with tretinoin”
  • Formula/Packaging Changes Sometimes Noted
    • “changed colour”
    • “new packaging issues”
    • “not as moisturizing”
    • “off-white color”
  • Breakouts & Reactions Rarely Noted
    • “clog pores”
    • “small bumps”
    • “cystic acne”
    • “burned my face”
  • Insufficient Moisture Rarely Noted
    • “face feels tight”
    • “not enough moisture”
    • “need to layer”
    • “dried out quickly”
  • Unpleasant Scent Rarely Noted
    • “bad smell”
    • “smells rancid”
    • “slight chemical scent”
    • “smells old”

Sources: lovi.care, paulaschoice.com, dermstore.com, sephora.co.uk, cultbeauty.co.uk, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Paula's Choice Intensive Repair Cream a weak match for oily skin?

This moisturizing treatment is a weak match because, although retinol and niacinamide help manage oily shine, heavy ingredients like petrolatum and jojoba seed oil risk making oily skin even more slick. An oily skin type needs lightweight hydrating formulas that contain no heavy oils, support the skin barrier, and use ingredients that provide moisture without clogging pores or causing excess oiliness.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019

Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily skin?

Petrolatum and jojoba seed oil make this cream a poor fit because they are heavy oils that may worsen oily skin. A moisturizing treatment for oily skin needs lightweight hydration, no heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier without causing excess oiliness or breakouts.

What does Retinol do for oily skin?

Retinol helps oily skin by keeping pores clear and balancing sebum production, which may reduce shine and breakouts. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or peeling in the beginning, starting slowly is recommended.

Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta, 2012

What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This cream goes in the evening routine as a moisturizing treatment, though oily skin needs a lighter product with oil-controlling ingredients and without heavy, pore-clogging emollients.

Can I use this cream with AHA, and in what order?

You can use this cream with AHA, but because it is a weak match for oily skin, apply your AHA exfoliant first and follow with a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that contains balancing ingredients like niacinamide instead of heavy oils and petrolatum.

How often should I use this cream?

This moisturizing treatment is a weak match for oily skin, as rich ingredients like petrolatum and jojoba seed oil may worsen oily shine, even though retinol and niacinamide help regulate oil and smooth texture. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients instead of heavy creams.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

This cream may clog pores and cause breakouts on oily skin because it contains heavy ingredients like petrolatum and jojoba seed oil. Oily skin needs lightweight lotions with ingredients that balance oil and hydrate without heavy oils.

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

This rich moisturizing treatment is generally fine to use on the body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may be more sensitive to potent ingredients like retinol. For oily skin, a product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients without heavy petroleum-based softeners.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cream 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

  • Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017
  • Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019
  • Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.

    Journal of Controlled Release, 2018
  • Topical stabilized retinol treatment induced HAS gene expression and increased hyaluronic acid production in human skin in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo compared to vehicle.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017
  • Topical application of all-trans-retinol induced epidermal thickening and increased retinoid binding protein expression similar to all-trans-retinoic acid in normal human skin, but without causing significant erythema or measurable retinoic acid levels.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 1995
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • 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
  • 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

Ingredients

Water, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Jojoba Seed Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Petrolatum, Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Dipentaerythrityl Hexacaprylate Hexacaprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Peg-100 Stearate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Retinol, Adenosine, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1, Ceramide Ng, Sodium Hyaluronate, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Niacinamide, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Linoleic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Watermelon Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus Fruit Extract, Glycine Soja Soybean Sterols, Tribehenin, Peg-10 Phytosterol, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Pullulan, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate Dicaprate, Cetearyl Glucoside, Tridecyl Stearate, Behenyl Alcohol, Sclerotium Gum, Carbomer, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Polysorbate 20, Disodium Edta, Sorbic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin, Benzoic 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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

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