SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier for acne-prone skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Proxylane
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Purple Rice Extract
Adenosine
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, with Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate providing excellent hydration, while Capryloyl Salicylic Acid offers mild exfoliation and seboregulation. This product is generally safe for your combination skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- While it addresses general hydration needs, it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids that are more effective for treating acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 4.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry, mature, or dehydrated skin frequently praise this serum for its ability to visibly plump facial contours and smooth fine lines, particularly around the eyes and mouth. While many report immediate hydration and improved skin texture, a minority of users with sensitive or acne-prone skin experienced irritation or breakouts.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels super hydrated”
- “dry patches vanished”
- “keeps skin dewy all day”
- “moisture lasts 24 hours”
Visible plumping Often Mentioned
- “cheeks look fuller”
- “smooths out crow's feet”
- “lips look plumper”
- “fills in fine lines”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “way too expensive”
- “not worth the money”
- “pricey for the amount”
- “found cheaper alternatives”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “absorbs instantly”
- “soaks right in”
- “not greasy at all”
- “layers well under cream”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels like silk”
- “texture is much smoother”
- “makeup applies better”
- “softens rough areas”
Sticky texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels tacky”
- “sticky finish”
- “hair sticks to face”
- “takes forever to dry”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “dropper doesn't work well”
- “hard to get product out”
- “messy bottle”
- “pipette struggles with thickness”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “stung my face”
- “broke me out”
- “burning sensation”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, bluemercury.com, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier work for acne-prone skin?
SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier works moderately well for acne-prone skin because it provides good hydration and mild exfoliation without causing irritation, though it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. A product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide or stronger acids to properly target breakouts while keeping moisture balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Sodium Hyaluronate and Glycerin help keep your skin hydrated, while Capryloyl Salicylic Acid offers mild exfoliation and helps manage oil. To be a better fit for acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or retinoids to help clear breakouts while maintaining optimal moisture levels without excess oiliness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
What does Proxylane do for acne-prone skin?
Proxylane does not directly treat acne or target breakouts, but it helps firm and strengthen the skin. For acne-prone skin that needs anti-aging care, a product of this type needs non-clogging, soothing ingredients that support skin structure without triggering blemishes.
European Journal of Dermatology, 2008European Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does this serum go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before your moisturizer, keeping things simple and safe around sun exposure. While it provides good hydration and is unlikely to irritate your acne-prone skin, caring for this skin type effectively needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids to treat blemishes and breakouts.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment with retinol, applying the treatment first and following with your retinol once it absorbs. This product is generally safe and unlikely to cause irritation, and pairing a gentle hydrator with retinol helps keep your skin comfortable and smooth.
How often should I use this serum?
You can use this treatment in your evening routine daily, as it is safe for acne-prone skin and unlikely to cause irritation. Because it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts, this skin type needs products with acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids for the best results.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This product is unlikely to irritate acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, but it does not treat breakouts well since it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or retinoids. Acne-prone skin needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid or retinoids to properly clear breakouts.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizing treatment can be used around the eyes and on the body, as its gentle formula carries an excellent safety profile without harsh ingredients. However, because skin thickness varies across the body, products used here need suitable hydrating and soothing ingredients to match different areas.
Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (limonene) 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, 2017Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical 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, 2019Application of a hydroxypropyl tetrahydropyrantriol and niacinamide formula following nonablative fractional laser treatment demonstrated comparable healing benefits to clinical control and significant improvements in fine lines, crow's feet wrinkles, skin roughness, and overall healthy appearance over 56 days in White and Northeast Asian panels.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2025Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025RayGel reduced skin reaction severity with a lower average score of 93.7 compared to 123.3 for the placebo group in patients undergoing whole breast external-beam irradiation.
American Journal of Surgery, 2005Topical adenosine treatment significantly increased the anagen hair growth rate and thick hair rate compared to placebo in Japanese women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.
The Journal of Dermatology, 2008Topical application of a disodium adenosine monophosphate-based formulation reduced wrinkles and hyperpigmentation while improving hydration, barrier function, skin lifting, and epidermal turnover in female participants.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026Adenosine and cordycepin stimulate the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway through adenosine receptor and PKA activation, promoting cell proliferation, migration, and growth factor secretion in cultured dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021
Why other moisturizers fit acne-prone skin better
A 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 Tris/Arg-formulated cleanser significantly decreased noninflammatory and inflammatory acne and pore size with keratotic plugs compared to an AEC/AC cleanser in male Thai subjects with mild to moderate acne over 4 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerin, Alcohol Denat, Hydroxypropyl Tetrahydropyrantriol, Propylene Glycol, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Polysilicone-11, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dimethicone, Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Octyldodecanol, Bis-Peg Ppg-16 16 Peg Ppg-16 16 Dimethicone, Peg-20 Methyl Glucose Sesquistearate, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Dextrin, Oryza Sativa Rice Extract, Disodium Edta, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Hydroxide, Adenosine, Citrus Nobilis Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Limonene, T-Butyl Alcohol, Cellulose Acetate Butyrate, Polyphosphorylcholine Glycol Acrylate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate
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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