Obagi skincare
Obagi is an American skincare brand founded in 1988 and owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2026.
Skincare enthusiasts love Obagi for its balancing toners, nourishing moisturizers, and targeted serums, all driven by meticulously researched formulas. Its products suit sensitive skin and dry sensitive skin best, owing to their gentle yet effective composition. For specific concerns, the brand offers standout solutions such as the Hydrate Luxe for acne-prone skin, the Retinol 0.5 for skin with dark spots, and the Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream for mature skin. Through thoughtful formulation, its offerings provide reliable daily care that maintains long-term skin health.
This page covers some of the most popular Obagi products; for the whole Obagi range, with a fit score for every product, use the Lovi app.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 6.3k+ reviewsReviewers most often praise Obagi for improving skin texture, deep hydration, and reducing fine lines. The most common complaints are irritation and high price points.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating and soothing moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
- “hydrating for super-dry skin — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “Users report it "stops flaking," "quenches dry skin," and provides "moisture that lasts all day." — Hydrate Luxe”
- “reduces redness — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
Fast-absorbing and improving serums Mostly Mentioned
- “smooth as a baby — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
- “Does seem to keep my skin smooth. — Retinol 0.5”
- “keeps pores cleared — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
Lightweight and textured moisturizers Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “Described as "whipped butter," "rich but non-greasy," and "silky," absorbing well despite its thickness. — Hydrate Luxe”
- “skin younger looking — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
Brightening and anti-aging serums Mostly Mentioned
- “instantly brightens face — Vitamin C Serum”
- “lightened age spots — Vitamin C Serum”
- “diminished fine lines — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
High price Often Mentioned
- “very expensive — Vitamin C Serum”
- “expensive — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “Users note it is "expensive," "pricey," or a "splurge" compared to other moisturizers. — Hydrate Luxe”
Skin irritation and dryness Often Mentioned
- “shedding like a snake — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
- “redness and burning — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
- “sucked moisture out — Tretinoin Cream 0.05%”
Packaging and dispenser issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump does not work — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
- “dropper leaks — Vitamin C Serum”
- “Complaints about the "unhygienic jar" and a preference for a "pump dispenser." — Hydrate Luxe”
Texture and formula complaints Sometimes Noted
- “turned orange fast — Vitamin C Serum”
- “feels tacky — Vitamin C Serum”
- “too thick — Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, skincareessentials.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
Is Obagi good for dry skin?
Obagi is good for dry skin, and Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for dry skin. For this skin type, Hydrate Luxe and Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream provide deep hydration, while vitamin A ingredients like retinol may help with aging signs but can cause dryness. Shoppers note that the Obagi products on this page are deeply hydrating and soothing, though skin irritation is sometimes mentioned.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000The New England Journal of Medicine, 1993
Is Obagi worth it?
Obagi is worth considering if you are looking for deeply hydrating moisturizers and brightening serums, though reviewers often mention a high price and skin irritation. Lovi rates the brand-focused routines High for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin.
What are Obagi's best products?
Obagi's best products for dry skin include Hydrate Luxe and Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream, both of which rate Superior and High for dry skin. For mature skin, Hydrate Luxe, Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream, and Retinol 0.5 rate High. Reviewers frequently note that these moisturizers are deeply hydrating and soothing, while the serums are fast-absorbing.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007
Which Obagi moisturizer is best for dry skin?
Hydrate Luxe is the best choice, as Lovi rates it Superior for dry skin. Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream and Rebalance Skin Barrier Recovery Cream also rate High for dry skin.
Does Obagi cause breakouts?
Obagi is unlikely to cause breakouts, and Lovi rates acne-prone skin High for Obagi-focused routines. Reviewers frequently note that the serums and moisturizers improve skin texture, though some mention occasional skin irritation and dryness.
Is Obagi fragrance-free?
Most of the Obagi products on this page are fragrance-free, as only the Nu-Derm Toner lists a fragrance.
What are the key ingredients in Obagi products?
Obagi products feature key ingredients such as vitamin C, retinol, tretinoin, and kinetin that help brighten the complexion and smooth out fine lines. Retinol and tretinoin stimulate collagen accumulation to improve the appearance of aged skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000
How do I build a Obagi skincare routine?
To build an Obagi routine for dry skin in the morning, use a cleanser, apply Nu-Derm Toner, follow with Hydrate Luxe moisturizer, and finish with sunscreen. In the evening, use a pre-cleanser, cleanser, cleansing toner, Vitamin C Serum, and Hydrate Luxe moisturizer. Once a week, add an enzyme powder and a nourishing mask before applying the serum and moisturizer.
Where can I buy Obagi, and how much does it cost?
Obagi products on this page can be bought at stores in Saudi Arabia. Prices range from SAR 183.75 to SAR 534.00, with most products costing between SAR 329.18 and SAR 534.00.
What are good alternatives to Obagi?
Good alternatives to Obagi with similar skincare pages on Lovi include CeraVe, Cetaphil, Paula's Choice, Neutrogena, Kiehl's, and Dermalogica. For instance, Lovi rates CeraVe-focused routines as Superior for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin types.
Obagi vs CeraVe: which is better?
CeraVe-focused routines rate Superior for dry, oily, sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin, whereas Obagi-focused routines rate High for those skin types.
Who owns Obagi, and where is it from?
Obagi is an American brand founded in 1988, owned by Bridgepoint Group plc since 2026.
Is Obagi cruelty-free?
PETA, Leaping Bunny, and Cruelty Free International, the registries Lovi checks, do not list Obagi as cruelty-free.
Is Obagi good for sensitive skin?
Yes, Obagi fits sensitive skin well, as Lovi rates the brand-focused routine High for sensitive skin. Reviewers often mention that Obagi offers deeply hydrating and soothing moisturizers, though skin irritation and dryness may occur.
Is Obagi good for skin with dark spots?
Obagi offers several products for skin with dark spots, such as Retinol 0.5, which Lovi rates High for this concern, and Vitamin C Serum, which Lovi rates Average. Vitamin C helps brighten the skin and reduce aging signs.
Is Obagi good for mature skin?
Yes, Obagi is well suited for mature skin, which the brand fits best along with sensitive and dry sensitive skin. Reviewers frequently note its brightening and anti-aging serums, and Lovi rates the Retinol 0.5 and Kinetin+ Hydrating Cream High for mature skin.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2000Archives of Dermatology, 2007
Research behind Obagi's key ingredients
Molecular basis of retinol anti-ageing properties in naturally aged human skin in vivo
Topical tretinoin for treating photoaging: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Preparation and evaluation of anti-wrinkle cream containing saffron extract and avocado oil
Kinetin Improves Barrier Function of the Skin by Modulating Keratinocyte Differentiation Markers
Anatomical site differences of sodium lauryl sulfate-induced irritation: randomized controlled trial
Saccharide isomerate ameliorates cosmetic scalp conditions in a Chinese study population
Targeting Circadian Rhythm for the Regulation of Skin Collagen Metabolism
Behind these ratings
Lovi rates every product from its 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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