Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel Facial Moisturizer for oily acne-prone skin
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 moderate hydration for your oily skin, as glycerin and panthenol provide humectant action to balance moisture without exacerbating oiliness.
- While the oat kernel extract and flour offer soothing benefits, the formula lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 14.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, oily, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this moisturizer for its lightweight, cooling gel texture that reduces redness and calms irritation without clogging pores. A subset of users with extremely dry skin or compromised barriers report it isn't moisturizing enough or causes a stinging sensation.
Highlights
Lightweight & Non-Greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “leaves no residue”
- “feels like water”
- “perfect for oily skin”
- “satin finish”
Fragrance-Free & Gentle Often Mentioned
- “no scent at all”
- “didn't irritate eyes”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “safe for allergy-prone”
- “simple ingredient list”
Soothing & Calming Often Mentioned
- “reduces redness immediately”
- “cools angry skin”
- “stops the itch”
Softens & Smooths Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels like silk”
- “baby soft texture”
- “plumps the skin”
- “smooth canvas for makeup”
- “improves texture”
Insufficient Moisture Sometimes Noted
- “not enough for winter”
- “skin felt tight later”
- “need to layer it”
- “too light for dry skin”
- “dried out quickly”
Price vs. Quantity Sometimes Noted
- “jar is too small”
- “expensive for amount”
- “runs out fast”
- “paying for packaging”
- “not good value”
Breakouts & Reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “tiny whiteheads appeared”
- “clogged my pores”
- “allergic reaction”
- “rash on neck”
Burning Sensation Rarely Noted
- “stung my face”
- “burned on application”
- “caused flushing”
- “irritated broken skin”
- “felt like fire”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, iherb.com, target.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Aveeno Calm + Restore Oat Gel work for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer works reasonably well for oily skin by providing light hydration without adding extra oiliness, but it lacks targeted ingredients to actively clear up acne and breakouts. An ideal product for this skin type needs powerful hydrating ingredients alongside acne-fighting components like salicylic acid or niacinamide to manage blemishes while keeping the skin balanced.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, panthenol, and oat extract make this moisturizer a reasonable fit for your skin by providing light hydration and soothing comfort without adding extra oil. However, because it lacks ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help clear breakouts, an oily and acne-prone skin type needs a formula that also includes blemish-fighting and pore-clearing ingredients.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Oat Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Oat Extract helps calm irritation and soothe redness, making it a good fit for oily, acne-prone skin. It acts as a gentle anti-inflammatory agent and moisturizer that relieves itch and keeps the skin barrier comfortable without clogging pores. A product for this skin type needs soothing and anti-inflammatory ingredients like colloidal oatmeal to manage breakouts and irritation.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
What does Prebiotic Oat do for oily acne-prone skin?
Prebiotic Oat helps calm and soothe oily, acne-prone skin while reducing redness and irritation. It supports your skin barrier and is unlikely to clog pores, making it a gentle addition to your routine. Skin of this type needs lightweight ingredients and soothing botanicals that calm inflammation without feeling heavy.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2010Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment step in the evening. It provides balanced moisture without feeling heavy, though oily acne-prone skin often benefits most from a lightweight formula that also includes acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with the moisturizer. This helps keep your oily skin comfortable while minimizing dryness or irritation that retinols may cause.
How often should I use this moisturizer?
You can use this moisturizer daily in the morning and evening to keep your oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy. Regular application helps maintain skin comfort and supports moisture balance safely. Skin of this type also benefits from targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to address breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores on oily skin because it has a safe and gentle formula, though it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients. A product for this skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help clear and prevent breakouts.
Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around the eyes, where the skin is thin, or on your body, but it is primarily formulated for facial use. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation in these areas, as it contains soothing components and lacks harsh ingredients.
Is this moisturizer fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2002A 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, 2017Co-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 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 repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015Topical parthenolide-depleted Feverfew extract protected skin by scavenging free radicals, restoring antioxidants, and significantly reducing UV-induced erythema compared to placebo in a clinical study.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008Parthenolide and magnolol, as NF-kappaB inhibitors, effectively blocked UVB-induced gene expression, production of MMP-1 and bFGF, and proliferation of keratinocytes and melanocytes.
Current Drug Metabolism, 2010A purified parthenolide-depleted feverfew extract protects skin cells from UV-induced DNA damage by inducing Nrf2 nuclear translocation and ARE activity via a PI3-kinase-dependent pathway.
Journal of Dermatological Science, 2013Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer 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 treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008The 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, 2012
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A 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, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Olivate, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Sorbitan Olivate, Polyacrylamide, Synthetic Beeswax, Phenoxyethanol, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Panthenol, Chlorphenesin, Dimethiconol, Carbomer, Laureth-7, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Leaf Stem Juice, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract
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
How does it fit your skin?
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