CeraVe Oil Control Moisturizing Gel-Cream for dry skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
3 Essential Ceramides
Average
- HighDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry or flaky skin, as glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide essential hydration and ceramides, cholesterol, and phytosphingosine help repair your skin barrier.
- Niacinamide offers additional soothing and anti-inflammatory benefits, which is beneficial for your dry skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and work your way up to daily use.
- Apply your moisturizer after your toner and before your sunscreen in the morning. At night, use it as the final step after your serum.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing to keep your dry skin happy.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra hydration. This is great for soothing dry and flaky areas .
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a patch test before your first use .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin widely praise this gel-cream for its lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that delivers a matte finish without drying out the face. A notable minority of reviewers report issues with the product pilling under makeup or sunscreen and experiencing a temporary burning or stinging sensation upon application.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “lightweight and super moisturizing”
- “feels refreshing upon application”
- “lightweight gel-cream texture”
- “barely feel it on”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into my face right away”
- “rapidly absorbed”
- “soaks in quickly”
- “no residue left behind”
Matte finish Often Mentioned
- “absorbs excess oil”
- “leaves a matte finish”
- “controls shine throughout the day”
- “skin looks balanced not shiny”
Non-greasy feel Often Mentioned
- “doesn't leave me feeling greasy”
- “no sticky/tacky feeling”
- “residue-free”
- “non-greasy formula”
Balanced hydration Sometimes Noted
- “hydrating without making skin heavy”
- “leaves skin soft and smooth”
- “perfect balance of moisture”
- “hydrated but not oily”
Pilling with makeup Sometimes Noted
- “pills with sunscreen”
- “peels with toner”
- “pills up during application”
- “rolls off the skin”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burns the skin”
- “burning sensation around eye area”
- “feels hot on skin”
- “stinging upon application”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “skin has broken out”
- “clogged pores”
- “caused small bumps”
- “acne flared up”
Not matte enough Rarely Noted
- “becomes even oilier”
- “soft matte not fully matte”
- “shiny after a while”
- “didn't control oil long”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the CeraVe Oil Control Gel-Cream work for dry skin?
This moisturizer works for your dry skin, though other products fit it better. It offers moderate hydration and helps repair your skin barrier, but dry skin needs a rich blend of nourishing emollients and moisture-retaining ingredients that provide maximum hydration and optimal skin barrier support without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid help provide essential hydration, while ceramides, cholesterol, and phytosphingosine help repair your dry skin barrier. Niacinamide also offers additional soothing benefits for dry skin. To fit dry skin best, a product of this type needs highly effective, soothing, moisture-retaining ingredients and rich emollients that provide significant hydration and nourishment without any risk of irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cream goes in the evening routine after your treatment step, or in the morning routine right before your sunscreen. Dry skin of this type needs a richer cream with heavier oils and butters to lock in lasting moisture.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol, applying the cream first to help your dry skin tolerate the retinol better. A product of this type works well for dry skin when it includes richer hydrators, heavier oils, and extra barrier ingredients to lock in moisture.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing gel-cream daily in your morning and evening routines. Regular application helps keep your dry skin hydrated and supports your skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for dry skin, as it has a very low risk of clogged pores based on user feedback. However, because dry skin needs extra richness, a product for this skin type works best when it includes heavier nourishing oils or richer butters to lock in lasting moisture.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cream around the eyes or on your body, as it has a very gentle safety profile and causes no irritation. To properly care for dry skin, a product of this type needs rich moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid alongside barrier-repairing ceramides.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Silica, Zinc Gluconate, Hyaluronic Acid, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.