Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser for oily acne-prone skin
Octocrylene
Diisopropyl Adipate
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for oily acne-prone skin; the sunscreens alongside fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987
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 moisturizing and sun protection for your oily skin due to glycerin and UV filters like octocrylene and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane, but lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While generally hydrating for oily skin, the absence of stronger sebum-regulating ingredients means it may not fully manage oiliness or prevent potential worsening of acne.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizing sunscreen every morning. Reapply throughout the day if you are outside.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen as the final step of your morning routine after your moisturizer.
- Gently smooth a nickel-sized amount over your face and neck, avoiding harsh rubbing to keep oily areas calm.
- Apply this moisturizing sunscreen on clean, dry skin to ensure even coverage and protection.
- Avoid getting the product into your eyes and do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 2.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive, combination, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this moisturizer for its ability to hydrate without clogging pores or causing breakouts. Many report a lightweight, non-irritating finish that works well under makeup. A notable subset of users experiences a burning sensation upon application, particularly around the eyes.
Highlights
Lightweight & Non-Greasy Often Mentioned
- “absorbs into skin quickly”
- “gliding on smoothly”
- “never leaves my skin oily”
- “sinks in without sticky layer”
Sensitive skin safe Often Mentioned
- “skin has cleared up”
- “never had a negative experience”
- “gentle for sensitive skin”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “no added fragrance”
- “does not have a noticeable scent”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “smell is neutral”
Good makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “works great under makeup”
- “easy to apply foundation over it”
- “doesn't pill under cosmetics”
- “smooth canvas for application”
Stinging sensation Sometimes Noted
- “burns my eyes”
- “face felt like it was burning”
- “stings upon application”
- “eyes water constantly”
Greasy residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves a shiny film”
- “feels oily after an hour”
- “too greasy for summer”
- “slick finish”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump stops working”
- “hard to get last bit out”
- “pump mechanism failed”
- “defective dispenser”
White cast Rarely Noted
- “slight white film”
- “turns white on brown skin”
- “takes time to rub in”
- “ghostly cast initially”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, influenster.com, cetaphil.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturiser for oily acne-prone skin?
Lovi advises caution because while this moisturizer offers basic hydration and sun protection, it lacks targeted ingredients to address acne and breakouts. A product for this skin needs ingredients that provide non-greasy hydration, oil control, and pore-clearing benefits without clogging pores or causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream calls for caution on your oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components to properly manage breakouts. A moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients, a non-greasy feel, and sebum-regulating elements to keep pores clear and control shine.
What does Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Water helps keep oily, acne-prone skin hydrated without making it greasy. Keeping skin hydrated is important because acne treatments can dry it out and irritate the skin barrier.
What does Octocrylene do for oily acne-prone skin?
Octocrylene helps protect oily acne-prone skin from the sun without worsening breakouts or causing facial dysbiosis. However, because it may act as a contact allergen for some people, products for this skin type also need soothing ingredients and a lightweight, oil-free formula to keep skin calm and clear.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream goes in the morning routine as a moisturizer and sunscreen step after your cleanser and hydrating toner. Because this skin needs oil control and blemish prevention, a product of this type for your skin needs targeted acne-fighting and sebum-regulating ingredients.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You may use this moisturizer with retinol, applying the cream after your retinol treatment to help keep your skin hydrated. However, because this product lacks acne-fighting and oil-controlling ingredients, oily acne-prone skin needs a moisturizer with sebum-regulating ingredients to better manage breakouts and oiliness.
How often should I use this cream?
You may use this moisturizing spf daily in the morning, but it is a poor match that lacks targeted ingredients to manage oiliness or prevent potential worsening of acne on your skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs a product of this type with stronger sebum-regulating and blemish-clearing ingredients to stay clear and balanced.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream may not fully manage oiliness or prevent potential worsening of acne on oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted ingredients to effectively address breakouts and blemishes. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight, oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or retinoids to clear pores and control excess oil.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl 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, 2017Parsol 1789 and Eusolex 8020 provided slightly better photoprotection than oxybenzone in both normal and sensitized human skin when assessed using pigmentation end points, whereas all three sunscreens performed similarly against UVA-induced erythema.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1987Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025The application of a sunscreen formulation containing ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, ethylhexyl salicylate, methyl anthranilate, and octocrylene does not significantly affect critical acne-related species such as Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis, refuting the induction of facial dysbiosis in men.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2024Early application of sunscreen after ablative fractional skin resurfacing significantly increased the sensitization rate of the UV-filter, octocrylene, and the sunscreen compared to intact skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2015
Ingredients
Water, Octocrylene, Diisopropyl Adipate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Glycerin, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Phenoxyethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Triethanolamine, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Carbomer, Disodium Edta
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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