Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Petrolatum
Dimethicone
Niacinamide
Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil
Low
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside 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
- Suboptimal compatibility with oily skin as glycerin and petrolatum provide hydration and barrier support, but may feel too heavy for oily skin types.
- The formula offers general skincare benefits, but lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 7.1k+ reviewsIt effectively hydrates and restores the skin barrier without irritation. Some users with oily or acne-prone skin find it too heavy.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “cleared up flaky skin”
- “keeps skin supple all day”
- “instant relief for dry patches”
- “deeply replenishes moisture”
Gentle and non-irritating Often Mentioned
- “safe for sensitive skin”
- “fragrance-free formula”
Non-greasy absorption Often Mentioned
- “absorbs quickly”
- “doesn't feel tacky”
- “leaves skin soft not oily”
- “matte finish”
Versatile use Sometimes Noted
- “great for face and body”
- “works well under makeup”
- “use on hands and feet”
- “good for whole family”
Packaging inconvenient Sometimes Noted
- “wish it had a pump”
- “unsanitary dipping fingers in”
- “messy to use”
- “prefer tube for travel”
High price point Rarely Noted
- “expensive for drugstore”
- “pricey compared to generic”
- “cost is high for the amount”
Slight chemical smell Rarely Noted
- “has a slight chemical scent”
- “smells like plastic”
- “unpleasant base odor”
- “medicinal smell”
Too heavy/thick Rarely Noted
- “too greasy for oily skin”
- “feels heavy in summer”
- “caused breakouts on face”
- “thick texture takes effort to rub in”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, walmart.com, target.com, ulta.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream is a weak match because its heavy ingredients like petrolatum and glycerin may feel too heavy on oily skin, and the formula lacks specialized ingredients to target breakouts. A moisturizer for this skin needs lightweight textures, ingredients that clear acne without adding excess oil, and components that hydrate while supporting the skin barrier without clogging pores.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and petrolatum make this cream a weak match for your skin because they may feel too heavy and lack specialized ingredients to target breakouts. A moisturizer of this type needs lightweight textures, ingredients that clear blemishes without clogging pores, and soothing agents to keep oily skin balanced.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Petrolatum do for oily acne-prone skin?
Petrolatum is generally safe for oily acne-prone skin because it has a very low chance of causing allergic reactions or clogging pores. It acts as an effective moisturizer to keep skin soft and protect its barrier without causing irritation.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream goes as the last step in your morning routine and evening routine, though it may feel too heavy for oily skin. To properly care for oily, acne-prone skin, a moisturizer of this type needs lightweight hydration and specialized blemish-fighting ingredients to help clear breakouts without clogging pores.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream alongside retinol to keep your skin soft and calm, applying it after your retinol treatment has fully absorbed. This type of product needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that target blemishes to properly suit oily acne-prone skin.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream may be used twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, though it may feel too heavy for oily skin types. Oily acne-prone skin needs lightweight hydration and specialized ingredients that target breakouts without clogging pores.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin because its rich ingredients may feel too heavy and it lacks specialized ingredients to target breakouts. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydration and ingredients that help keep pores clear and control excess oil.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This cream is well suited for the body and the thin skin around the eyes because its rich ingredients lock in moisture and soften dry areas. Studies show that skin thickness varies significantly across the body, making heavier moisturizers particularly useful on thicker skin and resilient areas.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol). Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017The 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, 2012Topical treatment with skin-identical lipids in a petrolatum-rich cream base showed no superiority over pure petrolatum in promoting normalization of barrier recovery and inflammation in detergent- and tape-stripped-perturbed human skin over 14 days.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2000Topically applied extra virgin olive oil and petrolatum both significantly improved skin barrier function and microtopographic features in 54 healthy adult volunteers, with petrolatum exerting stronger occlusive effects and extra virgin olive oil uniquely promoting epidermal renewal.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007Topical 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, 2005
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-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 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, Petrolatum, Dicaprylyl Ether, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Peg-30 Stearate, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Pantolactone, Dimethiconol, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Propylene Glycol, Disodium Edta, Benzyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid
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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