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EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer for oily skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 for your oily skin, with sodium hyaluronate and linoleic acid providing hydration and enhancing barrier resilience, though these ingredients do not directly address oily shine.
  • Niacinamide is present to help with seboregulation, which is beneficial for oily skin.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and has no risk of irritation.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
  • Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded for its lightweight, non-greasy texture that effectively hydrates and repairs the skin barrier overnight. Some users noted issues with packaging visibility and a few found it insufficient for very dry skin, with occasional comments about formula changes or the price point.

Highlights

  • Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
    • “Absorbs quickly”
    • “not oily”
    • “feels weightless”
  • Effective hydration Often Mentioned
    • “Skin feels soft”
    • “supple in morning”
    • “deeply moisturizing”
  • Soothing for sensitive Often Mentioned
    • “Calms redness”
    • “non-irritating”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
  • Fragrance-free formula Sometimes Noted
    • “No noticeable smell”
    • “no irritation”
    • “clean scent”
  • Packaging visibility Sometimes Noted
    • “Cannot see remaining product”
    • “runs out unexpectedly”
  • Formula changes Rarely Noted
    • “Not the same as old”
    • “caused breakouts”
    • “texture changed”
  • Insufficient hydration Rarely Noted
    • “Not hydrating enough”
    • “need something heavier”
    • “felt dry”
  • Price point Rarely Noted
    • “Expensive for size”
    • “value varies”
    • “pricey”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, bluemercury.com, lovelyskin.com, trustpilot.com, whatsinmyjar.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does EltaMD PM Restore work for oily skin?

EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer works decently for oily skin by providing moderate hydration and helping balance oil production, but it does not directly target oily shine. While it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, this skin type generally benefits more from lightweight formulas that actively control shine and manage excess oil without clogging pores.

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?

Niacinamide, sodium hyaluronate, and linoleic acid make this cream a good fit for oily skin by helping control shine and boosting moisture while keeping your skin feeling soft. Oily skin works best with lightweight hydrating treatments that contain peptides and barrier-supporting ingredients without heavy oils.

What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021

What does Hydrolyzed Rice Protein do for oily skin?

Hydrolyzed Rice Protein helps oily skin by keeping it smooth and balanced without adding extra grease. It is light enough for daily use and may help the skin feel soft and fresh.

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing toner and treatment, or you can use it in the morning after your hydrating toner and before your SPF. An oily skin routine like this needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help control shine.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this moisturizer with retinol, applying it after your retinol treatment to keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside active treatments helps reduce dryness and irritation while improving your skin's tolerance.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice a day to keep your skin hydrated and help balance oil. Daily application is unlikely to cause irritation and is safe for your skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?

EltaMD PM Restore Moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients and carries no risk of irritation. It helps balance oil and provides hydration, though this skin type also needs lightweight formulas with oil-controlling ingredients that specifically target shine.

Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?

This cream is generally safe to use on your body and around the eyes, as it lacks harsh ingredients and is unlikely to cause irritation. However, because skin is very thin in the eye area and varies in thickness across the body, products for these areas often need targeted hydrators and gentle nourishing ingredients to protect delicate skin.

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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

  • Rice protein hydrolysate and its characteristic peptides Leu-Leu-Lys, Leu-Pro-Lys, and pyroGlu-Lys reduced melanin content, tyrosinase activity, and ROS production in UVB-induced human epidermal melanocyte PIG1 cells by regulating the JNK/Β-Trcp/NFΗB-p65/MITF signaling pathway and lowering TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression.

    Food & Function, 2020

  • Topical 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, 2011

  • Topical 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, 2022

  • Treatment 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

  • Topical application of linoleic acid achieved an almost 25% reduction in the overall size of follicular casts and microcomedones over a 1-month treatment period in patients with mild acne compared to no change at placebo-treated sites.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 1998

  • A lotion containing triethyl citrate and ethyl linoleate reduced Leeds grading, total, inflammatory, and noninflammatory lesion counts, and sebum production compared with a placebo in patients with mild to moderate acne.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2007

  • Liposomal formulation of linoleic acid significantly enhances its skin whitening effect compared to non-liposomal forms in UV-stimulated guinea pig and human skin.

    Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2004

Why other moisturizers fit oily skin better

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Ingredients

Water, Ethylhexyl Isononanoate, Niacinamide, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, C10-30 Cholesterol Lanosterol Esters, Glycereth-26, Phenoxyethanol, Linoleic Acid, Hydroxypropyl Bispalmitamide Mea, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Xanthan Gum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Oleth-3 Phosphate, Oleic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caesalpinia Spinosa Gum, Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan Isostearate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Disodium Edta, Thioctic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Palmitic Acid, Stearic Acid, Sodium Bisulfite, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Phosphoric Acid, Tetrasodium 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play