La Mer Moisturizing Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Miracle Broth
Algae Extract
Glycerin
Lime Tea Concentrate
Vitamin E
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for oily acne-prone skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004
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 for your oily skin due to glycerin and petrolatum, which hydrate and occlude but may feel heavy and potentially clog pores, hindering your goal of managing acne and oiliness.
- While the formula provides general skincare benefits, ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum are occlusive and can exacerbate breakouts and shine on oily skin.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 10.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly regarded for its intense hydration and soothing properties, with many users reporting a radiant complexion and improved skin texture. However, a significant number of users find the cream to be excessively expensive and note that its heavy texture can lead to clogged pores or breakouts, while some find the fragrance to be overpowering.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “heals dry patches overnight”
- “skin drinks it up”
- “saved my winter skin”
- “hydration lasts all day”
Exorbitant price Mostly Mentioned
- “astronomically expensive”
- “not worth the money”
- “glorified Nivea”
- “paying for the brand”
Plumping and glow Often Mentioned
- “gives the La Mer glow”
- “skin looks plump”
- “lines appear softened”
- “makeup sits beautifully”
Soothing Often Mentioned
- “soothed windburn instantly”
- “heals picking scars”
- “reduced redness significantly”
Luxurious experience Sometimes Noted
- “spa-like scent”
- “feels incredibly rich”
- “treat for myself”
- “relaxing ritual”
Breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “clogged my pores”
- “gave me whiteheads”
- “bad for acne-prone skin”
Heavy texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels like paste”
- “sits on top of skin”
- “too greasy for day”
- “hard to spread”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “smells like old lady”
- “fragrance is overpowering”
- “scent gave me a headache”
- “too perfumey”
Sources: lovi.care, bluemercury.com, bloomingdales.com, sephora.com, influenster.com, nordstrom.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with La Mer Moisturizing Cream for oily acne-prone skin?
La Mer Moisturizing Cream may feel heavy on oily acne-prone skin and potentially clog pores because it contains mineral oil and petrolatum. A moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight hydration, no heavy oils, and ingredients that support the skin barrier without adding excess shine or breakouts.
Which ingredients make this cream a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Mineral oil and petrolatum make this cream a poor fit because they are heavy and can clog pores, increasing breakouts and shine on oily skin. This skin type needs lightweight options with ingredients that provide hydration and support the skin barrier without heavy oils.
What does Miracle Broth do for oily acne-prone skin?
Miracle Broth is an average fit for oily acne-prone skin because it may not provide the oil control and blemish clearing this skin type needs. A product for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid to reduce excess oil and calm breakouts while keeping the skin hydrated.
What does Algae Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Algae extract helps keep oily, acne-prone skin balanced by providing lightweight moisture and powerful antioxidants that calm irritation. Because this skin type needs ingredients that soothe redness and protect against breakouts without clogging pores, a product of this type needs non-greasy hydrators and calming plant extracts.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum can clog pores and make breakouts and shine worse. Oily skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-free moisturizers that keep skin soft without trapping excess oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You should use caution applying this cream with retinol on oily acne-prone skin, as heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum may clog pores and worsen breakouts. If you still choose to use them together, apply the retinol first, let it absorb completely, and follow with this cream to help lock in hydration. This skin type needs lightweight, oil-free moisturizers with non-clogging hydrators and blemish-clearing ingredients to stay smooth and clear.
How often should I use this cream?
This cream is a poor match for your oily acne-prone skin because ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum can feel heavy and potentially clog pores. To manage oiliness and breakouts, a moisturizer for this skin type needs lightweight hydrating ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that hydrate without adding extra shine.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cream may clog pores and cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin because heavy ingredients like mineral oil and petrolatum trap oil and feel thick. To manage breakouts while keeping skin soft, this skin type needs lightweight, non-clogging hydrators like hyaluronic acid and glycerin without heavy oils.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This heavy moisturizing treatment is generally safe to use on the body and around the eyes, though the thick petrolatum and mineral oil base may feel greasy in those areas. For the thin skin around the eyes, this type of product works best when it is lightweight, fast-absorbing, and free of heavy oils.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene, geraniol, parfum, linalool, citronellol, citral, benzyl salicylate, and 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, 2017Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.
Marine Drugs, 2022The 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 application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Algae Extract, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Glycerin, Isohexadecane, Microcrystalline Wax, Lanolin Alcohol, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Limonene, Geraniol, Hydrogenated Oil, Magnesium Sulfate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal Seed, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Potassium Gluconate, Paraffin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Parfum, Linalool, Citronellol, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Alcohol
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
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