Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream for acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Hyaluronic Acid
Glycerin
Panthenol
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Highly suitable for your combination skin due to niacinamide for seboregulation and glycerin and hyaluronic acid for humectant action, which offer moderate moisturizing and hydration for your acne and blemishes.
- Panthenol and tocopheryl acetate provide additional soothing and antioxidant benefits, supporting overall skin health.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this moisturizer is highly praised for its lightweight, fast-absorbing formula that provides long-lasting hydration, making it suitable for various skin types, including sensitive and combination skin. Users consistently report smoother, softer, and more radiant skin, with many highlighting its effectiveness in plumping the skin and minimizing the appearance of fine lines. This should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Non-greasy formula Mostly Mentioned
- “Hydrated my skin without leaving a greasy feel”
- “It isn't greasy”
- “Doesn't leave my skin feeling greasy”
- “No greasy residue”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Provides hydration for an extended period”
- “Really hydrates my skin”
- “Keeps my skin moisturized”
- “Unlock 24-hour hydration”
Fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “Absorbs like a dream”
- “Absorbs completely within a couple of minutes”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Sinks in”
Softens and plumps Often Mentioned
- “My skin felt soft, supple and healthy”
- “Makes my face silky soft”
- “Skin was brighter & softer”
- “Actual plumping of my skin”
Noticeable scent Sometimes Noted
- “Slight rose smell”
- “Afraid to put it in my face since it does have a strong scent”
- “Has a light fragrance”
Price concerns Rarely Noted
- “Not exactly cheap”
- “Product is too expensive for what you get”
Texture/residue issues Rarely Noted
- “Makes my face feel a bit rough to the touch”
- “Dried lotion on the part where you twist the lid”
- “Didn't feel or see that my skin was hydrated”
Sources: lovi.care, olay.com, walmart.com, samsclub.com, cvs.com, marianos.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Niacinamide Hydrating Cream work for acne-prone skin?
This cream works decently for acne-prone skin, providing moderate moisture and calm while helping manage oil and blemishes. However, acne-prone skin often does better with a product that offers higher suitability, excellent repair and targeted blemish-fighting benefits without irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, glycerin, and hyaluronic acid make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin by balancing oil and providing moderate hydration, while panthenol helps calm the skin. Acne-prone skin works best with moisturizing treatments that include effective ingredients for breakouts, provide hydration and repair without irritation, and contain soothing agents and peptides.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes after the cleanser, toner, and any serum in your evening routine, and after the hydrating toner in your morning routine. Using it daily helps keep skin soft and balanced.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use it with retinol by applying your retinol first and following with this moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a moisturizing treatment like this alongside retinol is unlikely to cause irritation and may make your skin feel softer and smoother.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing treatment daily as part of your morning and evening routine, applying it after your cleanser and toner. Daily application helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm while supporting overall skin barrier health.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it has a very safe formula with no harsh or irritating ingredients. It helps keep your skin calm and balanced with niacinamide and panthenol, though acne-prone skin often does better with a lighter, oil-free moisturizer that focuses strictly on balancing oil and clearing blemishes.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are generally safe for different areas. However, because the skin around the eyes and body differs significantly in thickness compared to the face, this type of skin needs targeted formulas with specialized active ingredients to properly address specific concerns in those areas.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, and cetearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
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 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, 2019The 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, 2012Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical 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, 2025Topical 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, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Isopropyl Isostearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hyaluronic Acid, Cetearyl Glucoside, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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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