Olay Retinol24 for combination skin
Dimethicone
GlycerinAverage
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 benefits for your combination skin, as niacinamide and retinol help regulate oil production and texture, but these ingredients are not specifically targeted for your primary concern of oily shine.
- The inclusion of dimethicone and glycerin provides general hydration, which is supportive but not directly addressing your main goal.
- The product is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this moisturizer in your AM and PM routine every day to control shine. Always pair with SPF in the morning.
- Apply this moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your morning SPF.
- Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin and avoid harsh rubbing. Let it ⏳absorb for a minute.
- Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help it lock in moisture better. This keeps your combination skin balanced.
- Avoid the eye area when applying the moisturizer. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 5.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently report waking up to noticeably smoother and softer skin, with many praising the product's ability to hydrate without feeling heavy or greasy. While effective for brightening dullness and reducing fine lines over time, some users with sensitive skin experienced initial irritation or breakouts typical of retinol products.
Highlights
Smoother skin Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels baby soft”
- “woke up to smoother skin”
- “texture is silky smooth”
- “face feels like velvet”
Deep hydration Often Mentioned
- “very hydrating”
- “no dryness at all”
- “skin feels plump”
- “great moisture barrier”
Lightweight feel Often Mentioned
- “absorbs instantly”
- “no greasy residue”
- “lightweight formula”
- “doesn't feel heavy”
Brightening effect Sometimes Noted
- “skin looks brighter”
- “glowy in the morning”
- “helped with dullness”
- “complexion looks more even”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “love that it's fragrance-free”
- “no strong smell”
- “great for sensitive noses”
- “zero scent is a plus”
Initial breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out bad”
- “skin started purging”
- “clogged my pores”
Jar packaging Rarely Noted
- “hate the jar”
- “wish it was a pump”
- “unsanitary packaging”
- “exposed to air”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “burned my skin”
- “red and itchy”
- “stinging sensation”
- “too harsh for me”
Slow results Rarely Noted
- “didn't see a difference”
- “no change in wrinkles”
- “takes months to work”
- “expected faster results”
Unpleasant smell Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical smell”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “smells like glue”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, ulta.com, olay.com, amazon.com, goodhousekeeping.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Retinol24 work for combination skin?
Olay Retinol24 offers moderate benefits for combination skin because niacinamide and retinol help manage oil and texture, though they do not specifically target oily shine. Glycerin and dimethicone provide general hydration that is supportive. Combination skin needs products with effective hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and balance without causing excess oiliness.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Niacinamide and retinol help regulate oil and texture, while dimethicone and glycerin provide general hydration for combination skin. To fit this skin type better, a moisturizing treatment needs ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, peptides, and natural extracts that balance moisture without causing extra oiliness.
What does Water do for combination skin?
Water helps keep combination skin hydrated, though a product of this type needs additional barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides or petrolatum to lock in that moisture and support overall skin health.
What does Dimethicone do for combination skin?
Dimethicone helps protect combination skin by forming a light barrier that smooths the surface without feeling heavy or greasy. It may keep skin soft and comfortable, though it is unlikely to deeply moisturize dry areas or control excess oil on its own.
Military Medicine, 2024Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2014
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and toning, followed by a moisturizer. A product of this type works well for combination skin when it includes ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid to help control oily shine and balance texture.
Can I use this cream with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cream with vitamin C by applying vitamin C in the morning and this treatment at night, as this routine keeps your skin safe while using both ingredients. Combination skin of this type needs lightweight hydrators and oil-controlling ingredients that specifically target oily shine to work best.
How often should I use it?
You can use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps improve skin texture and moisture, while keeping the risk of irritation low.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream may cause initial breakouts for your combination skin, but it is unlikely to cause irritation due to its gentle formula. A product for this skin needs ingredients that directly target oily shine and balance oil production while keeping it clear.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is generally safe to use on the thin skin around the eyes and on the body, though it is not specifically formulated for those areas. Its gentle ingredients like glycerin and dimethicone provide basic hydration without causing irritation.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019A 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, 2017Wearing 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, 2007The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Retinol, Aminopropyl Ascorbyl Phosphate, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4, Polyacrylamide, C13-14 Isoparaffin, Laureth-7, Dimethiconol, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.