Physiogel Hydrating Facial Cream for combination skin
Glycerin
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter
Hyaluronic Acid
Squalane
Hydrogenated Lecithin
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2019
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 hydration for your combination skin, as glycerin and hyaluronic acid provide humectant benefits without overwhelming oily areas. Squalane and shea butter offer additional nourishment, though lighter emollients could enhance comfort for your oily shine.
- The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would typically cause irritation.
- This product provides basic hydration suitable for combination skin and oily shine.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this facial cream is highly praised for its deep and long-lasting hydration, making it excellent for dry, sensitive, or atopic skin. Users frequently note its gentle, fragrance-free formula. Some users find the rich texture can feel heavy or greasy, especially for oily skin types or in warmer weather.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Hydration is top-notch”
- “Keeps dryness at bay”
- “Skin feels soft and hydrated.”
Gentle/Non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't cause irritation”
- “Perfect for sensitive skin”
- “No adverse reactions.”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “Appreciated that it's fragrance-free”
- “No unnecessary fragrance”
- “Safe for sensitive skin.”
Barrier repair Sometimes Noted
- “Supports or rebuilds skin barrier”
- “Strengthens moisture barrier”
- “Skin feels healthy.”
Greasy or heavy Sometimes Noted
- “Felt greasy”
- “A bit rich”
- “Feels heavy when applied.”
Small packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Wish it came in larger size”
- “Repurchase often is a hassle”
- “Small size.”
Makeup pilling Rarely Noted
- “Caused some pilling”
- “Makeup doesn't lift off”
- “Heavy before makeup.”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Blemishes seem to be getting worse”
- “Might develop small blemishes”
- “Rich texture.”
Sources: lovi.care, hwahae.com, nykaa.com, youtube.com, gopicky.com, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Physiogel Hydrating Facial Cream work for combination skin?
Physiogel Hydrating Facial Cream works reasonably well for combination skin by delivering moderate moisture through glycerin and hyaluronic acid without overwhelming oily areas. Squalane and shea butter provide extra nourishment, though combination skin benefits even more from lightweight hydrators, soothing agents, and brightening ingredients that target oily shine while keeping the skin balanced and comfortable.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and hyaluronic acid make this cream a good fit by adding moisture without making oily areas feel heavy. Squalane and shea butter also help nourish the skin. To work even better for combination skin, a moisturizer of this type needs lighter ingredients that reduce oily shine.
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Butyrospermum Parkii Butter do for combination skin?
Butyrospermum parkii butter helps keep combination skin soft and smooth while supporting the skin barrier. This ingredient is generally well tolerated, though a product for this skin type also needs lightweight hydration to balance oilier zones without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment step in the evening routine. Combination skin needs lighter moisturizing ingredients that provide hydration without adding oily shine.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the moisturizer. This combination helps keep your skin comfortable and supports the skin barrier while you use retinoids. A moisturizer of this type for combination skin needs lighter emollients to enhance comfort for oily shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizing cream twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated. Regular daily application helps improve moisture levels and supports the skin barrier.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts on combination skin because it has no harsh ingredients that typically irritate, though a product of this type needs lighter ingredients to keep oily areas completely comfortable.
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 of skin. However, because the skin on the eyelids is much thinner than on other parts of the body, a product of this type needs lightweight hydration to comfortably care for that delicate area without feeling heavy.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl 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, 2017Lecithin-based nanoemulsions result in significantly higher viability rates in human epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts compared to anionic and non-ionic surfactants, while showing intermediate skin permeation.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 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, 2012A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical 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, 2019Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Pentylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Squalane, Hyaluronic Acid, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Hydroxide, 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?
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