BABOR Hydra Plus for combination skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Saccharide Isomerate
Sodium Pca
Ethylhexylglycerin
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
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 suitability for your combination skin, as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide essential hydration to plump and balance areas prone to oiliness. These humectants effectively draw moisture to the skin, addressing general hydration needs without exacerbating shine.
- The formula's inclusion of Saccharide Isomerate further supports moisture retention, benefiting your skin's overall hydration levels.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsUsers with dry, dehydrated, and mature skin report immediate relief and a visible plumping effect, with many noting restored radiance. The formula is highly praised for intensive hydration and spa-like results. A significant concern is the glass ampoule packaging, which users find difficult and potentially dangerous to open.
Highlights
Intense instant hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “Skin feels like it had a spa day”
- “Combats deep dryness upon application”
- “My thirsty older skin loves it”
- “Restores a luminous and refreshed complexion”
Plumping and smoothing Often Mentioned
- “Visibly plumps my skin”
- “Dryness wrinkles appear reduced”
- “Skin feels firm and bouncy”
- “Smooths out fine lines”
Dangerous glass packaging Often Mentioned
- “Risk of glass shards falling into product”
- “Despise the applicator”
- “Hard to break open safely”
- “Scary to snap the glass neck”
Fast absorption Sometimes Noted
- “Absorbs completely without residue”
- “Drank it up like a drink of water”
- “Perfect base for makeup”
- “Non-sticky texture”
Radiant glow Sometimes Noted
- “Gives a healthy glow”
- “Restores a luminous complexion”
- “Skin looks fresh and dewy”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Scent is overpowering”
- “Too heavily perfumed for sensitive skin”
- “Smell is a bit much”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “Caused blemishes and redness”
- “Skin felt burning and swollen”
- “Caused a breakout”
Sticky finish Rarely Noted
- “Palms feel sticky after applying”
- “Left a tacky residue”
- “Felt a bit heavy on the skin”
Sources: lovi.care, babor.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, nordstrom.com, hwahae.co.kr, and more
Questions and answers
How well does BABOR Hydra Plus work for combination skin?
BABOR Hydra Plus works reasonably well for your combination skin, as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide essential hydration to plump and balance areas prone to oiliness without making you shine. It offers moderate suitability and is safe to use, though other products fit this skin type better. A product of this type needs effective hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients, along with humectants and soothing agents that balance moisture levels and control oily shine without causing irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
Which ingredients make this serum a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, and Saccharide Isomerate make this serum a good fit by drawing moisture to the skin and helping it stay hydrated without adding shine. Combination skin needs a balance of effective hydrators and skin-repairing ingredients that control oily areas without causing excess oiliness or irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
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
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizing treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Combination skin needs lightweight hydrators like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to balance oily and dry areas without adding extra shine.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
Can I use this serum with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this treatment with retinol by applying the treatment first to hydrate your skin and then following with retinol. This combination helps balance areas prone to oiliness while supporting moisture retention, though combination skin also benefits from barrier-restoring ingredients like ceramides and soothing agents to prevent irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
How often should I use it?
Use this treatment in your evening routine as part of your regular steps. Daily application helps maintain skin moisture and balance without adding extra shine.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can BABOR Hydra Plus clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
BABOR Hydra Plus is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as it contains gentle ingredients like Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate that provide hydration without adding extra shine. However, combination skin often does better with a lightweight, oil-free gel or fluid that balances oily zones and dry patches without any heavy feel.
Can I use this serum around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, but combination skin needs a product with targeted lightweight hydrators and balancing ingredients to best care for areas prone to oiliness.
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017A novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025A 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, 2025Formulations containing saccharide isomerate significantly improved transepidermal water loss, sebum secretion, and scalp flaking compared to a placebo formulation in an adult Chinese population affected by dandruff scalp.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Topical 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, 2012A novel natural carrier-free assembled gel composed of sodium pyrrolidone carboxylate and baicalin alleviates UVB-induced skin photodamage by scavenging reactive oxygen species, protecting mitochondria, restoring oxidative homeostasis, inhibiting inflammatory responses, and regulating collagen-related proteins.
Biomaterials Advances, 2026
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Saccharide Isomerate, C12-15 Pareth-12, Sodium Pca, Phenoxyethanol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Parfum, Ethylhexylglycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Citrate, 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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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
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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