KORA Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer for combination skin
Active Algae
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil
Camellia SinensisAverage
- 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 hydration for your combination skin, as glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice provide humectant action to hydrate without overwhelming oily areas.
- While it offers general hydration benefits, ingredients like sunflower seed oil and coconut fruit extract are not specialized for managing oily shine.
- The product is safe for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like aloe barbadensis leaf juice and camellia sinensis leaf extract.
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 200+ reviewsThe Kora Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer is praised for its cooling, gel-like texture that hydrates effectively without greasiness. It is particularly beneficial for oily, acne-prone, or sensitive skin, helping to reduce redness and improve clarity. The product also sits well under makeup.
Highlights
Lightweight, non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “Feels like a light oil but with none of the sheen”
- “Absorbs quickly”
- “Non-greasy feel”
Calms sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Safe for my sensitive skin”
- “Calms down my redness”
- “Leaves skin soothed”
Effective hydration Often Mentioned
- “Punchy shot of moisture”
- “Long-lasting hydration”
- “Reduces tightness and dryness”
Sustainable packaging Sometimes Noted
- “Refillable glass jars”
- “Reduce waste by replenishing”
- “Beautiful looking skincare pot”
Divisive scent Sometimes Noted
- “Intensely scented”
- “Off-putting”
- “Slight algae, earthy scent”
Limited anti-aging Rarely Noted
- “Does not contain ingredients that are able to reduce fine lines”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “£51 for the initial product”
- “Price is very reasonable”
Sources: lovi.care, koraorganics.com, spacenk.com, sephora.com.au, sephora.nz, britishbeautyblogger.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does KORA Organics Active Algae Lightweight Moisturizer work for combination skin?
This moisturizer works moderately well for combination skin, hydrating dry areas without being too heavy, though it does not manage oily shine as well as top-rated options. A moisturizer for this skin needs ingredients that provide balanced hydration and help reduce oily shine without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice make this cream a good fit by providing light hydration that helps keep dry spots soft without overwhelming your oily areas. To work best for combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that actively reduce oily shine while providing balanced moisture and gentle soothing care.
What does Algae Extract do for combination skin?
Algae extract helps keep combination skin calm and protected by providing strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. It is unlikely to cause irritation and supports overall skin health with a very safe profile.
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for combination skin?
Aloe vera leaf juice helps keep combination skin hydrated by increasing water content without making it oily. It also helps calm redness and supports skin recovery.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This moisturizer goes as the third step in your morning routine after a cleanser and hydrating toner, and as the last step in your evening routine after a treatment. A daily skin care regimen including a moisturizer significantly improves overall skin hydration and barrier function compared to a cleanser alone.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying it after your retinol treatment to help soothe your skin and keep it comfortable. Using a moisturizer alongside treatments like retinol is generally safe and helps reduce dryness, though combination skin also needs lightweight ingredients that manage oily shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to keep your skin hydrated. Combination skin needs a lightweight formula with balancing ingredients that hydrate dry areas without adding extra shine to oily zones.
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 clog pores or cause breakouts on your combination skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and features soothing agents like aloe and green tea extract. However, to better manage oily shine, a moisturizer for this skin needs ingredients that help balance oil while keeping dry areas soft.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing aloe barbadensis leaf juice and camellia sinensis leaf extract. However, a product for the thin skin around the eyes or the skin on the body needs specialized ingredients that address specific concerns in those areas better than this general formula.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (citronellol and geraniol) and drying alcohol (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, 2017Topical application of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) to human skin before UV irradiation decreases UV-induced production of hydrogen peroxide by 68-90% and nitric oxide by 30-100%, inhibits leukocyte infiltration and lipid peroxidation by 41-84%, and restores glutathione levels and glutathione peroxidase activity compared to UV exposure alone.
Carcinogenesis, 2001Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009Treatment 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, 2022A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010The 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 green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical application of green tea extract encapsulated chitosan microparticles improved skin elasticity, melanin index, and facial wrinkles compared to a placebo in female volunteers without causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Isoamyl Laurate, Water, Triheptanoin, Glyceryl Stearate Citrate, Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii Extract, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Polyglyceryl-3 Stearate, Lactobacillus Ferment, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Xylityl Sesquicaprylate, Lysolecithin, Sclerotium Gum, Dilinoleic Acid Butanediol Copolymer, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Lactobacillus, Xanthan Gum, Pullulan, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Anhydroxylitol, Lecithin, Tocopherol, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Coconut Fruit Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower Geranium Oil Flower, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Rhododendron Ferrugineum Extract, Silica, Castor Ipdi Copolymer Oil, Ocimum Basilicum Oil, Rosa Centifolia Oil Flower Rose Moroccan Oil Flower, Alcohol, Citronellol, Geraniol
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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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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.