Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser for oily skin
Glycerin
Panthenol Vitamin B5
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Borago Officinalis Seed Oil
Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin, as glycerin and urea provide humectant benefits without heavy occlusives, though these ingredients are not targeted for managing oily shine.
- Panthenol and bisabolol offer supportive barrier enhancement and soothing effects, which are beneficial for overall skin health.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like bisabolol and urea.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers with oily, combination, and sensitive skin appreciate this moisturizer for its lightweight, fast-absorbing, non-greasy formula that does not clog pores. Many find it suitable for sensitive skin and a good base for makeup. However, individuals with dry skin report insufficient hydration, and a small number of users experienced breakouts or stinging.
Highlights
Good for sensitive skin Mostly Mentioned
- “no artificial perfume”
- “didn't irritate skin”
- “calm and nourish”
- “gentle on face”
- “no harsh chemicals”
Affordable value Often Mentioned
- “super affordable”
- “great inexpensive product”
- “worth the price”
- “good budget option”
- “lasts a long time”
Lightweight, non-greasy Often Mentioned
- “absorbs very quickly”
- “no greasy residue”
- “light and refreshing”
- “matte finish”
- “doesn't clog pores”
Not enough hydration Often Mentioned
- “not moisturizing enough”
- “skin feels tight”
- “need heavier cream”
- “insufficient hydration”
- “dry patches remain”
Works as makeup base Sometimes Noted
- “makeup lays well”
- “base under BB cream”
- “smooths evenly”
- “no flaking”
- “non-sticky base”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused major breakouts”
- “stinging sensation”
- “small rashes”
- “clogged my pores”
Ingredient concerns Rarely Noted
- “contains mineral oil”
- “smells like paraffin”
- “parabens listed”
- “formula changed”
- “chemical smell”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “feels like a film”
- “thicker than expected”
- “hard to squeeze”
- “waxy residue”
- “sits on skin”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, influenster.com, productreview.com.au, shespeaks.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser work for oily skin?
Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser works moderately well for oily skin, as it provides basic hydration without heavy oils, though it does not help manage oily shine. To work best for this skin type, a moisturizer needs ingredients that control oiliness while keeping the skin hydrated with a lightweight texture, alongside no heavy oils or breakout risks.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and urea make this cream a good fit by giving it light hydration without heavy oils, while panthenol and bisabolol help soothe the skin. However, oily skin also needs ingredients like peptides and shine-managing agents to keep excess oil and breakouts under control.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What does Panthenol do for oily skin?
Panthenol helps regulate sebum and reduce redness for oily skin while keeping it hydrated. It is very well tolerated and is unlikely to cause adverse reactions across oily skin types.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
Simple Hydrating Light Moisturiser goes as the last step in your morning routine before sunscreen, and after your treatment step in the evening. It provides moderate hydration without heavy oils, though oily skin tends to do better with lightweight moisturizers that also help control shine and balance excess oil.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying your retinol first, letting it absorb, and then smoothing on your moisturizer to help calm and comfort your skin. Research shows that using a moisturizer alongside active treatments supports skin barrier health and reduces dryness and irritation.
How often should I use it?
You can use this moisturizer morning and evening as part of your daily routine. Daily application helps keep your skin soft and calm without heavy oils.
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it has a safe formula with soothing ingredients like bisabolol and urea. However, because it does not manage oily shine, an oily skin type typically needs a lightweight, oil-balancing moisturizer with ingredients that control excess oil while keeping skin smooth.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use around the eyes or on the body, though it does not manage oily shine.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2017Urea is a safe and effective dermatologic therapy with wide-ranging clinical utility for various skin conditions and minimal, non-systemic side effects based on a review of the clinical literature.
Dermatology Online Journal, 2013A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Moisturizer 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, 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 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, 2024Cutaneous application of linoleic and gamma-linolenic acid triglycerides reduced the high rate of transepidermal water loss in essential fatty acid-deficient rats, whereas other fatty acid triglycerides had no effect.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1976
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Bisabolol, Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Carbomer, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium Edta, Lactic Acid, Panthenol, Pantolactone, Pentylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Carbonate, Potassium Hydroxide, Serine, Sodium Lactate, Sorbitol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Urea
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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