The INKEY List Omega Water Cream for oily acne-prone skin
Omega Fatty Acids
Niacinamide
Glycerin
Betaine
Coco-Caprylate Caprate
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin due to the presence of glycerin and niacinamide, which provide excellent hydration and enhance barrier resilience.
- While it offers general hydration benefits, it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
- Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
- Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this lightweight, water-based gel moisturizer is highly praised by users with oily and combination skin for its hydrating properties without causing greasiness or pore clogging. Users with dry skin frequently report it is not moisturizing enough, and a moderate number of users experienced breakouts. It is also noted as being a good base for makeup and is affordable.
Highlights
Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
- “feels like applying straight up water to the skin”
- “absorbs quickly while keeping skin moisturized”
- “super lightweight but gives an insane glow”
- “melts from cream to water on the skin”
Ideal for oily/combo Often Mentioned
- “great for oily skin but anyone can use it”
- “lightweight cream amazing for oil control”
- “doesn't make my skin look oilier”
- “perfect moisturizer that balances out my combination skin”
Non-greasy, fast absorption Often Mentioned
- “hydrates without feeling heavy or greasy”
- “sinks in, leaving the skin hydrated”
- “absorbs decently... sets to a radiant finish”
- “no oily finish”
Insufficient for dry Often Mentioned
- “have dry skin but this doesn't feel hydrating at all”
- “felt like my skin needs more moisture”
- “not moisturizing enough for colder months”
- “splashing water on my face... would've had the same result”
Affordable price Sometimes Noted
- “great and affordable moisturizer for everyday use”
- “especially for the price it's a really nice product”
- “high-quality skincare products on a budget”
Good under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “applies wonderfully under sunscreen and makeup”
- “great primer and moisturiser”
- “makeup applies flawless under this stuff”
- “layers great with sunscreen”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “did cause major breakouts”
- “woke up with irritated skin and break outs”
- “zero spots... [contradicted by] broke me out”
- “suspect the oleic acid was the main cause”
Leaves shiny film Rarely Noted
- “leaving a oily finish on my skin”
- “looks a little shiny because of some ingredients”
- “extremely glowy, possibly crossing the line”
Texture too thin Rarely Noted
- “it's too thin for me”
- “almost as if it does nothing”
- “felt like I was applying water... [negative context]”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.ph, boots.com, spacenk.com, cultbeauty.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does The INKEY List Omega Water Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?
The INKEY List Omega Water Cream works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as it provides good hydration without clogging pores, but it lacks specific ingredients to target breakouts. A moisturizer of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, alongside lightweight hydrating and barrier-repairing components, to truly suit this skin type.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and niacinamide make this cream a moderate fit for your oily skin by providing good hydration and strengthening your skin barrier without causing irritation. However, because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients, an oily acne-prone skin type needs a moisturizer that includes acne-fighting components like salicylic acid along with lightweight hydration that does not clog pores.
What do Omega Fatty Acids do for oily acne-prone skin?
Omega fatty acids help calm oily, acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and soothing redness. Regular use may also improve skin smoothness and decrease inflammation while supporting a healthy skin barrier.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2014Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning and after your treatment in the evening. It provides safe hydration for your skin, but an oily acne-prone skin type also needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to properly manage breakouts.
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 the moisturizer first to help reduce irritation. A product of this type used with retinol for oily acne-prone skin needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and breakout-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day, morning and night, to keep your oily skin hydrated without irritation. Daily use helps support your skin barrier, though an oily acne-prone skin type also needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to properly manage blemishes and breakouts.
Health Science Reports, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
Yes, this cream may cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as some reviewers note and the formula lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to clear blemishes. However, its safety profile is otherwise gentle and unlikely to irritate, though this skin type needs specialized blemish-fighting ingredients to stay clear.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cream around the eyes and on the body because its safety profile is excellent, with no harsh ingredients that may cause irritation. For the very thin skin in the eye area, a moisturizer of this type needs soothing and hydrating ingredients like glycerin and betaine to maintain comfort without heaviness.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Skin Research and Technology, 2003
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying 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 post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.
Skin Research and Technology, 2003Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.
Antioxidants, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006The 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 dry mouth products containing olive oil, betaine, and xylitol significantly increased unstimulated whole salivary flow rates, reduced xerostomia complaints, and improved quality of life in adults with polypharmacy-induced xerostomia compared to their normal routine care, with no clinically significant adverse events.
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation, 2007A combination of Aloe barbadensis leaf extract and trimethylglycine in a 1:1 mass ratio synergistically increased aquaporin 3 expression by up to 380% in keratinocytes and safely improved skin hydration in healthy volunteers.
Molecules, 2024Mixed surfactant systems of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dimethyl dodecyl amido betaine significantly reduce acute skin irritation potential in human volunteers compared with the individual surfactants, demonstrating that irritation potential cannot be predicted by simple summation.
Food and Chemical Toxicology, 1998Liquid coco-caprylate/caprate combined with electrogenic Staphylococcus epidermidis significantly reduced UV-B-induced skin injuries in mice compared to poorly electrogenic isolates.
Scientific Reports, 2020
Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A facial serum containing snail secretion filtrate, Calendula officinalis, and Glycyrrhiza glabra root extract significantly reduced inflammatory acne lesions compared to placebo in 66 participants with mild-to-moderate maskne over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Betaine, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Magnesium Sulfate, Glycosphingolipids, Glycolipids, Sodium Benzoate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Oleic Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Polyglycerin-3
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
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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