🇬🇧United Kingdom

CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few moisturizers fit it even 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

  • Highly suitable for your combination skin, this product effectively balances oiliness and hydration with niacinamide for seboregulation and sodium hyaluronate for humectant action. These ingredients work synergistically to address your oily shine concerns while maintaining optimal moisture levels.
  • The inclusion of ceramides and cholesterol further supports your skin barrier, enhancing overall skin health and resilience.
  • The product is safe for your skin, as it contains no harsh ingredients and includes soothing components like glycerin, ensuring a gentle experience.

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 3.9k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this gel moisturizer is highly recommended for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, providing essential hydration without pore clogging or sticky residue. Users frequently note its weightless, refreshing feel and instant absorption, which helps maintain the skin barrier and control shine, especially in humid conditions. Some users find the quantity to be small for the price and insufficient for dry skin types.

Highlights

  • Extremely lightweight Mostly Mentioned
    • “feels like water”
    • “weightless on skin”
    • “barely there”
    • “super thin gel”
  • Fast absorption Often Mentioned
    • “sinks in immediately”
    • “dries instantly”
    • “no waiting to apply makeup”
    • “disappears into skin”
  • Non-greasy finish Often Mentioned
    • “matte finish”
    • “no sticky residue”
    • “oil-free feel”
    • “doesn't look shiny”
  • Small quantity Often Mentioned
    • “tiny tube”
    • “finished in 2 weeks”
    • “wish it was bigger”
    • “travel size amount”
  • Gentle & non-irritating Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't break me out”
    • “soothing on sensitive skin”
    • “no fragrance irritation”
    • “calms redness”
  • Great for layering Sometimes Noted
    • “no pilling under makeup”
    • “works well with sunscreen”
    • “smooth base for foundation”
    • “layers over serums”
  • Not for dry skin Sometimes Noted
    • “not moisturizing enough”
    • “skin felt tight later”
    • “need a second layer”
    • “too light for winter”
  • Poor value Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive for the size”
    • “pricey per ounce”
    • “not worth the cost”
    • “cash grab”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump is finicky”
    • “hard to get last drops”
    • “tube feels half empty”
    • “wasteful plastic”

Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, dermstore.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Ultra-Light Moisturizing Gel a great fit for combination skin?

This moisturizer is a great fit for your combination skin because it balances oily shine and hydration using niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate. It also helps support your skin barrier and keeps skin smooth with ceramides, cholesterol, and glycerin, while avoiding harsh ingredients.

Scientific Reports, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this moisturizer a good fit for combination skin?

Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate make this moisturizer a great fit for combination skin because they help balance oily shine while keeping dry areas hydrated. Additionally, ceramides and cholesterol support your skin barrier, while glycerin provides a gentle and soothing experience.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Scientific Reports, 2022

What do Ceramides do for combination skin?

Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier to keep dry areas hydrated without feeling heavy on oily zones. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol to maintain a smooth and calm feel across both dry and oily areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003Scientific Reports, 2022

What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002Antioxidants, 2021

Where does this moisturizer go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner in the morning routine and after your treatment in the evening routine. Applying it at these steps helps lock in moisture and keeps your combination skin balanced throughout the day and night.

Can I use this moisturizer with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with the moisturizer to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Using a barrier-supporting moisturizer alongside active treatments is unlikely to cause irritation and may improve your overall skin comfort.

Cutis, 2006Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

How often should I use this moisturizer?

This moisturizer is suitable for daily use, both morning and night, to keep your combination skin balanced and hydrated. Regular daily application helps improve moisture levels and supports a healthy skin barrier without irritation.

Health Science Reports, 2021Dermatology, 2003

Can this moisturizer clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This moisturizer is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin because it features a very light gel texture and soothing ingredients that keep the skin calm and balanced. It does not contain active ingredients that speed up skin shedding, so it will not cause purging.

Can I use this moisturizer around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizer around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula and ingredients like hyaluronic acid and glycerin suit thinner skin areas and keep them hydrated. Regular use of these ingredients and ceramides helps improve moisture and supports the skin barrier across different body regions.

Scientific Reports, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this moisturizer 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

  • Application of Body Lotion for 5 weeks on cosmetic dry skin improved barrier properties, increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides, and long-chain fatty acids, increased beneficial skin bacteria, and enhanced microbiome functional potential compared to baseline.

    Scientific Reports, 2022
  • 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, 2017
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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, 2001
  • Niacinamide/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, 2012
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2000
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Dimethicone, Isononyl Isononanoate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Silica, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Tocopherol, Chlorphenesin, Caprylyl Glycol, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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