🇬🇧United Kingdom

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel for sensitive skin

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  • HighNormal Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • Low RiskSafety

A weak match for sensitive skin; the moisturizers alongside fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 excellent moisturizing for your normal skin due to high concentrations of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump effectively, though it does not directly address your redness and irritation.
  • Trehalose and Saccharomyces Lysate Extract provide barrier repair and soothing benefits, which are supportive but not primary for managing your specific concerns.

How to apply

  • Use this soothing AM and PM routine every day to keep your normal skin calm. Always remember to apply SPF in the morning after your moisturizer.
  • Apply your moisturizer after your toner in the morning, and after your serum in the evening. This step locks in hydration and protects your skin.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer evenly across your face. Avoid rubbing to keep your sensitive skin happy and calm.
  • You can apply this gentle formula on dry or slightly damp skin for the best comfort. It works wonderfully on clean skin to soothe redness and irritation.
  • Do a patch test before your very first use to check your skin's reaction. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes .

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 10.0k+ reviews

This oil-free gel is a highly-rated favorite for oily and combination skin, appreciated for its very lightweight, fast-absorbing texture that hydrates without feeling heavy or clogging pores. It also performs well as a base for makeup. However, a significant number of users with dry skin or in colder climates find it not moisturizing enough, and a small number report breakouts or reactions.

Highlights

  • Lightweight absorption Mostly Mentioned
    • “sinks in instantly”
    • “feels like nothing on”
    • “no sticky residue”
    • “disappears into skin”
    • “light refreshing texture”
  • Controls oil Often Mentioned
    • “keeps me matte”
    • “balances my oily T-zone”
    • “doesn't make me greasy”
    • “great for summer humidity”
    • “oil-free hydration”
  • Good under makeup Often Mentioned
    • “perfect primer base”
    • “foundation glides on”
    • “doesn't pill”
    • “smooth canvas”
    • “makeup stays put”
  • Not moisturizing enough Often Mentioned
    • “skin felt tight”
    • “need a second layer”
    • “dry patches remained”
    • “not for winter”
    • “hydration disappears quickly”
  • Non-irritating formula Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't sting”
    • “fragrance-free”
    • “safe for sensitive skin”
    • “calms redness”
    • “gentle on acne”
  • Pricey for basics Sometimes Noted
    • “expensive for what it is”
    • “paying for the brand”
    • “basic ingredients”
    • “overpriced mineral oil”
    • “drugstore dupes are better”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “gave me cystic acne”
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “tiny bumps appeared”
    • “caused a rash”
    • “bad reaction”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “smells like plastic”
    • “chemical odor”
    • “weird rubber smell”
    • “stinks despite no fragrance”
    • “smells medicinal”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, amazon.com, clinique.com, makeupalley.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel a weak match for sensitive skin?

This moisturizer is a weak match for sensitive skin because, although it hydrates well, it does not directly address redness and irritation. Sensitive skin needs products with soothing ingredients like fermented Centella Asiatica and cica ceramide that calm irritation and strengthen the skin barrier without causing flare-ups.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this moisturizer a poor fit for sensitive skin?

This moisturizer is a weak match for sensitive skin because it does not directly address redness and irritation, even though it hydrates well. Sensitive skin needs soothing ingredients that calm redness and irritation, along with barrier-supporting components like fermented Centella Asiatica, cica ceramide, and nourishing oils.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?

Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for sensitive skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm and hydrate sensitive skin while supporting the skin barrier to keep it soft and comfortable. Clinical studies show it improves surface moisture and reduces dryness, roughness, and redness without irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2018

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

This moisturizer goes at the end of your evening routine, and a product for sensitive skin of this type needs calming ingredients and extra soothing support to manage redness.

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

You can use this moisturizer with retinol by applying your retinol first and following it with this product once the retinol absorbs. This helps keep your skin hydrated, but because this product is a weak match for sensitive skin, a sensitive skin routine needs a moisturizer with soothing ingredients like ceramides or centella to calm redness and irritation.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this moisturizer?

You can use this moisturizer twice a day, morning and night, to keep your skin hydrated. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports the skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This moisturizer may cause breakouts for some people with sensitive skin, as a low number of reviewers report this issue. Sensitive skin needs lightweight, non-clogging hydrators and soothing ingredients like ceramides and niacinamide to keep pores clear and calm irritation without heavy oils.

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

This moisturizer is safe to use on the thin skin around the eyes and on the body, though the eyelid is one of the thinnest body regions where products absorb more easily. Glycerin and similar hydrators help keep dry areas soft, but sensitive skin in these zones may need specialized soothing ingredients to avoid irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this moisturizer 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, 2017
  • Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2024
  • Topical treatment with Thealoz Duo significantly improved dry eye disease symptoms, tear break-up time, and restored tear lipid layer functionality by reducing inflammatory response proteins in moderate to severe dry eye patients over 56 days.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • A skincare regimen containing Macrocystis pyrifera ferment consisting of a cleansing foam, a serum, and a moisturizer decreases the visible effects of inflammation and aging while promoting healing and improving patient satisfaction.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Macrocystis pyrifera ferment-containing creams decrease visible inflammation and signs of aging while enhancing barrier resilience and recovery.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
  • Aqueous extracts from Macrocystis pyrifera and Durvillaea antarctica exhibited antiviral activity against acyclovir-sensitive and acyclovir-resistant HSV-1 and HSV-2, and topical formulations significantly reduced the severity and duration of HSV-1 skin lesions in an animal model compared to mock treatment and acyclovir.

    Frontiers in Microbiology, 2020
  • Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
  • Copper Oxide nanoparticles synthesized using cucumber extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, UV protection, and reactive-oxygen species inhibition properties with low cellular toxicity and skin-rejuvenating effects when incorporated into skin cream.

    Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders Drug Targets, 2021
  • Topical treatment with Holothuria parva extract gel showed significant wound contraction compared to the negative control in full-thickness wounded rats.

    The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds, 2024

Why other moisturizers fit sensitive skin better

  • A 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, 2024
  • 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, 2002
  • A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002

Ingredients

Water, Dimethicone, Isododecane, Butylene Glycol, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Glycerin, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Polygonum Cuspidatum Root Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hordeum Vulgare Extract Extrait Dorge Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Caffeine, Trehalose, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Polysilicone-11, Silica, Propylene Glycol Dicaprate, Oleth-10, Lactobacillus Ferment, Laureth-23, Laureth-4, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Carbomer, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Red 4 Ci 14700, Ci 15985

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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Prices checked 15 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the United Kingdom.

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