Dermalogica Active Moist for acne-prone skin
Sodium Hyaluronate
Lavandula Angustifolia Extract Lavender Extract
Caprylic Capric Triglyceride
Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate
Silk Amino Acids
High
- SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few moisturizers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Excellent suitability for your combination skin is provided by caprylic capric triglyceride and sodium hyaluronate, which offer balancing hydration and emollient actions without overwhelming oily areas.
- The formula also delivers excellent moisturizing benefits through sodium hyaluronate and silk amino acids, enhancing skin elasticity and hydration.
- This product is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol and lacks harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use your moisturizer twice a day in your AM and PM routines. Apply it daily to help keep breakouts under control.
- Apply after your cleanser and toner, and make sure to use your SPF right after in the morning.
- Gently spread a small amount of moisturizer over your face using soft motions. Let it absorb into the skin for a minute before getting dressed or applying makeup.
- Apply on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture. This keeps your combination skin balanced without feeling heavy.
- Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use. Stop using if you feel any irritation.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsUsers with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this moisturizer for its sheer, lightweight formula that hydrates without clogging pores or leaving a greasy residue. Those with drier skin types or in colder climates often find it insufficient for their hydration needs, and a low frequency of users mention concerns about scent or formula changes.
Highlights
Lightweight & non-greasy Mostly Mentioned
- “feels like nothing”
- “zero residue”
- “super sheer”
- “matte finish”
- “light as water”
Absorbs instantly Often Mentioned
- “sinks in immediately”
- “disappears into skin”
- “no waiting time”
- “makeup ready instantly”
- “drinks it up”
Best for oily/acne skin Often Mentioned
- “doesn't clog pores”
- “no breakouts”
- “controls oil”
- “saved my acne”
- “perfect for grease-balls”
Great under makeup Sometimes Noted
- “no pilling”
- “smooth canvas”
- “primer-like finish”
- “foundation sits perfectly”
- “non-sticky base”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “pricey for size”
- “too expensive”
- “wallet hurts”
- “cost prohibitive”
- “tiny tube”
Not moisturizing enough Sometimes Noted
- “skin felt tight”
- “need more hydration”
- “too watery”
- “dry patches remain”
- “useless in winter”
Formula change concerns Rarely Noted
- “consistency changed”
- “used to be better”
- “new formula stings”
- “waterier than before”
- “quality dropped”
Herbal/earthy scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like plants”
- “weird herbal smell”
- “medicinal scent”
- “strong lemon/cucumber”
- “scent lingers”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, dermstore.com, ulta.com, acne.org, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Active Moist a great fit for acne-prone skin?
Dermalogica Active Moist is a great fit because caprylic capric triglyceride and sodium hyaluronate provide balancing hydration without overwhelming oily areas. The formula also delivers excellent moisturizing benefits while keeping skin calm with soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol.
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Caprylic capric triglyceride and sodium hyaluronate make this cream a great fit by providing balanced moisture without overwhelming oily areas. Additionally, soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol help keep skin calm and comfortable.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.
What does Lavender Extract do for acne-prone skin?
Lavender extract helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and swelling, making breakouts less angry. It may also help keep pores clear because of its natural soothing properties.
Anais Da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, 2015Molecules, 2020
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is used as the final step of your morning routine before sunscreen, and after your evening treatment. It helps hydrate your skin and calm areas prone to breakouts without feeling heavy.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first, letting it dry, and then smoothing on this moisturizer. Using a gentle moisturizer alongside retinol helps keep skin soft and reduces irritation.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and supported without making oily areas feel heavy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This moisturizer is a great fit for acne-prone skin because it provides balancing hydration without feeling heavy on oily areas. It also contains soothing ingredients like allantoin and panthenol that help keep skin calm and are unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
This moisturizer is safe to use around the eyes and on the body because it features soothing ingredients like panthenol and lacks harsh substances. It is unlikely to cause irritation while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (linalool). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical application of an emollient emulsion containing 15.0% caprylic/capric triglyceride doubled the amount of urocanic acid isomers and increased skin hydration with reduced transepidermal water loss in healthy subjects, though it did not prevent ultraviolet-induced urocanic acid isomerization.
Life, 2023Topical hyaluronic acid filler serum combined with Botulinum toxin type A lengthened the duration of the toxin's effect in reducing wrinkles compared to Botulinum toxin type A alone.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2022A 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, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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, 2002Topical 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, 2011Topical 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, 2022Treatment 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, 2019Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.
Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025Tea tree oil effectively treated acne while lavender and rosemary oils demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties in derma cosmetic applications based on an evaluation of various essential oils.
Frontiers in Medicine, 2025A blend of Lavandula angustifolia flower extract and dipeptide-4 reduced oxidative and glycation markers, enhanced ATP, SOD, autophagy, and melatonin production, and improved tissue morphology in human skin models and fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005Silk fibroin wound dressings exhibit anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic properties that accelerate skin wound healing compared to commercially available dressings in preclinical and clinical settings.
Biomolecules, 2022Chitosan silk fibroin topical hydrogel accelerated tissue reformation and wound regeneration compared to other groups in adult male Wistar albino rats.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Methyl Gluceth-20, Pentylene Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Dimethicone, Lactamide Mea, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Peg-100 Stearate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Lavandula Angustifolia Extract Lavender Extract, Malva Sylvestris Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Hedera Helix Stem Extract Leaf, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Sambucus Nigra Flower Extract, Arnica Montana Flower Extract, Parietaria Officinalis Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Leaf Extract Flower, Arctium Lappa Root Extract, Salvia Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf, Silk Amino Acids, Glycolipids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Palmitoyl Hydroxypropyltrimonium Amylopectin Glycerin Crosspolymer, Lecithin, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Allantoin, Panthenol, Cetyl Alcohol, Polyquaternium-10, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polysorbate 60, Aminomethyl Propanol, Disodium Edta, Linalool, Lavandula Hybrida Oil
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.