🇬🇧United Kingdom

Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best moisturizers for combination skin.

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 serum effectively addresses oily shine with glycerin and sodium hyaluronate to hydrate and plump without exacerbating oiliness. Panthenol further supports your skin barrier, enhancing overall skin health.
  • The inclusion of oat kernel extract provides additional soothing benefits, making it a well-rounded choice for maintaining balanced and comfortable skin.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring beneficial components that minimize irritation risk.

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

★4.8Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

Users with dehydrated and dry skin report this serum provides immediate, deep hydration, leaving skin plump and dewy with a lightweight texture suitable for layering. Some users with sensitive skin experienced breakouts, and others found the finish slightly tacky or the hydration insufficient for harsh winter dryness.

Highlights

  • Deeply hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels quenched immediately”
    • “bye bye dry patches”
    • “hydration lasts all day”
    • “healed my dry neck”
  • Lightweight texture Often Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly”
    • “not greasy at all”
    • “feels like water”
    • “lightweight and refreshing”
  • Layers well Sometimes Noted
    • “great under makeup”
    • “pairs well with moisturizer”
    • “no pilling with other products”
    • “smooth base for foundation”
  • Plumps and glows Sometimes Noted
    • “skin looks bouncy”
    • “gives a dewy glow”
    • “fine lines diminished”
    • “radiant and nourished”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “too expensive for size”
    • “pricey for a hyaluronic serum”
    • “not worth the money”
    • “bottle runs out fast”
  • Sticky residue Sometimes Noted
    • “leaves a tacky finish”
    • “feels sticky to touch”
    • “slightly oily consistency”
    • “takes time to dry down”
  • Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “woke up with pimples”
    • “clogged my pores”
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “irritated my sensitive skin”
  • Insufficient for winter Rarely Noted
    • “not enough for winter”
    • “skin still felt dry”
    • “needed more moisture”
    • “good for summer only”

Sources: lovi.care, sephora.ae, lovelyskin.com, ulta.com, dermalogica.com, beautifiedyou.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Dermalogica Circular Hydration Serum a great fit for combination skin?

This serum is a great fit because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate and plump combination skin without making it oily. Panthenol supports your skin barrier, and oat kernel extract soothes it to help keep your skin balanced and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

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

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate and plump combination skin without making it oily. Panthenol supports the skin barrier, while oat kernel extract soothes for a balanced feel.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?

Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.

Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

This serum goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, though some serums may also be used in the morning or twice a day. Putting treatments in the evening provides simplicity and extra safety around sun exposure.

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

You can use this serum with retinol by applying it before your retinol treatment in the evening routine. This helps keep your combination skin hydrated and may reduce the dryness and irritation often caused by retinol.

Cutis, 2006The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

How often should I use this serum?

This serum is used in the evening as part of your routine. Daily application helps keep your skin hydrated and balanced without adding extra oily shine.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

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

This serum is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin because it features ingredients that hydrate and calm without adding heavy oils. Reviewers rarely report breakouts, and the formula contains no harsh irritants.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

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

This serum is safe to use on the thin skin around the eyes and on the body because it features gentle hydrating and soothing ingredients that minimize irritation risk. Its lightweight moisture helps keep delicate and larger areas soft and smooth without feeling heavy.

Polymers, 2023The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

Is this serum fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).

What the research says

  • A 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, 2017
  • 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 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
  • Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
  • A multiple W/O/W emulsion containing Rosmarinus officinalis L., Avena sativa L., and Linum usitatissimum L. extracts showed no irritant, phototoxic, inflammatory, or allergenic potential in human skin models and patch tests, establishing its safety as a cosmetic base.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021
  • 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
  • A repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018
  • Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
  • Colloidal oat increased the growth rate, metabolism, and lactic acid production of Staphylococcus epidermidis compared to Staphylococcus aureus in vitro, matching clinical increases in lactic acid on dry skin after 6 weeks of lotion use.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2021
  • A Dunaliella salina extract significantly reduced skin glycation scores, histamine sensitivity, wrinkle counts, and spots compared to placebo under intense solar exposure.

    Marine Drugs, 2022
  • Phytoene- and phytofluene-rich tomato and Dunaliella salina extracts show no significant cytotoxic, genotoxic, irritant, or sensitizing potential, supporting their safe human topical use.

    Journal of Toxicology, 2018
  • Curcumin-loaded polyglutamic acid and gum arabic electrospun nanofibers accelerated wound healing, increased TGF-beta1 and VEGF expression, reduced inflammatory factors, and enhanced re-epithelialization and tissue regeneration in a mouse model with acute full-thickness skin defects.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
  • Polyglutamic acid and polylysine composite hydrogels promote wound repair and hemostasis through high water absorption, bioadhesion, calcium ion-mediated coagulation factor activation, and inherent antibacterial properties in a deep skin defect model.

    Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021

Ingredients

Water, Peg-8, Glycerin, Methylpropanediol, Propanediol, Ppg-24-Glycereth-24, 1,2-Hexanediol, Xylitylglucoside, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethyl Urea, Panthenol, Hydroxyacetophenone, Lactic Acid, Sodium Hyaluronate, Dunaliella Salina Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Lemon Peel Oil, Sandalwood Oil, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Jasminum Sambac Flower Extract Jasmine Flower Extract, Chondrus Crispus Extract, Gigartina Stellata Extract, Macrocystis Pyrifera Extract Kelp Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Lithothamnion Calcareum Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Cupressus Sempervirens Oil, Cistus Ladaniferus Stem Extract Leaf, Juniperus Virginiana Oil, Rosamarinus Officinalis Stem Extract Flower Leaf Rosemary Stem Extract Flower Leaf, Tagetes Minuta Oil Flower, Rosa Damascena Flower, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Pca, Anhydroxylitol, Xylitol, Polyglutamic Acid, Lactobacillus Ferment, Lysine Hcl, Betaine, Sclerotium Gum, Sodium Lactate, Pca, Glucose, Serine, Alanine, Glycine, Silanetriol, Pantolactone, Glutamic Acid, Threonine, Arginine, Proline, Xanthan Gum, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Polysorbate 20, Sorbitan Isostearate, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Amylopectin, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Limonene, Linalool

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 10 Oct – 1 Nov 2026

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