Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Balance for oily skin
Bioreplenish Complex
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Aloe Barbadensis Extract
Chlorella Vulgaris Extract
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other moisturizers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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, as Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate and Centella Asiatica Extract provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, though it lacks stronger ingredients for significant oil control.
- The formula excels at providing excellent moisturizing due to Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP, enhancing barrier resilience and hydration for your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Sodium Hyaluronate and Centella Asiatica Extract.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine every day to keep your face fresh.
- Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toning, but right before your SPF in the morning.
- Gently press a small amount into your skin and let it absorb fully.
- Apply on clean, slightly dry skin to help control that oily shine.
- Avoid the eye area and do a quick patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsThis moisturizer is highly recommended for dry to very dry skin, providing significant and lasting hydration that improves skin texture and reduces fine lines. Based on a very large amount of data, this should be definitely taken into account. While users appreciate its rich yet non-greasy feel and gentle formulation, some individuals with oily or acne-prone skin find it too heavy, and a few have noted concerns about the price and scent.
Highlights
Intense hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels hydrated”
- “relieves dry skin”
- “moisture stays all day”
Good texture Often Mentioned
- “creamy without being greasy”
- “absorbs quickly”
- “lightweight for a rich cream”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “expensive”
- “pricy”
- “wish it were cheaper”
Efficient use Sometimes Noted
- “a little goes a long way”
- “tube lasts months”
Improves skin Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels soft”
- “plumper and glowing”
- “smooths fine lines”
Soothing and gentle Sometimes Noted
- “good for sensitive skin”
- “no irritation”
- “calming”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused pimples”
- “breakouts”
- “not for acne-prone skin”
Packaging complaints Rarely Noted
- “small bottle”
- “hard to get last bit out”
Reformulation issues Rarely Noted
- “prefer old formula”
- “new formula not as good”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “clinical smell”
- “unappealing fragrance”
- “weird scent”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, sephora.co.uk, influenster.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Intensive Moisture Balance work for oily skin?
This moisturizer works moderately well for oily skin, offering good hydration and soothing benefits through ingredients like Sodium Hyaluronate and Centella Asiatica Extract, but it lacks stronger ingredients for significant oil control. To be a better fit for this skin type, a product of this type needs peptides and lightweight hydrating agents that manage shine and support the skin barrier without heavy oils.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide NP make this cream a good fit by providing great hydration and strengthening your skin barrier, while Centella Asiatica Extract and Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate help calm the skin and offer antioxidant benefits. Oily skin works best with a moisturizer that combines lightweight hydrating agents, soothing extracts, and ingredients that manage shine without adding heavy oils or clogging pores.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016
What does Bioreplenish Complex do for oily skin?
Bioreplenish Complex helps nourish and support dry skin rather than oily skin, because it provides rich moisture that oily skin usually does not need. To keep oily skin balanced and smooth, look for lightweight formulas with ingredients that control shine and clear pores without feeling heavy.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This moisturizer goes after your hydrating toner and before your sunscreen in the morning, and after your treatment in the evening. Oily skin works best with moisturizers that add lightweight hydration while including oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this moisturizer. This helps keep your skin comfortable and supports your skin barrier while you use retinol, though oily skin of this type needs stronger oil control ingredients to manage shine.
How often should I use this cream?
You can use this moisturizer twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular application helps keep your skin hydrated and is unlikely to cause irritation. Oily skin also needs products with ingredients for significant oil control.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021
Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cream is unlikely to cause breakouts for your oily skin, as it has a very low rate of complaints and a very safe formula. Oily skin works best with lightweight formulas that balance oil and add light hydration without feeling heavy.
Can I use this cream around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this moisturizer around the eyes and on your body, though oily skin on the body and face typically needs lighter hydration and ingredients that actively control excess oil.
Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Cosmetic formulations containing 5% Centella asiatica extract showed the best efficacy in improving skin moisture and decreasing transepidermal water loss, while also exhibiting antiinflammatory properties in 25 volunteers compared to baseline measurements.
Indian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2016A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022Emulsions containing ceramides 1 and 3 improved skin hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss in sodium lauryl sulfate-irritated skin of fifteen healthy Asian women compared to a control emulsion.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2008Co-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, 2023Topical 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, 2019A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Lipid extracts of Chlorella vulgaris and Arthrospira platensis protect Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts against UVA-induced oxidative stress and 2-propanol-induced IL-6 expression in vitro.
Food Science and Technology International = Ciencia Y Tecnologia de Los Alimentos Internacional, 2026Oral and topical administration of ROQUETTE Chlorella sp. at higher doses significantly reduced skin inflammation scores and improved the healing process and duration of skin wounds in mice compared to untreated models.
Anti-inflammatory & Anti-allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 2014Resilient factor (RF, an aqueous extract fraction of Chlorella) suppressed PMA- and UVB-induced MMP1 production, protein, and gene expression, prevented UVB-suppressed elastin protein, and increased pro-collagen mRNA expression in human skin fibroblasts compared to untreated controls.
European Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Why other moisturizers fit oily 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
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Hydroxystearate, Butylene Glycol, Cetearyl Ethylhexanoate, Cetyl Caprylate, Stearic Acid, Peg-8, Octyldodecanol, Dimethicone, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Peg-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Chlorella Vulgaris Extract, Ceramide Np, Phytosterols, Centella Asiatica Extract, Linoleic Acid, Echinacea Purpurea Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Palmitic Acid, Myristic Acid, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Lactic Acid, Linolenic Acid, Propanediol, Tocopherol, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Carbomer, Hydroxystearic Acid, Aminomethyl Propanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol
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?
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