🇬🇧United Kingdom

L'Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic for oily skin

Average

  • HighOily 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

  • Highly suitable for oily skin due to the presence of niacinamide for seboregulation and glycerin for humectant action, offering moderate moisturizing benefits that hydrate and plump the skin.
  • While it provides general skincare support, the formula does not directly address your main goal of reducing oily shine.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 32.0k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this moisturizer for its ability to instantly refresh and wake up tired-looking skin without leaving a greasy residue. It excels at hydrating and soothing razor burn, although effectiveness in reducing visible dark circles is mixed.

Highlights

  • Non-greasy, fast absorbing Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs fast with no shine”
    • “non-sticky finish”
    • “leaves no residue”
    • “perfect matte finish”
  • Effective hydration Often Mentioned
    • “skin feels hydrated all day”
    • “stops the tight feeling”
    • “softens rough patches”
    • “great for dry winter skin”
  • Refreshing, energizing Often Mentioned
    • “instant fresh feeling”
    • “wakes up my face”
    • “cooling sensation”
    • “skin looks brighter”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells fresh and citrusy”
    • “nice masculine scent”
    • “clean smell”
    • “invigorating fragrance”
  • Soothes post-shave Sometimes Noted
    • “stops razor burn”
    • “calms redness immediately”
    • “soothing after shaving”
    • “no stinging on cuts”
  • Dark circles Sometimes Noted
    • “didn't help dark circles”
    • “eyes still look tired”
    • “no change in bags”
    • “dark circles remain”
  • Price/value Rarely Noted
    • “bottle is too small”
    • “expensive for the amount”
    • “pricey without sale”
    • “runs out quickly”
  • Skin irritation Rarely Noted
    • “caused redness”
    • “stung my eyes”
    • “broke me out”
    • “burning sensation”
  • Texture issues Rarely Noted
    • “too watery”
    • “feels a bit sticky”
    • “too thick for oily skin”
    • “leaves a film”

Sources: lovi.care, amazon.co.uk, boots.com, superdrug.com, loreal-paris.co.uk, idealo.co.uk, and more

Questions and answers

How well does L'Oréal Hydra Energetic work for oily skin?

L'Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic works moderately well for oily skin by providing hydration and soothing benefits, though it does not directly reduce oily shine. A product of this type needs lightweight textures, ingredients that target oily shine and support the skin barrier, and a formula free of heavy oils.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for oily skin?

Niacinamide and glycerin make this cream a good fit for oily skin because they help balance oil and provide light hydration without clogging pores. It is unlikely to cause irritation, though an oily skin type needs a product with ingredients that actively reduce shine and a lightweight, oil-free texture.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Glycerin do for oily skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?

Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.

Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for oily skin?

This moisturizing treatment goes near the end of your morning and evening skincare routines, right before sunscreen during the day. It is safe for oily skin, but because it does not directly target oily shine, an oily skin routine also needs ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid to help control excess oil.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

You can use this treatment with retinol by applying the retinol first and following it with this cream to help keep your skin calm and hydrated. Oily skin needs a product that also helps control excess shine.

Cutis, 2006Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment daily to keep your skin hydrated and smooth. Daily application helps improve skin moisture and supports the skin barrier, though oily skin also needs ingredients that directly target and reduce shine.

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 or clog pores on oily skin, as it has a very low risk of irritation and includes soothing ingredients like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. However, because it does not directly target oily shine, oily skin often needs a lightweight, oil-free formula with ingredients like salicylic acid or oil-absorbing powders to help keep shine under control.

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

This cream is safe to use around the eyes and on the body, as its gentle ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation. However, because the skin on the eyelids is among the thinnest on the body while back skin is much thicker, you may need a richer moisturizer for very dry body areas and a specialized eye product to properly target concerns in that delicate zone.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

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
  • 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 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
  • A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011
  • Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.

    Frontiers in Physiology, 2019
  • Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.

    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021

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, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Caffeine, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Parfum

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?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.