🇬🇧United Kingdom

La Mer The Moisturizing Fresh Cream for oily acne-prone skin

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 oily skin due to glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which hydrate and plump the skin, but these ingredients do not address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • Dimethicone and squalane provide emollient action suitable for oily skin, though the formula lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients for optimal results.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this AM and PM routine every day to help clear your skin. Always remember to finish with SPF in the morning.
  • Apply the moisturizer after your cleanser and toner, right before your SPF during the day.
  • Gently press a small amount into your skin and avoid rubbing to keep pores clear.
  • Apply on clean, slightly damp skin to help the product absorb better and control oil.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area and do a simple patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This moisturizer is a lightweight, gel-based option favored by users with combination and oily skin for its ability to provide a hydrated and firm appearance without a greasy residue. While it is widely praised for its refreshing feel and smoothing effects, some users report concerns regarding its high cost, fragrance content, and potential for breakouts on sensitive or acne-prone skin.

Highlights

  • Lightweight feel Mostly Mentioned
    • “Super lightweight and feels fresh.”
    • “Not at all greasy.”
    • “Feather-light gel face cream.”
  • Very high price Mostly Mentioned
    • “It's a total splurge.”
    • “Ridiculous price point.”
    • “Paying for the brand, not actives.”
  • Cooling sensation Often Mentioned
    • “Within seconds, cools and refreshes.”
    • “Sinks in cool and weightless.”
    • “Does feel very refreshing.”
  • Improves radiance Sometimes Noted
    • “Radiates my face with a youthful glow.”
    • “Skin looked younger and fresher.”
    • “My skin looks beautiful.”
  • Softens and firms Sometimes Noted
    • “Renews skin's youthful bounce.”
    • “Skin feels bouncy and looks clearer.”
    • “Skin felt firmer and stronger.”
  • Contains fragrance Sometimes Noted
    • “Fragranced, with several allergens.”
    • “Smell is something I don't care for.”
  • Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Made me break out in whiteheads.”
    • “Clogging my pores.”
    • “Giving me different results.”

Sources: lovi.care, samsclub.com, cremedelamer.com, macys.com, bluemercury.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does La Mer Fresh Cream work for oily acne-prone skin?

La Mer The Moisturizing Fresh Cream is an average fit for oily acne-prone skin because while it hydrates well and feels safe without irritation risks, it lacks enough oil-controlling ingredients to properly target blemishes. A moisturizing treatment for this skin type needs oil-balancing extracts and breakout-fighting ingredients to keep pores clear and shine controlled.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate and plump your oily skin, while dimethicone and squalane keep it smooth without feeling heavy. Oily acne-prone skin needs a moisturizing treatment with ingredients that clear breakouts and balance oil production.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.

The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

What does Algae Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Algae extract helps keep oily, acne-prone skin balanced by providing lightweight moisture and powerful antioxidants that calm irritation. Because this skin type needs ingredients that soothe redness and protect against breakouts without clogging pores, a product of this type needs non-greasy hydrators and calming plant extracts.

Pharmaceutics, 2025Molecules, 2021

Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This moisturizer goes as the final step of your morning routine after a cleanser, hydrating toner, and serum, and in the evening after your cleanser, toner, and treatment. It keeps your skin soft and hydrated, though oily acne-prone skin of this type needs added ingredients to control oil and breakouts.

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

You can use this moisturizing treatment with retinol by applying it after your retinol to help soothe the skin and reduce potential dryness. This product is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but it needs ingredients that help clear blemishes and control oil to best suit acne-prone skin.

Cutis, 2006The Journal of Dermatology, 2014

How often should I use it?

You can use this moisturizing treatment twice daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Regular use helps keep oily skin hydrated and soft, though an oily acne-prone skin type also needs oil-controlling and breakout-clearing ingredients for optimal results.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging, and reviewer complaints about potential breakouts are low. However, because it lacks oil-controlling ingredients, oily acne-prone skin needs a product with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to properly manage breakouts.

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this moisturizing treatment around your eyes and on your body, as it has a very safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation. However, because the skin around the eyes and body differs significantly in thickness compared to the face, you may want to choose products specifically formulated for those areas to get the best results.

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

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, linalool, citronellol, and geraniol) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

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
  • Petrolatum-based skin protectants demonstrated protection against irritants and maceration while providing skin hydration, whereas dimethicone and zinc oxide products showed varying or limited performance across parameters among 18 healthy volunteers compared to positive and negative controls.

    Ostomy/wound Management, 2005
  • 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
  • Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.

    Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004
  • Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
  • Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.

    Marine Drugs, 2022
  • 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
  • Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.

    Molecules, 2025
  • Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.

    Antioxidants, 2025
  • 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

Why other moisturizers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Dimethicone, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Yeast Faex Extrait De Levure Extract, Trisiloxane, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Alcohol Denat, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Butylene Glycol, Isopentyldiol, Ammonium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Vp Copolymer, Citrus Aurantifolia Peel Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal Seed, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Bis-Peg-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Lactobacillus Ferment, Trametes Versicolor Extract, Trehalose, Squalane, Laminaria Digitata Extract, Caffeine, Dipalmitoyl Hydroxyproline, Whey Lactis Proteine Du Petit-Lait Protein, Hydrolyzed Rice Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Iris Florentina Root Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Palmitoyl Hexapeptide-12, Sucrose, Saccharide Isomerate, Peg-8, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Oleth-10, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Glyceryl Polymethacrylate, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Tocopheryl Acetate, Bht, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Sodium Citrate, Citric Acid, Tromethamine, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate

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?

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