🇬🇧United Kingdom

NATURIUM Niacinamide Gel Cream 5% for dry sensitive skin

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry sensitive skin; other moisturizers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 moisturizing for your dry skin due to the presence of glycerin and sodium hyaluronate, which provide hydration, but it lacks sufficient emollient ingredients for optimal nourishment.
  • Niacinamide and coconut fruit juice offer general skincare benefits that support hydration, though they are not specifically targeted for your dry or flaky skin concerns.
  • The product is safe for your dry and sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using this moisturizer 3 times a week and move to daily use if your dry skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this moisturizer after cleansing and toner in the morning, or after your serum in the evening. Always pair it with SPF in the morning.
  • Gently press a small amount of the moisturizer into your skin. Avoid rubbing it harshly to protect your sensitive skin.
  • Apply the moisturizer on slightly damp skin to help with hydration absorption. This also works well for dry and flaky skin types.
  • Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid the eye area to prevent any irritation.

People Say

★4.4Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This gel-cream is widely celebrated by users with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin for its ability to regulate sebum and minimize pores without feeling heavy. While it delivers a "glass skin" finish and layers well under makeup, those with drier skin types often find it insufficiently hydrating, particularly during colder months.

Highlights

  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “absorbs quickly without residue”
    • “feels like nothing on”
    • “super fresh and light”
  • Oil control Often Mentioned
    • “keeps oils at bay”
    • “perfect for my oily t-zone”
    • “stopped my midday shine”
  • Makeup compatibility Sometimes Noted
    • “great under foundation”
    • “doesn't pill with SPF”
    • “makeup sits beautifully on top”
  • Pore reduction Sometimes Noted
    • “pores look smaller”
    • “skin texture is smoother”
    • “gives a glass-skin look”
  • Insufficient hydration Sometimes Noted
    • “skin felt tight after an hour”
    • “need a thicker cream on top”
    • “not enough for dry winter skin”
  • Price vs. quantity Rarely Noted
    • “wish the bottle was bigger”
    • “finished it too quickly”
    • “pricey for the amount you get”
  • Skin reactions Rarely Noted
    • “caused cystic acne”
    • “broke me out immediately”
    • “skin turned red and stung”

Sources: lovi.care, naturium.com, target.com, spacenk.com, skinsort.com, ulta.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream work for dry sensitive skin?

Naturium Niacinamide Gel Cream works reasonably well for dry sensitive skin by offering moderate hydration and a safe profile without harsh ingredients, but it lacks sufficient softening ingredients for optimal nourishment. To properly care for dry skin, a product of this type needs rich softening ingredients and deep hydrators to lock in moisture and support the skin barrier.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry sensitive skin?

Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help hydrate dry skin, while dimethicone protects it, though this cream needs richer softening ingredients to fully nourish dry skin.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for dry sensitive skin?

Niacinamide helps dry sensitive skin by calming irritation and keeping moisture locked in so your face feels soft and smooth. It works to build up your skin barrier and calm redness while being very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2013

What does Dimethicone do for dry sensitive skin?

Dimethicone helps protect dry sensitive skin, though it may show varying performance compared to other protectants. This type of product needs gentle, hydrating ingredients that support the skin barrier without causing irritation.

Ostomy/wound Management, 2005

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

This treatment goes in the evening routine after your cleansing and toning steps, followed by your moisturizer. It is safe for your sensitive skin and is unlikely to cause irritation, but dry skin of this type needs richer softening and nourishing ingredients for optimal comfort.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

You can use this cream with retinol by applying the retinol first and following with the cream to keep your skin calm and hydrated. Because your dry and sensitive skin needs extra richness, a product of this type works best when it also includes rich softening ingredients to deeply nourish and lock in moisture.

Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cream?

You can use this moisturizing treatment daily in your evening routine, applying it after your toner and before your moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate your skin because it contains no harsh ingredients, but dry skin of this type needs richer, softening ingredients for optimal nourishment.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Health Science Reports, 2021

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your dry sensitive skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, minimizing the risk of irritation. A product of this type needs richer nourishing ingredients and extra softening agents to give your dry skin optimal moisture.

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

You can safely use this cream around the eyes and on the body because it is gentle and well-tolerated. However, dry skin needs a product of this type to include rich, softening ingredients that provide deep nourishment alongside basic hydration.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

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
  • Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.

    Military Medicine, 2024
  • 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
  • Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.

    Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
  • Externally applied substances such as ceramides, hyaluronic acid, licorice extracts, dimethicone, petrolatum, and paraffin wax treat skin disease resulting from damage to the skin barrier.

    Clinics in Dermatology, 2012
  • Vehicle additives such as silicates, dimethicone, and glycerin reduce skin irritation associated with benzoyl peroxide 5%/clindamycin 1% gel and topical retinoid combination therapy by maintaining barrier integrity.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2006
  • 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

Why other moisturizers fit dry sensitive skin better

  • 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, 2016
  • Nanoemulsions containing Macadamia integrifolia seed oil successfully enhanced skin hydration and reduced wrinkles in human volunteers, outperforming conventional emulsions in skin hydration enhancement.

    Nanomaterials, 2024

Ingredients

Water, Dimethicone, Niacinamide, Propanediol, Coconut Fruit Juice, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Glycerin, Kappaphycus Alvarezii Extract, Alteromonas Extract Ferment, Sea Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caprylyl Glycol, Isohexadecane, 1,2-Hexanediol, Butylene Glycol, Polysorbate 80, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Tocopherol, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cetyl Diglyceryl Tris Trimethylsiloxy Silylethyl Dimethicone, Hexadecene, Hydroxyacetophenone

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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