This Dr. Barbara Sturm cream targets acne-prone and oily skin with a focus on anti-aging benefits. It aims to clarify the complexion and improve skin texture, making it a suitable option for those concerned with both blemishes and the signs of aging.
Sephora price
$240.00
Price matters most when you are trying to learn whether this lane belongs in your routine without turning the test into a luxury gamble.
Sephora reviews
3.3 / 5
About 24 reviews on the current Sephora source, so there is real volume behind the reputation.
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Glass take
3.3 / 5 overall fit
A high-end moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin that aims to balance and clarify, but the price point is a significant consideration.
Sephora snapshot refreshed April 23, 2026
Price, rating, review count, and source status come from Sephora. Glass adds the routine fit, overlap risk, and what to compare next.
View SephoraWhat Sephora says
An anti-aging moisturizer specifically developed for blemish-prone skin that creates a more even, clarified complexion.
Use in the morning and/or evening.
Apply gently to your face, neck, and décolleté as well as the delicate area around the eyes after cleansing.
What Glass adds
This is a targeted treatment moisturizer for those with oily or acne-prone skin who are also seeking anti-aging benefits. Its formulation aims to balance oil production and reduce the appearance of blemishes, while also addressing fine lines and wrinkles.
Clarifying properties
Users with oily and acne-prone skin appreciate the cream's ability to help manage breakouts and reduce excess oil, leading to a clearer complexion.
Best for
Skip if
Routine fit
Apply this cream after cleansing and any targeted serums. It can be used both morning and night. For daytime, it provides a good base for makeup. At night, it works to support skin renewal while you sleep.
Why it works
The useful question is not whether this product is good in a vacuum. It is whether it makes your routine easier to run or just adds one more bottle with a familiar ingredient on it.
What it actually does well
Where it starts to feel redundant
Routine fit
Morning and Night
This moisturizer is designed for daily use, morning and night, to provide continuous care for blemish-prone and aging skin.
Glass rating
A high-end moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin that aims to balance and clarify, but the price point is a significant consideration.
Routine fit
3.5 / 5
This moisturizer fits well into a routine focused on managing oil and breakouts, offering hydration without feeling heavy.
Full ingredient breakdown
Solvent
Badness
0.0 / 10
The base of many skincare formulations, dissolving other ingredients.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A rich, nourishing oil that helps to soften and smooth the skin.
Usually helps with
Dryness, softening
Watch for
Can be heavy for very oily skin
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A common ingredient that helps to attract and retain moisture in the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A lightweight oil rich in antioxidants, known for its skin-conditioning properties.
Usually helps with
Antioxidant support, conditioning
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
A highly effective humectant that draws water into the skin, keeping it hydrated and supple.
Usually helps with
Hydration, barrier support
Watch for
None
Emulsifier
Badness
0.0 / 10
Helps to blend oil and water components in a formulation, creating a stable emulsion.
Usually helps with
Texture
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
0.0 / 10
A sugar alcohol that acts as a humectant, helping to draw moisture to the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A synthetic emollient that provides a smooth, non-greasy feel on the skin.
Usually helps with
Softening, smooth feel
Watch for
None
Antioxidant
Badness
2.0 / 10
Fermented purslane extract, known for its soothing and antioxidant properties.
Usually helps with
Soothing, antioxidant
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A fatty alcohol that acts as an emollient, softening and smoothing the skin.
Usually helps with
Softening
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A fatty alcohol that conditions and softens the skin, and also acts as an emulsifier.
Usually helps with
Softening, conditioning
Watch for
Can be comedogenic for some
Absorbent
Badness
2.0 / 10
A starch derivative that can help absorb excess oil and mattify the skin.
Usually helps with
Oil control, mattifying
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
Derived from vegetable oils, these ingredients help to soften and smooth the skin.
Usually helps with
Softening
Watch for
None
Antioxidant
Badness
2.0 / 10
A stable form of Vitamin E, providing antioxidant protection and moisturizing benefits.
Usually helps with
Antioxidant, moisturizing
Watch for
None
Preservative
Badness
3.0 / 10
A common preservative used to prevent microbial growth in cosmetic products.
Usually helps with
Preservation
Watch for
Can be irritating for some sensitive skin types
Occlusive
Badness
2.0 / 10
A silicone that forms a protective barrier on the skin, helping to prevent moisture loss and providing a smooth feel.
Usually helps with
Smoothing, barrier formation
Watch for
Can feel heavy or occlusive for some
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A form of Vitamin B5 that attracts and holds moisture in the skin, also known for its soothing properties.
Usually helps with
Hydration, soothing
Watch for
None
Thickener
Badness
1.0 / 10
A polymer used to thicken formulations and improve texture.
Usually helps with
Texture
Watch for
None
Amino Acid
Badness
1.0 / 10
An amino acid that helps to moisturize and condition the skin.
Usually helps with
Moisturizing, conditioning
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A salt of lactic acid, it acts as a humectant and helps to maintain the skin's natural moisture balance.
Usually helps with
Hydration, pH balance
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor, it helps to attract and bind water to the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Active
Badness
3.0 / 10
A salt of zinc and PCA, it helps to regulate sebum production and has anti-inflammatory properties, beneficial for acne-prone skin.
Usually helps with
Oil control, acne
Watch for
Can be drying if overused
Thickener
Badness
0.0 / 10
A polysaccharide used as a thickening agent and stabilizer in cosmetic formulations.
Usually helps with
Texture
Watch for
None
Soothing Agent
Badness
1.0 / 10
Known for its soothing, moisturizing, and skin-protecting properties.
Usually helps with
Soothing, healing
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A plant-derived oil rich in fatty acids, known for its skin-conditioning properties.
Usually helps with
Conditioning
Watch for
None
Preservative Booster
Badness
2.0 / 10
A skin-conditioning agent and preservative booster that also has some antimicrobial properties.
Usually helps with
Preservation, skin conditioning
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A rich oil high in linoleic acid, known for its moisturizing and barrier-repairing properties.
Usually helps with
Moisturizing, barrier support
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
Components of oils and fats that do not saponify, often providing skin-conditioning benefits.
Usually helps with
Conditioning
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A polysaccharide that provides hydration and a soothing effect on the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration, soothing
Watch for
None
Chelating Agent
Badness
2.0 / 10
Helps to improve the stability and performance of formulations by binding to metal ions.
Usually helps with
Formulation stability
Watch for
Can enhance penetration of other ingredients
Solvent
Badness
2.0 / 10
A solvent and viscosity-decreasing agent, also acts as a humectant.
Usually helps with
Solvent, hydration
Watch for
Can be drying for some
Antioxidant
Badness
2.0 / 10
An extract from bistort root, known for its antioxidant properties and potential to brighten the complexion.
Usually helps with
Antioxidant, brightening
Watch for
None
Solvent
Badness
4.0 / 10
Can act as a solvent and penetration enhancer, but can also be drying and irritating for some skin types.
Usually helps with
Solvent
Watch for
Drying, potential irritation
Preservative
Badness
2.0 / 10
A natural preservative derived from fermented radish root.
Usually helps with
Preservation
Watch for
None
Emollient
Badness
1.0 / 10
A derivative of coconut oil and glycerin, it's a lightweight emollient that replenishes skin.
Usually helps with
Emollience, skin conditioning
Watch for
None
Soothing Agent
Badness
2.0 / 10
An extract known for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, often used to calm irritated skin.
Usually helps with
Soothing, calming
Watch for
None
Preservative
Badness
3.0 / 10
A common preservative that helps prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.
Usually helps with
Preservation
Watch for
Can be irritating for some
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A derivative of pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5), it functions as a humectant to hydrate the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
2.0 / 10
A humectant and emollient that also has some antimicrobial properties, often used as a preservative booster.
Usually helps with
Hydration, preservation
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A natural sugar that acts as a humectant, helping to attract and retain moisture.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Amino Acid
Badness
1.0 / 10
An amino acid that helps to hydrate and condition the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration, conditioning
Watch for
None
Humectant
Badness
1.0 / 10
A carbohydrate compound that helps to moisturize the skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration
Watch for
None
Exfoliant
Badness
3.0 / 10
An Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) that exfoliates the skin, improves texture, and can help with hydration.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation, hydration, texture
Watch for
Can increase sun sensitivity, potential for irritation
Active
Badness
2.0 / 10
A form of Vitamin B3 that helps to improve skin barrier function, reduce inflammation, minimize pores, and regulate oil production.
Usually helps with
Pores, oil control, redness, barrier support
Watch for
Can cause temporary flushing or redness in some individuals
Humectant
Badness
2.0 / 10
A component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor, it hydrates and helps to soften rough skin.
Usually helps with
Hydration, softening
Watch for
Can be irritating in higher concentrations
Antioxidant
Badness
3.0 / 10
A fat-soluble form of Vitamin C that provides antioxidant protection against free radical damage.
Usually helps with
Antioxidant
Watch for
Less potent than L-Ascorbic Acid
Exfoliant
Badness
3.0 / 10
An Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) used for exfoliation and pH adjustment. Can help brighten skin.
Usually helps with
Exfoliation, brightening
Watch for
Can increase sun sensitivity, potential for irritation
Antioxidant
Badness
2.0 / 10
Pure Vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that protects the skin from environmental damage.
Usually helps with
Antioxidant, skin conditioning
Watch for
None
Antioxidant
Badness
4.0 / 10
Pure Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant that brightens skin, boosts collagen, and protects against free radicals.
Usually helps with
Brightening, antioxidant, collagen support
Watch for
Can be unstable, potential for irritation
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FAQ
Yes, this moisturizer is specifically formulated for acne-prone and oily skin types, aiming to clarify and balance the complexion without feeling heavy.
Absolutely. The product is marketed as an anti-aging moisturizer, designed to address fine lines and wrinkles alongside blemishes.
Key ingredients for acne control include Zinc PCA, which helps regulate sebum and combat breakouts, and Niacinamide, which aids in reducing inflammation and minimizing pores.
