Banila Co Clean It Zero Foam Cleanse Hydration for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Butylene Glycol
Tocopheryl Acetate
Panax Notoginseng Root Extract
Acerola Fruit Extract
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
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 moderate suitability for your oily skin as glycerin provides humectant action, while myristic and lauric acids cleanse pores effectively, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
- The presence of acerola fruit extract and aspalathus linearis extract offers general cleansing and hydration benefits, which are supportive but not specifically targeted for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product has a good safety profile with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.9Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsThis creamy foam cleanser is widely praised for its rich lather and ability to deep clean without stripping moisture, making it a popular second step in double-cleansing routines. While most users find it gentle and hydrating, a notable minority with very dry or sensitive skin report a "squeaky clean" feeling that can be drying, and several users mention eye irritation.
Highlights
Rich, creamy lather Mostly Mentioned
- “transforms into rich foam”
- “lathers up nicely”
- “silky microfoam”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “skin feels squeaky clean”
- “removes makeup residue”
- “deep cleans pores”
Eye irritation Often Mentioned
- “stings my eyes”
- “burns and stings”
- “irritated lower lash line”
Gentle & non-stripping Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't leave skin tight”
- “feels moisturizing”
- “soft and smooth finish”
High efficiency Sometimes Noted
- “only need a small dot”
- “tube lasts for months”
- “little goes a long way”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “clean citrus fragrance”
- “smells fresh”
- “light and pleasant”
Drying for some Sometimes Noted
- “felt overcleaned”
- “drying for dry skin”
- “skin felt tight”
Potential breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “bad reaction”
- “irritated sensitive skin”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “sugary fragrance”
- “strong scent”
- “smell is too much”
Sources: lovi.care, banilausa.com, sokoglam.com, yesstyle.com, iherb.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Banila Co Foam Cleanse Hydration work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin since it cleans pores and adds moisture, but it lacks ingredients specifically targeted for acne and breakouts. An ideal cleanser for this skin type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to help balance oil production and manage blemishes without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin, myristic acid, lauric acid, tocopheryl acetate, panax notoginseng root extract, and acerola fruit extract make this cleanser a moderate fit by washing pores and adding hydration while avoiding harsh irritants. A cleanser for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, and salicylic acid to control oil and target breakouts effectively.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Butylene Glycol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Butylene glycol helps skincare sink into the skin more easily while keeping it feeling light. It aids in delivering other ingredients effectively without clogging pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning routine and your evening routine after makeup removal. It cleanses pores effectively and is unlikely to irritate your oily skin, though this skin type needs extra oil-controlling and breakout-targeting ingredients for best results.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser alongside retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to irritate your oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing components. However, an oily acne-prone skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients that actively control oil and target breakouts.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleanses pores effectively while keeping your skin calm, though oily acne-prone skin needs extra oil-controlling and breakout-targeting ingredients for an optimal fit.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it has a safe formula without harsh ingredients, though some reviewers mention potential breakouts. To properly care for this skin, a cleanser needs targeted oil-control ingredients and blemish-fighting components to keep pores clear and calm.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes to prevent dryness and irritation. Cleansers for this skin need extra gentle, hydrating ingredients.
Is this cleanser 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, 2017Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Total saponins of Panax notoginseng ameliorated sodium dodecyl sulfate-induced barrier impairment in a reconstructed human epidermis model by alleviating stratum corneum thickening, upregulating barrier-related proteins, and regulating a multi-pathway network involving lipid metabolism.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025Particulate matter 2.5 induces oxidative stress, ER stress, and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis leading to cell death in human HaCaT keratinocytes and normal human dermal fibroblasts, an effect that is blocked by ginsenoside Rb1.
Antioxidants, 2019Ginsenoside Rg1 attenuates ultraviolet B-induced glucocorticoid resistance and reduces inflammation in human keratinocytes and mouse skin via the Nrf2/HDAC2 signaling pathway.
Scientific Reports, 2016Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone 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, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Glycol Distearate, Lauric Acid, Laureth-7, Palmitic Acid, Peg-8, Sodium Methyl Stearoyl Taurate, Sorbitan Olivate, Butylene Glycol, Panax Notoginseng Root Extract, Tocopheryl Acetate, Disodium Edta, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Acerola Fruit Extract, Aspalathus Linearis Extract, Ci 14700
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
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