CeraVe Acne Control Gel for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Niacinamide
3 Essential Ceramides
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other serums 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for your oily skin, as glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid work to decongest pores and manage oiliness. Niacinamide further supports oil regulation, though the hydration provided by glycerin and sodium hyaluronate is not a primary concern for your oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- This product is suitable for acne-prone skin, providing general skincare benefits that support your skin's needs.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin report that this gel effectively reduces active breakouts, hormonal cysts, and blackheads while smoothing skin texture. Some users experience significant clearing within days, while others report initial purging or dryness that requires a consistent moisturizing routine to manage.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “Saw improvement within the next day”
- “Reduces size and redness of pimples”
- “Healed up in 4 days”
- “Back was completely clear”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “Skin tone looks more even”
- “Minimizes the appearance of pores”
- “Leaves skin looking more radiant and smooth”
- “Helps with blackheads”
Lightweight formula Often Mentioned
- “Blends into your skin almost immediately”
- “Lightweight gel without any scent”
- “Not noticeable on your skin”
- “Non-greasy formula”
Gentle for many Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't leave skin feeling oily or dry”
- “Gentle enough to use as a spot treatment”
- “No burning or tingling”
- “Did not irritate my sensitive skin”
Causes dryness Sometimes Noted
- “Dries out a lot if you don't use moisturizer”
- “Face can feel very tight”
- “Caused peeling around my nose”
- “Excessive drying may occur”
Small size Sometimes Noted
- “Product is expensive for the size”
- “Expecting a larger tube”
- “Small bottle runs out fast”
- “Not inexpensive for a drugstore product”
Initial purging Rarely Noted
- “Made my skin purge”
- “Broke out the first week”
- “Acne got worse before better”
- “Caused a bad reaction initially”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “Can be very sticky”
- “Takes a little while to get absorbed”
- “Leaves a tacky film”
- “Feels like glue on the face”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, walmart.com, cerave.com, target.com, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does CeraVe Acne Control Gel work for oily skin?
CeraVe Acne Control Gel works reasonably well for oily skin by using salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid to clear pores and manage shine. It is safe and helps control oil, though an oily skin type typically needs ingredients like niacinamide, zinc PCA, and ferulic acid combined with soothing agents to better balance oil and support skin health without clogging pores.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this treatment a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid decongest pores and manage oiliness, while niacinamide helps regulate oil. To work best for oily skin, this type of product also needs ingredients like zinc PCA and soothing extracts that control sebum, promote a healthy glow, and keep the skin comfortable without clogging pores.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
Where does this treatment go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine for oily skin, as treatments with actives are placed at night for simplicity and safety around sun exposure. It is safe for oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
This product works well on your oily skin, though an oily skin routine also needs products with ingredients that clear pores and control oiliness safely without heavy hydration.
How often should I use it?
Start using this treatment once a week in the evening, and if your oily skin tolerates it well and shows good results, you may carefully use it more often. Oily skin of this type needs exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid to clear pores and manage oiliness, along with niacinamide to help regulate oil.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can this treatment clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This treatment is unlikely to clog pores and may cause initial purging at a low likelihood. While it helps clear oiliness, an oily skin type often benefits more from a formula with stronger oil control and targeted acne-fighting ingredients.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Chlorphenesin, Disodium Edta, Hydroxypropyl Guar, Caprylyl Glycol, Xanthan Gum, Phytosphingosine, Benzoic Acid
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
How does it fit your skin?
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