SkinCeuticals Simply Clean Gel for oily acne-prone skin
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Coco-Betaine
Glycerin
Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your oily, acne-prone skin as sodium cocoyl glycinate and coco-betaine effectively cleanse impurities and excess oil, while glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf extract provide essential hydration and anti-inflammatory benefits.
- Hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid and citric acid offer mild chemical exfoliation to help manage blemishes and breakouts.
- The formula is safe for your skin, featuring soothing aloe barbadensis leaf extract and chamomile extract with no harsh or prohibited ingredients.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsIdeally suited for oily and combination skin types, this gel cleanser is widely praised for its ability to deeply purify pores and remove makeup without causing excessive dryness. Users frequently report improved skin texture and fewer acne breakouts, though individuals with drier or more sensitive skin occasionally find the exfoliating formula slightly stripping.
Highlights
Effective Deep Cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “removes excess oil”
- “thoroughly cleanses skin”
- “face feels fresh”
Improves Skin Texture Often Mentioned
- “smooths rough skin”
- “refines pore appearance”
- “gentle enzymatic exfoliation”
Controls Acne Breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “clears hormonal acne”
- “prevents new blemishes”
- “keeps skin clear”
High Product Efficiency Sometimes Noted
- “lathers very well”
- “little goes long way”
- “bottle lasts months”
Removes Makeup Well Sometimes Noted
- “dissolves waterproof makeup”
- “takes off daily grime”
- “no residue left”
High Price Point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for cleanser”
- “pricey daily wash”
- “cost prohibits repurchase”
Drying Effect Rarely Noted
- “skin feels tight”
- “strips natural oils”
- “too harsh for dry skin”
Packaging Issues Rarely Noted
- “pump mechanism breaks”
- “bottle leaks during travel”
- “hard to dispense”
Skin Irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused burning sensation”
- “stinging on application”
- “redness after use”
Unpleasant Scent Rarely Noted
- “medicinal smell”
- “chemical odor”
- “scent is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, skinceuticals.ca, bluemercury.com, walmart.com, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SkinCeuticals Simply Clean a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
SkinCeuticals Simply Clean Gel is a great fit because sodium cocoyl glycinate and coco-betaine wash away excess oil and impurities, while glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf extract keep your skin hydrated and calm. Hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid and citric acid gently exfoliate to help manage breakouts.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium cocoyl glycinate and coco-betaine wash away excess oil and impurities, while glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf extract keep your skin hydrated and calm. Hydroxyethylpiperazine ethane sulfonic acid and citric acid also provide gentle exfoliation that helps manage breakouts.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
What does Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium cocoyl glycinate is a gentle cleanser ingredient that helps wash away excess oil and dirt without stripping your skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation or dryness, making it a good choice to keep oily, acne-prone skin clean and calm.
What does Coco-Betaine do for oily acne-prone skin?
Coco-betaine is a cleansing agent that helps wash away excess oil and dirt without stripping the skin barrier, keeping it comfortable and reducing dryness. For oily and acne-prone skin, a cleanser with this ingredient helps lift impurities gently while maintaining skin moisture.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits right at the start of your morning and evening routine to wash away excess oil and impurities. Using a mild cleanser daily helps improve skin without irritation while prepping your face for the next steps.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using it in your routine before applying your retinol treatment to help cleanse your skin without harshness. Using gentle, hydrating cleansers alongside active treatments like retinol helps keep your skin calm and supports your skin barrier.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin, so you can use it both morning and evening in your daily routine. It effectively washes away impurities and excess oil while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because it washes away excess oil and impurities with gentle cleansers while offering mild exfoliation that helps manage breakouts. It features soothing ingredients like aloe and chamomile and has a safe profile, making it unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is generally safe to use on your body, but it is unlikely to suit the very thin skin around the eyes where harsher cleansers can cause dryness and irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene).
What the research says
A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003A 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, 2017The 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, 2001A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Coco-Betaine, Glycerin, Acrylates Copolymer, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Chloride, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylpiperazine Ethane Sulfonic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Limonene, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Citric 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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