Caudalie Deep Cleansing Exfoliator for oily skin

Volcanic Sand
Plant Microbeads
Polylactic Acid
Grape Fruit Water
Glycerin
Warning
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- WarningSafety
A poor match for oily skin; the exfoliants alongside 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
How to apply
- Use this exfoliant product as part of your PM routine once a week. Start slowly and build up frequency only if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the exfoliant after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the exfoliant into your skin and let it absorb fully. Avoid any harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the exfoliant directly onto completely dry skin to get the best balance and results. Clean, dry skin helps the product work evenly.
- Always avoid the delicate eye area when applying. Be sure to use a broad-spectrum SPF 30+ daily while using exfoliating acids.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers consistently praise this exfoliator for its ability to refine skin texture and unclog pores without causing irritation or dryness, making it a favorite for those with combination to oily skin. The whipped creamy texture and fresh spa-like scent are frequently highlighted as luxurious touches that leave the complexion feeling soft, polished, and radiant.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “scrub is not hard on my skin”
- “gentle yet effective exfoliation”
- “fine, soft granules”
- “cleans deeply without being harsh”
Non-drying formula Often Mentioned
- “without ever leaving skin tight”
- “leaves enough moisture”
- “creamy texture”
- “doesn't dry me out at all”
Refines texture Often Mentioned
- “leaves my face feeling smooth”
- “complexion looked smoother”
- “removes any little lumps”
- “refines skin texture”
Fresh scent Sometimes Noted
- “smell is so light and fresh”
- “sparkling fragrance”
- “notes of grapefruit and mint”
- “smells beautiful”
Radiant results Sometimes Noted
- “skin had a radiant glow”
- “pores felt cleaner”
- “awaken skin's glow”
- “brighter complexion”
Expensive for some Sometimes Noted
- “not cheap”
- “pricier than drugstore”
- “expensive products”
- “little pricier”
Caused irritation Rarely Noted
- “left my skin somewhat raw”
- “redness”
- “be careful with exfoliators”
Formula change disliked Rarely Noted
- “go back to previous formula”
- “too slippery now”
- “doesn't exfoliate enough”
- “less exfoliating texture”
Not abrasive enough Rarely Noted
- “too slippery”
- “need a better grainy exfoliant”
- “not abrasive enough”
Scent disliked Rarely Noted
- “scent is specific”
- “strong smell”
Sources: lovi.care, caudalie.com, influenster.com, cocooncenter.co.uk, lovelyskin.com, cultbeauty.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise against CAUDALÍE Deep Cleansing Exfoliator for oily skin?
Lovi advises against this product because it is a poor match for oily skin, which needs gentle cleansers with ingredients like Niacinamide, Ceramides, or salicylic acid to manage shine and support skin health without irritation.
Which ingredients make this exfoliant a poor fit for oily skin?
Volcanic sand and microbeads make this exfoliant a poor fit for oily skin because physical scrubs can easily irritate and damage oily skin types. An exfoliant for oily skin needs soothing ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or probiotics to help manage shine and gently clear pores without causing irritation.
What does Volcanic Sand do for oily skin?
Volcanic sand gently scrubs away dead skin and extra oil to leave oily skin feeling fresh and smooth. It helps clear out pores, but because it can be quite rough, it is best used only once or twice a week so it does not irritate your skin.
What do Plant Microbeads do for oily skin?
Plant Microbeads help clear away dead skin cells and extra oil so your face feels clean and smooth. This gentle scrubbing action is unlikely to irritate oily skin, keeping your pores clear and fresh.
Where does this exfoliant go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This product is a poor match for oily skin, but when using an exfoliant, it belongs in a weekly routine after cleansing. Oily skin of this type needs gentle chemical exfoliants like acids or enzyme powders to keep pores clear without harsh scrubbing.
Can I use this exfoliant with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this scrub with retinol, as it may cause too much irritation and redness on oily skin. Oily skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid or soothing enzyme powders instead of harsh physical scrubs to keep pores clear safely.
How often should I use this exfoliant?
This physical scrub is a poor match for oily skin, which needs gentle chemical exfoliants like acids and enzyme powders used once a week to stay clear without irritation. Volcanic Sand, Plant Microbeads, and Polylactic Acid can be too harsh and may damage skin that needs careful, low-friction care.
Can this exfoliant clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This exfoliant is unlikely to cause purging, but it may cause breakouts or irritation for oily skin because the physical scrub particles can be too harsh and trigger more oil. A poor match for this skin needs gentle chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid to clear pores without harsh rubbing.
Is this exfoliant fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (limonene) and drying alcohol (alcohol).
What the research says
The pumice stone removes hyperkeratotic tissue and occupational hand stains effectively when used with wet skin, soap, or keratolytic agents.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1980Polylactic acid membrane improves donor-site scar appearance and reduces pain, dressing changes, and change time compared to polyurethane film in patients undergoing split-thickness skin grafting, though at higher costs.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2022Removing PVA fibers from electrospun PLA/PVA scaffolds increased porosity from 78% to 99% and decreased water absorption time from 516 to 2 seconds, improving cell penetration and permeability.
Biomaterials Advances, 2023A solution blow spun bilayer chitosan/polylactic acid nanofibrous patch loaded with 10% quercetin achieved a 91.18% free radical clearance rate, 94.4% antibacterial activity against P. acnes, and suppressed pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α.
Carbohydrate Polymers, 2024A combination of Vitis vinifera shoot extract and a biotechnological extract demonstrated significant in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects and improved clinical signs of photoaged skin in female subjects after a 4-week application.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2007Pre-treatment with Vitis vinifera L. water extract (100 ΓΙg/mL) demonstrated antioxidant and scavenger activity against UV-A radiation and exerted an anti-mutagenic effect by maintaining apoptosis in UV-A and UV-B irradiated human keratinocytes (HaCaT).
Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology, 2020A water extract from grapevine leaves inhibited proinflammatory-induced interleukin-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor secretion in human keratinocytes compared to untreated challenged cells.
Antioxidants, 2019A 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Polylactic Acid, Hexyldecyl Stearate, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Pentaerythrityl Distearate, Arachidyl Alcohol, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Water Grape Fruit Water, Behenyl Alcohol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tocopherol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Potassium Sorbate, Xanthan Gum, Menthol, Sodium Phytate, Vitis Vinifera Juice Grape Juice, Vitis Vinifera Fruit Extract Grape Fruit Extract, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Alcohol, Limonene, Butylphenyl Methylpropional
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.
