La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Shea Butter
La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water
Glycerin
Vitreoscilla FermentLow
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the cleansers alongside fit it 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
- Offers general cleansing benefits for your oily skin due to glycerin and niacinamide, but these ingredients are not specialized for acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The presence of sucrose and glycerin provides humectant action that may not be ideal for managing excess oil on your oily skin.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients, with no risks of irritation.
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 9.0k+ reviewsWhile many appreciate its gentle, hydrating, and versatile nature for face and body, a significant number of reviews mention it functions more like a foaming gel than a traditional oil, and some dislike its natural scent or experience eye irritation.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling soft”
- “Doesn't strip moisture”
- “No tight feeling after”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Safe for my baby”
- “Soothing on reactive skin”
Not a true oil Often Mentioned
- “More like a gel”
- “Doesn't dissolve waterproof makeup”
- “Expected a cleansing balm”
Effective second cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “Perfect morning cleanser”
- “Removes sunscreen residue”
- “Great second step cleanse”
Versatile for face/body Sometimes Noted
- “Use it head to toe”
- “Huge bottle lasts forever”
- “Convenient for shower use”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like plastic”
- “Odd chemical scent”
- “Scent is off-putting”
Causes eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Stings my eyes bad”
- “Burns if it gets in eyes”
- “Not eye-safe”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump arrived broken”
- “Leaked in the box”
- “Dispenser stops working”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, lovelyskin.com, laroche-posay.us, and more
Questions and answers
Why is La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil is a weak match because its ingredients are not specialized for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and its humectant action may not be ideal for managing excess oil. Cleansers that fit this skin well need soothing and effective ingredients like ceramides, probiotics, and salicylic acid to balance oil production and maintain skin clarity without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sucrose and glycerin make this cleanser a weaker fit because they provide extra moisture that is not ideal for managing excess oil on your skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs cleansers with soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, balancing elements like probiotics, and clarifying components like salicylic acid to keep pores clear and control breakouts without causing irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Shea Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?
Shea butter is generally too heavy for oily, acne-prone skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. Skin of this type needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators like green tea extract to keep it smooth and calm without extra oil.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the main cleansing step. To properly care for oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs ingredients that target excess oil, blemishes, and breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine with retinol, applying it first to wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. While this product is safe and unlikely to irritate your skin, it is a weak match for your breakouts because it lacks specialized ingredients for acne, which responds best to cleansers with salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines, though it is a weak match for your oily acne-prone skin. This cleanser needs ingredients that target excess oil, breakouts, and blemishes while gently washing the skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but it is not a strong match for your breakouts because it lacks specialized ingredients to clear blemishes. A cleanser for oily acne-prone skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to help manage excess oil and breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because the skin on the body is thick and the eyelids are among the thinnest areas.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Topical 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, 2005A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025The 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, 2012A dermocosmetic formulation containing Vichy volcanic mineralizing water, Vitreoscilla filiformis extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E accelerated skin renewal, improved antioxidant defenses, enhanced skin barrier recovery after acute stress, and improved microbiome recovery compared to untreated skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022The combination of Vitreoscilla filiformis extract and Vichy volcanic mineralizing water strengthens the skin barrier by stimulating skin differentiation and tight junctions, enhances biochemical defenses via antimicrobial peptides, and supports cellular immune defenses by increasing the IL-10/IL-12 ratio and protecting Langerhans cells from ultraviolet radiation compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical 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 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, 2024A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sucrose, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Parfum, Peg-75 Shea Glycerides Butter, Polysorbate 20, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Vitreoscilla Ferment
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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