CeraVe Foaming Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
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 skin, this cleanser effectively addresses acne, blemishes, and breakouts with niacinamide to regulate oil production and reduce inflammation. The combination of cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate ensures excellent pore cleansing without irritation.
- Sodium hyaluronate provides essential humectant action, supporting skin hydration and comfort for your oily skin type.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing niacinamide and ceramides.
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 27.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly recommended for normal to oily and acne-prone skin, effectively removing oil and impurities while maintaining the skin barrier. Most users find it gentle and effective for acne and moisture balance. However, a small number of users with dry or sensitive skin report it can feel stripping or cause tightness.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin clean and smooth without drying”
- “doesn't leave it feeling harsh or dry”
- “cleanses without leaving skin feeling tight”
- “face doesn't feel oily and dry”
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “dialed back oiliness without problems”
- “helps rid skin of oil”
- “removes excess sebum”
- “face has stopped being so darn oily”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love that it has ceramides”
- “niacinamide to calm the skin”
- “hyaluronic acid helps retain moisture”
- “ingredients that help maintain moisture balance”
Clears acne and pores Sometimes Noted
- “keeps my skin clear of acne”
- “noticed my pores shrinking”
- “helps prevent future blemishes”
- “clears my acne and I don't get cystic acne”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “started breaking out like I never have before”
- “gave me a couple of breakouts”
- “causes horrible breakouts”
- “skin purged a little bit”
Drying or tight Rarely Noted
- “left my skin feeling a bit tight”
- “incredibly dry, almost painful”
- “feels stripped and I now need damage control”
- “skin feels kind of tight”
Irritation/reactions Rarely Noted
- “made my eyelids itch and swell”
- “terrible reaction to this product”
- “peel and bleed”
- “burning sensation”
Poor makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “not great for removing makeup”
- “doesn't always get all makeup”
- “not going to remove heavy makeup”
- “need to use a separate makeup remover”
Sources: lovi.care, cerave.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, target.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Foaming Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it uses niacinamide to balance oil and calm breakouts, while gentle cleansers clear out pores without irritation. It also includes ceramides and sodium hyaluronate to keep your skin comfortable and hydrated.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, ceramides, and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin. Niacinamide helps control oil and calm breakouts, while ceramides and sodium hyaluronate keep your skin comfortable and hydrated without clogging pores.
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 Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in both your morning and evening routines, used right before your toner and moisturizer. It is very gentle on oily, acne-prone skin and helps wash away excess oil and blemishes without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your morning and evening routine. Using gentle, ceramide-containing cleansers alongside acne treatments helps keep your skin comfortable and supports your skin barrier while you use retinoids.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin and is designed for daily use in both your morning and evening routines. It helps clean pores without irritation while keeping your skin comfortable and balanced.
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. Reviewer complaints about breakouts are low, and the formula uses niacinamide to help keep oil in check and soothe your face.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because its gentle ingredients clean effectively without causing irritation. The formula is well-suited even for the very thin skin in the eye area and various body regions.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2005Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propanediol, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Glycerin, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Edta, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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