CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser for oily skin
Niacinamide
Sodium Hyaluronate
Ceramide Np
Ceramide Ap- Ceramide Eop
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for oily skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin as niacinamide and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid work synergistically to hydrate and regulate sebum production, effectively addressing oily shine.
- Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine provide superb cleansing, removing dirt and oil without stripping your skin, while ceramides and niacinamide further support your skin barrier.
- The formulation is safe for your skin, containing soothing ingredients and no harsh chemicals, ensuring a gentle yet effective cleansing experience.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 27.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with normal to oily skin widely praise this cleanser for effectively removing excess oil and dirt without disrupting the skin barrier, often crediting the ceramides and niacinamide for calming acne-prone areas. While most find it refreshing and gentle, a minority of users experience tightness or dryness after use, suggesting it may be too stripping for those with drier or more sensitive skin types.
Highlights
Effective oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “dialed back oiliness”
- “leaves skin oil-free”
- “great for oily t-zone”
- “removes excess sebum”
Gentle & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “clean but not dry”
- “doesn't strip face”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “refreshing feel”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “reasonably priced”
- “bottle lasts months”
- “great value for size”
- “affordable staple”
Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “love the niacinamide”
- “contains ceramides”
- “hyaluronic acid plumps skin”
- “restores skin barrier”
Helps clear acne Sometimes Noted
- “cleared my acne”
- “minimizes pores”
- “stopped cystic acne”
- “helps prevent blemishes”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “face feels stripped”
- “incredibly dry after use”
- “left skin tight”
- “too harsh for winter”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused horrible breakouts”
- “started breaking out”
- “gave me cystic acne”
- “skin purged”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stung my eyes”
- “made eyelids itch”
- “burned my eyes”
- “irritating to eye area”
Struggles with makeup Rarely Noted
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “need a separate remover”
- “leftover eyeliner”
- “not for heavy makeup”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical smell”
- “scent like old celery”
- “medicinal odor”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, target.com, cerave.com, youtube.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Foaming Cleanser one of the best fits for oily skin?
This cleanser is a superior fit because niacinamide and hyaluronic acid work together to hydrate and regulate oil production while clearing away shine. Gentle cleansing ingredients remove dirt and oil without stripping your skin, and added ceramides help support your skin barrier safely.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid help regulate oil production and hydrate your skin without leaving it heavy. Additionally, ceramides support your skin barrier while gentle cleansers remove dirt and oil.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps oily skin by reducing extra oil and sebum production without causing irritation. Clinical studies show it successfully balances oil levels while keeping the skin comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser is used both morning and evening as the first step of your daily routine. It helps remove dirt and oil without stripping your skin, while supporting your skin barrier.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it first, followed by your retinol treatment. This cleanser gently removes dirt and oil while supporting your skin barrier with ceramides, which helps reduce the dryness or irritation that retinol may sometimes cause.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. It washes away dirt and oil without stripping your skin, while helping to keep oily shine under control.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains gentle cleansing ingredients that clear away dirt and oil without harsh chemicals. However, reviewers have reported a low chance of breakouts and that it can feel drying.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients wash away dirt and oil without irritating delicate areas or stripping moisture.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Profhilo treatment led to significant improvements in superficial skin hydration and transepidermal water loss over time in Chinese females, while demonstrating good product tolerability.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2026Polyelectrolyte nanocomplexes of quaternized cyclodextrin grafted chitosan and low molecular weight hyaluronic acid improved skin texture and elasticity by increasing skin hydration in clinical evaluation.
Colloids and Surfaces. B, Biointerfaces, 2022Topical 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, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Niacinamide, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Propylene Glycol, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Methylparaben, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Disodium Edta, Propylparaben, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum
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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