Cetaphil PRO DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash for sensitive skin
Glycerin
Zinc Coceth Sulfate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Zinc Gluconate
Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
High
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for sensitive skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 moderate benefits for your redness and irritation, as glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate provide soothing effects suitable for normal, sensitive skin.
- The cleansing action is excellent for pores, with zinc coceth sulfate and glycerin working effectively to moisturize and cleanse.
- The product is safe for your sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including dipotassium glycyrrhizate to soothe.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 8.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin widely praise this cleanser for its ability to effectively remove excess sebum and control shine without stripping the moisture barrier, often describing it as a "holy grail" for sensitive, combination skin. While the majority report a gentle, non-irritating experience that leaves skin feeling matte and balanced, a notable minority experiences sensitivity to the fragrance or a burning sensation upon application.
Highlights
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “keeps my face matte for hours”
- “significantly reduced my midday shine”
- “removes grease without leaving residue”
- “best oil control wash I've tried”
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “cleans deep but doesn't leave skin tight”
- “gentle enough for my sensitive skin”
- “doesn't make my face feel dry or squeaky”
- “leaves skin feeling soft and balanced”
Helps clear acne Sometimes Noted
- “noticed fewer breakouts after two weeks”
- “keeps my hormonal acne at bay”
- “helped clear up my forehead bumps”
- “great maintenance wash for acne-prone skin”
Pleasant foam texture Sometimes Noted
- “love the light, airy foam”
- “one pump covers the whole face”
- “lathers well and rinses easily”
- “foam feels luxurious and soft”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is overpowering and lingers”
- “smells too like cheap perfume”
- “fragrance irritated my sensitive nose”
- “wish they made an unscented version”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my face immediately upon applying”
- “stung my eyes and cheeks bad”
- “caused redness and heat sensation”
- “felt like a chemical burn”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “left dry patches around my mouth”
- “too drying for winter use”
- “made my skin feel tight and flaky”
- “stripped my skin too much”
Pump issues Rarely Noted
- “pump gets stuck often”
- “dispenser broke halfway through bottle”
- “hard to get the last bit out”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, well.ca, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil PRO DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash a great fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for sensitive skin because it contains no harsh ingredients and uses glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate to soothe redness and irritation while cleansing pores. It is very safe for your skin type and helps keep your face feeling calm.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate make this cleanser a great fit for sensitive skin because they help soothe redness and irritation while keeping skin moisturized. Glycerin and zinc coceth sulfate also work effectively to clean pores without harsh effects.
What does Glycerin do for sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep sensitive skin soft and deeply hydrated while supporting the skin barrier. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may protect against dryness and roughness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1999
What does Zinc Coceth Sulfate do for sensitive skin?
Zinc coceth sulfate helps cleanse sensitive skin without stripping away essential moisture, though it may cause mild dryness if not rinsed thoroughly. This ingredient works best when balanced with soothing agents that keep skin soft and calm.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step in your morning routine and the second step after makeup removal in your evening routine. Using a gentle cleanser helps clean and moisturize without harsh ingredients, making it safe for delicate skin.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, applying it first to clean your skin before using your retinol treatment. This cleanser is a great fit for sensitive skin because it gently cleans pores while using glycerin and dipotassium glycyrrhizate to help calm redness and irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Use this cleanser twice daily in your morning and evening routine. Using a gentle cleanser helps clean pores effectively while soothing sensitive skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, as its ingredients work effectively to cleanse pores while keeping your skin calm. It has a great safety profile for sensitive skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components to help prevent irritation.
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, though the skin around the eyes and body varies in thickness and requires gentle care. It is safe for sensitive skin and contains soothing ingredients that help keep skin calm without harshness.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Dipotassium glycyrrhizinate-loaded hydroxypropyl chitosan and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogels applied to wounds in a mouse full-thickness skin defect model resulted in rapid wound closure, efficient tissue remolding, collagen deposition, and decreased inflammation compared to commercial Tegaderm film and 3M dressing controls.
Acta Biomaterialia, 2022A 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, 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, 2012Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Zinc Coceth Sulfate, Glycerin, Peg-75, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zinc Gluconate, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Masking, Disodium Edta
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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