PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash for oily skin
Benzoyl Peroxide
Glycerin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Cetearyl Alcohol
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers 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
Lovi Assistant explains
- Highly suitable for your oily skin, this cleanser contains benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid to combat acne and refine texture, while sodium lauryl sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine offer effective impurity removal.
- While it addresses your oily skin type well, the cleansing agents are not specifically targeted to manage oily shine.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients or irritation risks.
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 28.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users find this wash to be a highly effective and gentle acne treatment for the face, chest, and back. It is frequently praised for its creamy texture and suitability for sensitive skin, clearing breakouts without significant irritation. Some users still report dryness and caution that the product can permanently bleach fabrics.
Highlights
Gentle on skin Mostly Mentioned
- “gentle on sensitive and dry skin”
- “doesn't dry out skin like others”
- “creamy texture feels gentle”
- “didn't cause any sensitivity”
Bleaches fabrics Mostly Mentioned
- “bleaches towels and clothes”
- “stained my shirt orange”
- “ruined my pillowcases”
- “be careful, it bleaches fabric”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “clears texture and is gentle”
- “reduced back acne with almost daily use”
- “90% breakout free after 3 months”
- “clears cystic acne effectively”
Versatile use Often Mentioned
- “works well for body acne”
- “cleared my back from acne scars”
- “use it on face, chest, and back”
- “great for armpits to reduce odor”
Drying and irritation Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin a bit dry”
- “made face itchy at beginning”
- “damaged my skin barrier”
- “can be drying if used too often”
Fast results Sometimes Noted
- “saw results after the first night”
- “clears skin in a matter of 7 days”
- “immediate results and satisfaction”
- “clears acne at lightning speed”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “has a weird scent”
- “smells like chlorine”
- “chemical smell is strong”
- “scent is mild but medicinal”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “product comes spilling out”
- “hard to control amount squeezed”
- “leaks if not closed tightly”
- “tube design could be better”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, target.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, drugs.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash work for oily skin?
PanOxyl Acne Creamy Wash works for your oily skin by helping clear acne and remove impurities with benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid, though it does not specifically target oily shine. To better manage oily shine and support skin health, a cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
This cleanser works for oily skin because it contains benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid to combat acne and refine texture, while sodium lauryl sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine offer effective impurity removal. However, a cleanser of this type needs ingredients like Niacinamide, Ceramides, or salicylic acid to properly manage oily shine and support skin health.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for oily skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps clear up acne on oily skin by targeting multiple causes of breakouts, though it may occasionally cause irritation. When used in treatments, it significantly reduces both inflamed and uninflamed pimples.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning routine and your evening routine to help wash away impurities. A product for oily skin also needs specific ingredients that target and manage oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first and applying retinol afterwards, as long as your skin builds tolerance to both active ingredients. This type of routine works best for oily skin when it includes soothing moisturizers and gentle hydrating ingredients to keep the skin barrier strong and comfortable.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. A daily skincare regimen featuring a mild cleanser helps improve overall skin condition, though oily skin also needs ingredients and products specifically targeted to manage oily shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores on oily skin because it uses glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide to clear out impurities and refine texture. However, it may cause dryness and irritation, which can sometimes be mistaken for breakouts or purging. To better manage oily shine and keep pores clear, an oily skin routine also needs specialized oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the sensitive skin around your eyes. The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the body and face, making it more prone to irritation from acne-fighting ingredients.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023Daily application of adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel reduced and prevented atrophic acne scar formation, achieving a total scar count change of -15.5% versus +14.4% for vehicle over 24 weeks in 67 subjects with moderate or severe facial acne.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018A 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, 2001Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A 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, 2024Chemical peels with 30% supramolecular salicylic acid effectively treated acne and reduced facial sebum secretion while improving skin hydration and barrier function in 25 patients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
Ingredients
Benzoyl Peroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Imidurea, Lactic Acid, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil, Peg 14 M, Potassium Lauryl Sulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Pca, Titanium Dioxide, Zea Mays Starch
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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