PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash for combination skin
Benzoyl Peroxide
Cetearyl Alcohol
Glycerin
Glycolic Acid
Dimethicone
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other serums fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 exfoliation and acne treatment for your combination skin, as benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid effectively target blemishes and reduce oiliness. Lactic acid further aids in skin renewal, though the formula may not fully address potential dryness due to a lack of sufficient emollient ingredients.
- The product provides general cleansing benefits suitable for combination skin, with ingredients like decyl glucoside and sodium laurylglucosides hydroxypropylsulfonate helping to manage oily shine.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your serum as part of your PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toner, and right before your moisturizer.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and wait a minute ⏳for it to soak in.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive.
- Always do a patch test before using the serum for the first time, and avoid the eye area .
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 85.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily, acne-prone, and cystic skin frequently report this wash as a "holy grail" for clearing stubborn breakouts on both the face and body. It is highly effective at reducing active pimples and preventing new ones, though it is potent and often causes dryness or irritation, requiring a good moisturizer and careful use on sensitive skin.
Highlights
Clears cystic acne Mostly Mentioned
- “shrinks them exponentially overnight”
- “significantly reduced my breakouts”
- “cleared up my forehead acne really well”
- “changed my life, honestly”
- “best acne cleanser I'EVER used”
Bleaches fabrics Mostly Mentioned
- “can bleach fabrics if comes in contact”
- “FYI: It does bleach towels!”
- “ruined my favorite shirt”
- “be careful with your pillowcases”
- “bleached my washcloths immediately”
Affordable price Often Mentioned
- “very affordable... don't sleep on this”
- “price point is very reasonable”
- “good value for the size”
Effective body wash Often Mentioned
- “little acne I have on my body it's gooonneeee”
- “cleared up my previously broken out inner thighs”
- “works so good on my face and body”
- “struggling with back acne... definitely has worked”
- “unclogs pores on the face, chest, and back”
Drying and irritating Often Mentioned
- “woke up to my face puffy and irritated”
- “does dry my skin out around my eyes”
- “skin irritation and dryness is more likely”
- “felt a burning sensation upon initial use”
- “can be harsh... moisturize afterwards”
Fast visible results Sometimes Noted
- “clears my skin in a matter of 7 days”
- “started to notice something in my skin... day five”
- “quickly reduced my inflamed breakouts”
- “kills over 99% of acne-causing bacteria in 15 seconds”
- “saw results in just a few days”
Causes skin purging Sometimes Noted
- “skin got worse... 14 days into it”
- “bringing everything to the surface”
- “had the worst breakout... on day eight”
- “purging period was rough”
- “got worse before it got better”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “product just comes like spilling out”
- “cheap plastic tub”
- “hard to squeeze out the last bit”
- “cap broke easily”
- “leaks if not stored upright”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, target.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash work for combination skin?
PanOxyl PanOxyl Acne Foaming Wash works for combination skin by offering moderate exfoliation and acne treatment, though other products fit it better. To truly thrive, combination skin needs soothing ingredients like niacinamide and propolis or zinc PCA that regulate oiliness, enhance radiance, and provide balanced hydration without causing dryness.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin by clearing blemishes and reducing oily shine. Lactic acid further helps with skin renewal, though combination skin needs added niacinamide, propolis, and zinc PCA for balanced hydration and better overall health.
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for combination skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps clear acne and reduce blemishes for combination skin by targeting breakout-causing bacteria. Because it can sometimes cause dryness or tightness in sensitive areas, it is important to follow with a good moisturizer to keep the skin balanced.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
What does Cetearyl Alcohol do for combination skin?
Cetearyl alcohol helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by supporting the skin barrier while maintaining moisture levels without feeling heavy. It is commonly used in gentle lotions and creams to improve how the product spreads and feels on your face.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine. Combination skin also needs rich smoothing softeners and nourishing oils to prevent dryness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this treatment wash with retinol by alternating them on different nights or using this cleanser in the morning and retinol at night to prevent irritation. Combination skin needs a product that treats blemishes while providing rich moisturizing ingredients to protect against dryness.
American Family Physician, 2012The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
How often should I use it?
Start using this treatment once a week in your evening routine, and if your skin feels comfortable and results look good, you may carefully use it more often. Combination skin of this type needs enough rich moisturizing ingredients to prevent dryness while managing oiliness.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser may cause skin purging and breakouts as it treats blemishes and encourages skin renewal. Combination skin also needs rich smoothing ingredients to keep the dry areas soft while treating breakouts.
Is it 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, 2020Preoperative treatment with benzoyl peroxide significantly decreases the bacterial skin load of Cutibacterium acnes in patients undergoing elective shoulder surgery from skin incision until wound closure compared to preparation with soap.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021Twice 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, 2024Once-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, 2022Topical 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, 2023A 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, 2017Wearing an N95 mask alone compared to using dimethicone cream or hydrocolloid dressing caused more adverse skin reactions among 73 military health care workers, with no significant differences in fit test failure rates between groups.
Military Medicine, 2024A dimethicone skin protectant lotion significantly decreased visual scoring and transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control and SLS-only treated sites in 12 healthy humans exposed to sodium lauryl sulfate.
Skin Research and Technology, 2000Treatment with a moisturizer containing dimethicone and glycerine increased epidermal thickness by 0.019 mm, improved barrier function by decreasing transepidermal water loss by 13%, decreased melanin intensity, and induced keratins 6 and 16 in fifteen women with moderately photoaged forearms.
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 2007
Ingredients
Benzoyl Peroxide, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Imidurea, Lactic Acid, Methylparaben, Mineral Oil, Peg-14m, Potassium Lauryl Sulfate, Potassium Phosphate, Water, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Pca, Titanium Dioxide, Zea Mays Starch, Carbomer Homopolymer Type C, Carbomer Interpolymer Type A, Decyl Glucoside, Dimethicone, Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Palmitic Acid, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Polyoxyl 40 Stearate, Propanediol, Silica, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Laurylglucosides Hydroxypropylsulfonate, Sorbitan Stearate, Stearic Acid, T-Butyl Alcohol, 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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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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