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Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel

Superior

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • SuperiorEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

One of the best cleansers for combination skin.

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

  • Excellent for your combination skin, this cleanser effectively targets oily shine with salicylic acid and zinc gluconate to deeply cleanse pores and regulate sebum production.
  • Bifida Lysate Ferment further supports skin health by providing soothing benefits, ensuring a comfortable and balanced experience.
  • The formula is safe for your skin, free from harsh ingredients and containing beneficial components that minimize irritation risk.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
  • Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
  • Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
  • For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviews

This gel cleanser is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its ability to reduce breakouts and control excess sebum without stripping the moisture barrier. While most users find it gentle and effective for clearing blackheads and "maskne," a small subset of long-time users expressed disappointment over a perceived formula change.

Highlights

  • Gentle non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “no tight feeling”
    • “skin feels soft”
    • “hydrating for acne wash”
    • “gentle on sensitive skin”
    • “doesn't over-dry”
  • Effective acne control Often Mentioned
    • “diminished maskne severity”
    • “clears stubborn blackheads”
    • “prevents new pimples”
    • “reduced hormonal breakouts”
    • “keeps acne away”
  • Reduces oil Often Mentioned
    • “skin looks mattified”
    • “controls daily grease”
    • “removes excess sebum”
    • “less shiny by noon”
    • “deep clean feel”
  • Improves pores Sometimes Noted
    • “pores appear smaller”
    • “smoother skin texture”
    • “refined skin tone”
    • “unclogs congested pores”
    • “cleaner looking pores”
  • Caused dryness Rarely Noted
    • “dried out my skin”
    • “caused stinging”
    • “not for sensitive skin”
    • “redness after use”
    • “too harsh for me”
  • Formula change Rarely Noted
    • “formula has changed”
    • “consistency is different”
    • “miss the old version”
    • “not as effective as before”
    • “disappointed in changes”
  • Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
    • “didn't see results”
    • “acne remained same”
    • “no difference after weeks”
    • “didn't clear breakouts”
    • “waste of money”
  • Scent complaints Rarely Noted
    • “smell is strong”
    • “fragrance is off-putting”
    • “scent lingers”
    • “perfume smell”
    • “don't like the odor”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, vichyusa.com, lovelyskin.com, skinsort.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Cleanser one of the best fits for combination skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate deeply clean pores and help control oily shine. Bifida lysate ferment adds soothing benefits to keep your skin balanced, and the gentle formula is very unlikely to cause irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?

Salicylic acid and zinc gluconate make this cleanser a great fit by deeply clearing pores and controlling oily shine, while bifida lysate ferment helps keep your skin feeling calm and balanced. These ingredients work together safely to give you clear results without the risk of heavy irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Vichy Volcanic Water do for combination skin?

Vichy Volcanic Water helps refresh and balance combination skin by delivering essential minerals that strengthen the skin barrier. It is lightweight, so it absorbs easily without making your oily areas greasy or drying out your dry patches. This soothing mist keeps your face feeling calm and comfortable throughout the day.

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This cleanser goes as the first step in both your morning and evening skincare routines. Daily use helps deeply clean pores and control oily shine while keeping your skin comfortable and balanced.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol, but it is best to use them at different times of day or alternate days to avoid drying out your skin. Using a gentle cleanser helps prep your skin safely while minimizing irritation risks from powerful ingredients like retinol.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening to help keep your combination skin clean and balanced. Daily use of salicylic acid and zinc gluconate effectively targets oily shine and deeply cleans pores while minimizing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cleanser is an excellent fit for combination skin and uses salicylic acid and zinc gluconate to deeply clean pores and help keep oily shine under control. It is safe for your skin, featuring ingredients that minimize the risk of irritation, though it may occasionally cause mild dryness in some users.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is safe for use on the body, particularly for managing breakouts, but you should avoid applying it directly to the thin skin around your eyes to prevent irritation. Its active ingredients help clean pores and control shine effectively while maintaining a comfortable feel.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Daily 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, 2023

  • A 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, 2026

  • Twice 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, 2024

  • Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.

    Life, 2023

  • Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.

    The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024

  • A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025

  • Different 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

  • Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999

Ingredients

Salicylic Acid, Water, Coco-Betaine, Propanediol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Zinc Gluconate, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 10 Oct – 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Canada.

How does it fit your skin?

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