Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Vichy Volcanic Water
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Gluconate
Bifida Lysate Ferment
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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
- Offers high suitability for your oily skin as salicylic acid and zinc gluconate work to regulate sebum and exfoliate pores, addressing excess shine.
- The moderate concentration of salicylic acid provides excellent cleansing by exfoliating dead skin cells and decongesting pores.
- This formula is safe for your skin, with Bifida Lysate Ferment offering soothing benefits and no harsh ingredients present.
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 400+ reviewsThis 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 a great fit for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear away excess oil and unclog pores to reduce shine. It also features soothing ingredients that keep oily skin calm without feeling stripped or irritated.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid and zinc gluconate make this cleanser a great fit for oily skin because they help clear out pores and control excess shine. The formula also includes soothing ingredients like Bifida lysate ferment and is free of harsh components, making it gentle and safe for daily use.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
What does Vichy Volcanic Water do for oily skin?
Vichy Volcanic Water helps soothe oily skin and strengthens your skin barrier against daily stress. It is unlikely to cause heavy or greasy buildup while supporting your skin defenses.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step in your morning routine and the second step in your evening routine after a makeup remover. Salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear pores and control excess shine while keeping your skin calm.
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 with retinol, but it is best to use them at different times of day or alternate days to keep your skin calm. Using a salicylic acid cleanser alongside strong treatments may dry out your skin, so watch for any irritation and scale back if needed.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help control excess shine and clear out pores. Daily use is generally well-tolerated and helps keep your skin feeling clean and balanced.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses salicylic acid and zinc gluconate to clear dead skin cells and keep oil in check. It may cause mild initial purging as it cleans out debris from deep inside pores.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, particularly for oily skin and body breakouts, but the thin skin around the eyes is very delicate and may become dry or irritated by active ingredients like salicylic acid. Daily use of a cleanser with salicylic acid and zinc gluconate helps clear pores and reduce acne on body skin.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
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, 2023A 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, 2026Twice 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, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Topical 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, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Balneotherapy 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, 2023Malaysian 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, 2024A 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, 2025Different 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, 2013Zinc 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.
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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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