Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Niacinamide
Panthenol
Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
High
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 suitability for your oily skin and acne concerns is provided by niacinamide, which helps regulate oil production and reduce inflammation, complemented by glycerin for essential hydration.
- The cleansing agents, cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, effectively remove impurities and excess oil, supporting your goal of managing breakouts.
- The formula is safe for your skin, as it contains soothing ingredients and lacks harsh or irritating components.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 110.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin find this cleanser highly effective at removing excess oil and preventing breakouts. Most users report it balances deep cleaning with gentleness, though some with combination or sensitive skin mention it can be drying if used too often.
Highlights
Effective oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes excess oil without drying.”
- “My face feels less oily.”
- “Reduces oily look for 5 hours.”
- “Thorough, oil-busting cleanse.”
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Cleaned and balanced, not tight.”
- “Doesn't strip skin of natural moisture.”
- “Gentle surfactants, pH of 5.5.”
- “Leaves skin feeling fresh, not dry.”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “Scent is overwhelmingly artificial.”
- “Smells like chemical fragrance.”
- “Contains perfume, disappointing for sensitive skin.”
- “Strong lemony fresh smell.”
Good lather/texture Sometimes Noted
- “Glides on smoothly, foams slightly.”
- “Lathers easily, light water-based lotion.”
- “Rinses off cleanly, no residue.”
- “Gel-to-foam formula.”
Reduces acne Sometimes Noted
- “Helps to remove pimple and acne.”
- “Reduces my acne.”
- “No acne, no allergies.”
- “Great for acne-prone guys and gals.”
Drying for some Sometimes Noted
- “Felt a little stripping on sensitive areas.”
- “Made dry patches worse.”
- “Can feel tight if you have combination skin.”
- “Not hydrating enough for winter.”
Medicinal smell Rarely Noted
- “Smells like hospital soap.”
- “Scent might be hit or miss.”
- “Has a strange chemical scent.”
- “Smells too good to be true (suspicious).”
Poor makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “Struggles with mascara.”
- “Need a separate makeup remover.”
- “Doesn't remove heavy makeup well.”
- “Foundation came off after two attempts.”
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Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because niacinamide helps balance oil and calm redness, while glycerin keeps your skin comfortably hydrated without feeling heavy. Its gentle cleansing agents wash away extra oil and impurities to help manage breakouts without irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because niacinamide helps regulate oil production and reduce inflammation, while glycerin provides essential hydration without feeling heavy. Additionally, gentle cleansing agents like cocamidopropyl betaine effectively remove excess oil and impurities to help manage breakouts.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Panthenol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Panthenol helps regulate sebum, improves skin hydration, and reduces redness and irritation in oily acne-prone skin. It is well tolerated and may support barrier recovery without causing adverse reactions.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is used both morning and evening as the first step of your routine before applying toners, treatments, and moisturizers. Using a mild cleanser twice a day helps remove excess oil and impurities while keeping your skin calm and hydrated.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing thoroughly, and then following with your retinol treatment once your face is completely dry. This gentle cleansing step helps remove excess oil and impurities without stripping your skin, creating a clean base that is unlikely to react poorly with your retinol product.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin and can be used daily in both your morning and evening routines. It features niacinamide and gentle cleansing agents that effectively remove excess oil and impurities while helping to manage breakouts and keep your skin calm.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as its ingredients help clear away excess oil and impurities while calming irritation. However, because it can feel drying for some people, it may occasionally lead to irritation if your skin barrier becomes too dry.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is gentle enough for the body, but take care when using it near the eyes since that skin is very thin and sensitive. The soothing ingredients help keep skin calm and comfortable without causing irritation.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, geraniol, and linalool).
What the research says
A 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, 2017Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020The 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, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser decreased prokaryotic microbial alpha diversity, altered prokaryotic microbiome structure, increased phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and decreased ceramides on facial skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Coacervates formed from mixed micelles of sodium lauroylsarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine with cationic guar gum exhibited a dense porous structure with high viscoelastic modulus under strong electrostatic interactions, and a looser mesh structure with lower viscoelasticity and enhanced skin adsorption under weakened interactions.
Soft Matter, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid
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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