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Elemis Superfood Facial Wash for oily acne-prone skin

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

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash
  • Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide
  • Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil
  • Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil
  • Pumpkin Seed Oil
  • Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

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

  • Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin as glycerin and Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil provide hydration and emollient benefits, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
  • The formula provides excellent cleansing with sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and glycerin to remove impurities while maintaining skin hydration.
  • The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide and Ascorbic Acid.

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

★4.6Overall rating based on 2.9k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this facial wash is highly praised for its gentle, hydrating formula that effectively cleanses and leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed. Most users report improved skin texture and fewer breakouts. A small number of users experienced dryness or breakouts, and some found the price point to be high.

Highlights

  • Gentle, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “Doesn't leave skin tight”
    • “Cleanses without stripping”
    • “Feels soft and nourished”
  • Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
    • “Removes makeup and impurities”
    • “Deeply cleanses”
    • “Gets oily face clean”
  • Refreshing scent Often Mentioned
    • “Smells so natural and fresh”
    • “Spa-like aroma”
    • “Refreshing green juice scent”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Skin feels like silk”
    • “Leaves skin smooth”
    • “Clearer, radiant complexion”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “Wish it was more affordable”
    • “Pricey compared to many”
    • “Expensive for a cleanser”
  • Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Horrible cystic breakouts”
    • “Reacted terribly”
    • “Caused clogged pores”
  • Drying for some Rarely Noted
    • “Leaves skin very dry”
    • “Dries my skin out”
    • “Not for dry types”
  • Fragrance sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “Not a fan of fragrance”
    • “Strong scent affects eyes”
    • “Fairly scented”

Sources: lovi.care, elemis.com, ulta.com, lovelyskin.com, influenster.com, dermstore.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Elemis Superfood Facial Wash work for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for your oily skin, removing impurities while keeping your skin hydrated, but it lacks enough ingredients to properly control oil. To truly fit oily and acne-prone skin, a cleanser needs soothing and effective ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to help balance oil production and maintain skin clarity without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and Brassica Oleracea Italica seed oil make this cleanser a decent fit for oily skin by offering hydration and soft skin benefits, but this skin type needs cleansers with niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to control excess oil and clear acne.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide do for oily acne-prone skin?

Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide helps keep oily acne-prone skin balanced by feeding the good bacteria on your face and calming irritation. This ingredient supports your skin barrier so it is unlikely to break out, leaving your face feeling smooth and clear.

What does Persea Gratissima Oil do for oily acne-prone skin?

Persea Gratissima Oil helps nourish dry skin and improves soft and smooth texture, but it is unlikely to suit oily acne-prone skin well without lighter balancing ingredients. This skin type needs non-greasy hydrators and clarifying agents to stay clear and comfortable.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routines as the cleansing step. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, though an oily skin type needs a cleanser with stronger oil-controlling ingredients for optimal shine management.

Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. This product helps clear away impurities while keeping your skin hydrated, but oily acne-prone skin also needs stronger oil-control ingredients to properly balance shine and breakouts.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but a cleanser for oily and acne-prone skin needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients for an optimal fit.

Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

Elemis Superfood Facial Wash is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your oily acne-prone skin due to its gentle cleansers and soothing ingredients, though a few reviewers have reported occasional blemishes. Because it offers only moderate suitability for oily skin, a cleanser for this skin type needs stronger oil-balancing and clarifying ingredients to keep pores clear.

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

You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should use caution around the eyes because cleansers can sometimes sting that thin skin. It cleans well without causing irritation, though oily skin needs a cleanser with stronger oil-control ingredients.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is it fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, geraniol, and linalool). Lauryl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone 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, 2024

  • Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.

    International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021

  • A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Acrylates Copolymer, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Lactate, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Lauryl Alcohol, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Chlorphenesin, Sodium Hydroxide, Citric Acid, Parfum, Alpha-Glucan Oligosaccharide, Brassica Oleracea Italica Seed Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Galactoarabinan, Disodium Edta, Salvia Hispanica Seed Oil, Limonene, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Caramel, Amyris Balsamifera Oil Bark, Urtica Dioica Juice, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Geraniol, Linalool, Rosmarinus Officinalis Oil Leaf Rosemary Oil Leaf, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil Carrot Seed Oil, Brassica Oleracea Acephala Leaf Extract, Triticum Aestivum Leaf Extract Wheatgrass Leaf Extract, Magnesium Aspartate, Zinc Gluconate, Maltodextrin, Polyglyceryl-3 Diisostearate, Chlorophyllin-Copper Complex, Hydrogenated Palm Glycerides Citrate, Tocopherol, Copper Gluconate, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Ascorbic 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.

  • 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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