Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Ascorbic Acid
Glycerin
Retinyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed ExtractAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015
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 cleansing for your oily skin, as decyl glucoside and coco-caprylate caprate effectively remove impurities without stripping, while glycerin provides essential hydration. The formula lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to directly target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While the cleanser is suitable for oily skin and offers general hydration, it does not provide strong oil control.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and tocopherol.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 200+ reviewsWhile the potent citrus scent and lotion-like texture are favorites for most, some users with oily skin or those who prefer a sudsy lather may find it leaves a residue or fails to feel "clean" enough.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Non-drying formula”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “moisturizing texture”
- “good for winter dryness”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “calms redness”
- “great for post-peel”
Invigorating citrus scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like oranges”
- “fresh citrus aroma”
- “spa-like fragrance”
- “delicious orange smell”
Creamy texture Sometimes Noted
- “Feels like lotion”
- “silky consistency”
- “spreads easily”
- “luxurious feel”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Melts away makeup”
- “removes impurities”
- “cleanses well”
- “good for double cleanse”
Does not lather Sometimes Noted
- “No suds”
- “feels like cold cream”
- “doesn't foam up”
- “weird texture for cleanser”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for cleanser”
- “pricey”
- “cost is high”
- “not budget-friendly”
Packaging pump issues Sometimes Noted
- “Pump stops working”
- “hard to get product out”
- “heavy bottle design”
- “broken dispenser”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “skin broke out”
- “not for oily skin”
- “clogged pores”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Feels filmy”
- “leaves oily coating”
- “skin feels heavy”
- “sticky after rinsing”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, imageskincare.com, womensblogtalk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser provides moderate cleaning and hydration for oily skin without causing irritation, though it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and strong oil control. A cleanser for this skin needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, and salicylic acid to balance oil production and manage acne.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for oily skin because glycerin provides hydration while decyl glucoside and coco-caprylate caprate wash away impurities without making skin dry. However, this cleanser needs ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides to properly clear breakouts and control oil without irritation.
What does Vitamin C do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin, smooth out texture, and improve uneven spots for oily acne-prone skin. It may also help fade marks left behind by blemishes.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, coming after makeup removal at night. It cleans your oily skin gently without stripping moisture, though oily acne-prone skin works best with cleansers that also include targeted ingredients like salicylic acid for breakouts and stronger oil control.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first before your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your oily acne-prone skin, but an average fit cleanser for this skin needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts and stronger oil control.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routine. It gently removes impurities without stripping your skin, though an oily acne-prone skin also needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to directly target breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, but because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid and does not provide strong oil control, a product of this type needs acne-clearing ingredients to properly manage breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the skin around the eyes is much thinner and may be more sensitive to certain ingredients. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle cleansing agents and soothing hydrators that clean safely without stripping delicate areas.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and eugenol). Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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 application of a water-in-oil emulsion containing 2% Muscat hamburg grape seed extract significantly improved melanin, elasticity, and sebum content compared to a placebo in human volunteers over 8 weeks, with no reported skin hypersensitivity.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015Grape seed extract based emulgel and emulsion formulations reduced skin roughness, scaliness, wrinkles, and sebum content while enhancing elasticity and hydration.
Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2021Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022The 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, 2012Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical CE Ferulic plus resveratrol BE serum following ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment reduced erythema index (308.9 vs. 325.3), shortened complete scabbing detachment time (6.0 vs. 6.5 days), decreased melanin index (-7.4% vs. +0.2%), and improved skin hydration compared to normal saline in 51 Chinese patients.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Resveratrol cream improved skin hydration and tightening compared to cream without resveratrol in a group of probands.
Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2019Topical treatment with a combination of pyridine-2, 4-dicarboxylic acid diethyl ester and resveratrol significantly increased hair density in 79 Caucasian female subjects starting from 1.5 months compared to baseline.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
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, 2024Topical 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, 2021A 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, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate Dicaprate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Limonene, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycereth-26, C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Clove Oil Leaf, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Yeast Polysaccharides, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Superoxide Dismutase, Phenoxyethanol, Eugenol
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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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
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