Olay Cleansing Melts for oily skin
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Polyvinyl Alcohol
Caution
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for oily skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
- Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2025
- International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024
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 moderate cleansing for your oily skin, as disodium cocoyl glutamate and sodium cocoyl alaninate effectively remove impurities without causing irritation.
- While 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid provides antioxidant benefits, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to sufficiently control oily shine.
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.
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Olay Cleansing Melts for oily skin?
Olay Cleansing Melts is a poor match for oily skin because it lacks specialized ingredients to sufficiently control oily shine. An effective cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, glycerin, or salicylic acid to manage oil and support skin health without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?
This cleanser is a poor fit for oily skin because it lacks specialized ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, or glycerin to sufficiently control oily shine and manage oil while maintaining moisture balance. A product of this type needs those ingredients and soothing agents to properly care for oily skin without causing imbalance.
What does Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate do for oily skin?
Disodium cocoyl glutamate is a gentle cleanser that helps lift away excess oil without leaving your face feeling tight or stripped. Because it is a mild amino acid-based surfactant, it is unlikely to cause irritation while keeping oily skin clean and calm.
What does Polyvinyl Alcohol do for oily skin?
Polyvinyl alcohol is unlikely to clog pores and helps deliver ingredients evenly while providing balanced moisture to oily skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning routine and as a second step in the evening routine after a makeup remover. Oily skin needs a cleanser that also includes specialized ingredients to sufficiently control oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin and rinsing thoroughly before putting on your retinol. Using a gentle cleanser like this helps wash away daily grime without irritating skin that is already sensitive from retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily to remove impurities without causing irritation, though oily skin ultimately needs specialized ingredients to sufficiently control oily shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Olay Cleansing Melts is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as its gentle cleansers wash away impurities without irritation. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to control excess oil, oily skin needs a cleanser that includes oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid or clay.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be used on the body and around the eyes, because it uses gentle cleansers like disodium cocoyl glutamate and sodium cocoyl alaninate that wash away dirt without causing irritation. However, since skin on the body is thickest on the back and skin around the eyes is very thin, a cleanser for these areas still needs ingredients tailored to balance oily shine and support delicate skin barriers.
What the research says
Polyvinyl alcohol electrospinning materials accelerate wound healing by providing a physical barrier, regulating humidity, promoting cell proliferation and angiogenesis, and offering antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2025A bilayer wound dressing composed of gelatin methacrylate, tannic acid, and polyvinyl alcohol foam demonstrated broad antibacterial efficacy against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains and promoted better wound healing compared to dressings without these elements.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024A CS/PVA/LPB/2D-HOF complex artificial skin achieved a maximum tensile strength of 29 MPa and load capacity of 3700 g while promoting wound healing to 95% in vivo and in vitro.
Macromolecular Bioscience, 2021
Ingredients
Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Water, Sodium Cocoyl Alaninate, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Citric Acid, Black 2
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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How does it fit your skin?
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