🇩🇪Germany

SkinMedica Facial Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

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

SkinMedica Facial Cleanser

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 cleansing for your oily skin, as Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine help remove impurities, while Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract provides antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.
  • While it addresses general cleansing needs for oily skin, it lacks specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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 500+ reviews

This cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle, hydrating, and effective cleansing properties, particularly by users with sensitive, dry, and post-procedure skin. Most users find it leaves their skin soft and calm, with many reporting improvements in texture and clarity. A significant number of reviews mention its high price point as a drawback.

Highlights

  • Gentle and hydrating Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft”
    • “never overstripped”
    • “soothing for sensitive skin”
    • “doesn't dry me out”
  • Effective daily cleanse Often Mentioned
    • “removes all makeup”
    • “skin feels super clean”
    • “removes dirt well”
    • “great everyday cleanser”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “expensive for a wash”
    • “pricey”
    • “hard to justify cost”
    • “not sure it's worth it”
  • Good value Sometimes Noted
    • “a little goes a long way”
    • “bottle lasts months”
    • “only need a dime size”
    • “foams up well”
  • Improves skin Sometimes Noted
    • “skin looks fresh”
    • “pores look smaller”
    • “helps with acne”
    • “smooths texture”
  • Makeup removal Rarely Noted
    • “need double cleanse”
    • “doesn't remove mascara”
    • “struggles with waterproof makeup”
    • “need separate remover”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump gets stuck”
    • “pump broke”
    • “hard to dispense”
    • “leaky bottle”
  • Scent concerns Rarely Noted
    • “smell is medicinal”
    • “scent is okay”
    • “wish it was unscented”
    • “strong fragrance”

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

Questions and answers

How well does SkinMedica Facial Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?

SkinMedica Facial Cleanser works as an average fit for oily acne-prone skin, removing impurities while providing antioxidant benefits without causing irritation. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target breakouts and acne. To better fit this skin type, a cleanser needs soothing and effective ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or ceramides to balance oil and clear blemishes.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2007

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

This cleanser works for oily skin because Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine help wash away impurities, while Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract provides soothing and antioxidant benefits. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients for breakouts, a cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, and ceramides to target acne and balance oil.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2007

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

What does Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Camellia oleifera leaf extract helps keep oily, acne-prone skin comfortable without causing irritation, and it may also help other ingredients sink into your skin more easily. A product of this type for this skin needs lightweight, balancing ingredients that feel soft and smooth instead of heavy.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2007

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

This cleanser works as a step in both your morning and evening routines. An oily acne-prone skin type needs a cleanser combined with salicylic acid or targeted blemish ingredients to properly manage breakouts.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

Yes, you can use this cleanser in your routine with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before using your retinol treatment. A cleanser of this type for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts alongside your treatment.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to help remove impurities from your oily skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause irritation for your oily acne-prone skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients, but it also lacks targeted acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid to prevent breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin generally needs specialized ingredients such as salicylic acid to help clear pores and manage blemishes effectively.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2007

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

You can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes, as it has a good safety profile with no harsh ingredients that may cause irritation to your skin. A product for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts, along with gentle cleansing agents.

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2007

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017

  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009

  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical 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, 2002

  • Moisturizer 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, 2019

  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Blue 1 Ci 42090, Ci 47005

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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How does it fit your skin?

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QR code: get the Lovi app
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