Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel for acne-prone skin
Salicylic Acid
Vichy Volcanic Water
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Gluconate
Bifida Lysate Ferment
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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
- Highly suitable for your combination, acne-prone skin as salicylic acid and zinc gluconate work to exfoliate and regulate oil production, effectively managing breakouts and decongesting pores.
- Bifida ferment lysate offers additional benefits by supporting the skin barrier, which is beneficial for maintaining overall skin health.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsThis gel cleanser is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its ability to reduce breakouts and control excess sebum without stripping the moisture barrier. While most users find it gentle and effective for clearing blackheads and "maskne," a small subset of long-time users expressed disappointment over a perceived formula change.
Highlights
Gentle non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “no tight feeling”
- “skin feels soft”
- “hydrating for acne wash”
- “gentle on sensitive skin”
- “doesn't over-dry”
Effective acne control Often Mentioned
- “diminished maskne severity”
- “clears stubborn blackheads”
- “prevents new pimples”
- “reduced hormonal breakouts”
- “keeps acne away”
Reduces oil Often Mentioned
- “skin looks mattified”
- “controls daily grease”
- “removes excess sebum”
- “less shiny by noon”
- “deep clean feel”
Improves pores Sometimes Noted
- “pores appear smaller”
- “smoother skin texture”
- “refined skin tone”
- “unclogs congested pores”
- “cleaner looking pores”
Caused dryness Rarely Noted
- “dried out my skin”
- “caused stinging”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “redness after use”
- “too harsh for me”
Formula change Rarely Noted
- “formula has changed”
- “consistency is different”
- “miss the old version”
- “not as effective as before”
- “disappointed in changes”
Ineffective for some Rarely Noted
- “didn't see results”
- “acne remained same”
- “no difference after weeks”
- “didn't clear breakouts”
- “waste of money”
Scent complaints Rarely Noted
- “smell is strong”
- “fragrance is off-putting”
- “scent lingers”
- “perfume smell”
- “don't like the odor”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, vichyusa.com, lovelyskin.com, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate clear out pores and keep oil in check, helping to keep breakouts under control. Bifida lysate ferment adds support to your skin barrier to keep it healthy, and the formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and zinc gluconate make this cleanser a great fit because they help clear out clogged pores and keep oily shine under control. Salicylic acid clears away dead skin cells, while zinc gluconate and bifida lysate ferment help calm breakouts and support a healthy skin barrier with very little chance of irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Salicylic Acid do for acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear acne-prone skin by reducing pimples and calming redness without causing many side effects. It works by dipping deep into pores to clear out blockages and control oil, making it a reliable choice for keeping skin smooth and clear.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Vichy Volcanic Water do for acne-prone skin?
Vichy Volcanic Water helps calm redness and soothe stressed, acne-prone skin while strengthening the skin barrier against everyday irritants. It also supports the skin's natural defenses and has a very safe profile, making it comfortable for sensitive or irritated skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine steps before your toner, moisturizer, and treatments. It is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear pores and manage breakouts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first and following with your retinol treatment. Using gentle, barrier-supporting cleansers alongside retinol helps keep skin comfortable and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear breakouts and control oil. It is safe to use daily, as the formula is unlikely to cause irritation.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear pores and manage breakouts. It is unlikely to cause irritation or make acne worse since it lacks harsh ingredients and safely supports your skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, particularly for managing acne, but avoid using it directly around the eyes. The active ingredients like salicylic acid and zinc gluconate help clear breakouts and control oil, making it well-suited for body skin.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Daily use of a deep cleansing gel containing salicylic acid 2%, zinc gluconate 0.2% and lipohydroxy acid 0.05% significantly reduced total lesion count by 56.3% after 84 days in 35 subjects with mild to moderate truncal acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023A dermocosmetic cream containing Punica granatum Pericarp extract, Salicylic acid, Niacinamide, Zinc gluconate, and Aqua Posae Filiformis significantly decreased inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesion counts in subjects with mild to moderate acne compared to untreated hemi-faces after 15 days.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Topical application of Bifida Ferment Lysate strengthens the skin barrier function by upregulating barrier and antimicrobial peptide genes, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties, and decreasing inflammatory cytokine secretion in vitro.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Different strains of Propionibacterium acnes modulate cutaneous innate immunity with varying pro-inflammatory potentials, with P. acnes type III showing the highest and P. avidum the weakest, and zinc gluconate down-regulates the expression of most induced immune markers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2013Zinc gluconate induced alpha2, alpha3, alphaV, and alpha6 integrins, copper gluconate induced alpha2, alpha6, and beta1, and manganese gluconate induced most studied integrins in cultured keratinocytes.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Coco-Betaine, Propanediol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Dipropylene Glycol, Zinc Gluconate, Bifida Lysate Ferment, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Copper Gluconate, Caprylyl Glycol, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
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
How does it fit your skin?
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