Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel for dry skin
Salicylic Acid
Vichy Volcanic Water
Zinc Gluconate
Copper Gluconate
Bifida Lysate Ferment
Caution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 exfoliation for your dry or flaky skin due to the presence of salicylic acid, which aids in gently cleansing and reducing flakiness.
- However, this formula is unsuitable for your dry skin because salicylic acid has keratolytic action that can exacerbate dryness, and it lacks humectant or emollient ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
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
Why does Lovi advise caution with Vichy Normaderm PhytoAction Daily Deep Cleansing Gel for dry skin?
This cleanser uses salicylic acid, which can worsen dry skin, and it lacks ingredients that add or lock in moisture. A cleanser for dry skin needs ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or niacinamide to hydrate and protect the skin barrier while cleansing.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
Salicylic acid makes this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin because its deep cleansing action may worsen dryness, and the formula lacks hydrating and barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry skin?
Salicylic acid is generally not a good fit for dry skin, as it is meant to clear out pores and remove dead skin rather than hydrate. Because dry skin needs soothing and moisture rather than exfoliation, a product for dry skin needs nourishing ingredients like urea to lock in moisture and keep the skin soft.
What does Vichy Volcanic Water do for dry skin?
Vichy volcanic mineralizing water helps calm dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier and easing inflammation against everyday outside irritants. It is unlikely to cause irritation and may soothe dry areas while supporting the skin's natural defenses.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser may be used morning and night in your routine, but it is unlikely to be a good fit for dry skin because it can make dryness worse. A product of this type for dry skin needs gentle cleansing ingredients along with hydrating and softening ingredients to keep skin comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleanser is a poor match for your dry skin because salicylic acid can make dryness worse, and it lacks ingredients that keep skin soft and smooth. To use a cleanser like this safely with retinol, your skin needs rich moisturizing ingredients and gentle barrier-restoring components to prevent irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a poor match for your dry skin because salicylic acid may make dryness worse, and this formula lacks hydrating or softening ingredients. Instead, dry skin needs a gentle cleanser packed with moisture-attracting humectants and nourishing emollients to keep it soft and smooth.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it is designed to deeply clean and clear skin, but it may cause extra dryness and flakiness on dry skin due to salicylic acid. A product for this skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing moisturizers to keep skin soft and smooth without stripping away natural oils.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be too harsh for the very thin skin around the eyes and is mainly designed for facial use. Dry skin on the body and face needs gentle cleansers packed with hydrating ingredients and skin-softening oils rather than deep exfoliating acids.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Balneotherapy 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, 2025A 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, 2026Daily 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, 2023Different 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, 1999Topical 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, 2023
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
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