Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel for acne-prone skin
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua
Zinc Coceth Sulfate
Lauryl Betaine
Decyl Glucoside
Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract
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 skin as zinc gluconate effectively regulates sebum and addresses your acne and breakouts, while citric acid provides mild exfoliation.
- The formulation offers excellent cleansing for oily skin, with zinc gluconate targeting pore cleansing and reducing inflammation.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your acne-prone skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh 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 6.5k+ reviewsThis gel cleanser is widely praised by users with oily, acne-prone, and sensitive skin for its ability to deeply cleanse and regulate sebum without disrupting the skin barrier. While the majority report clearer, matte skin, a minority of users with drier skin types found it too stripping or experienced initial purging. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Effective oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “Keeps me matte for hours”
- “Drastically reduced my oiliness”
- “Best face wash for greasy skin”
- “Controls sebum perfectly.”
Gentle deep clean Often Mentioned
- “Squeaky clean but soft”
- “Removes makeup easily”
- “Gentle on my sensitive skin”
- “Doesn't strip my barrier.”
Helps clear acne Often Mentioned
- “Cleared my cystic acne”
- “Keeps pimples at bay”
- “My skin is finally clear”
- “Great for hormonal breakouts.”
High value Sometimes Noted
- “Bottle lasts for months”
- “A little goes a long way”
- “Worth the price”
- “One drop is enough.”
Refreshing feel Sometimes Noted
- “Feels so refreshing”
- “Love the clean smell”
- “Leaves face feeling fresh”
- “Cooling effect is nice.”
Drying for some Sometimes Noted
- “Left my face tight”
- “Too drying for winter”
- “Caused dry patches”
- “Stripped my skin.”
Initial breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out initially”
- “Caused tiny bumps”
- “Skin got worse before better”
- “Gave me cystic spots.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Cap leaks in bag”
- “Lid is hard to close”
- “Dispenses too much product”
- “Messy bottle design.”
Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
- “Scent is too strong”
- “Smells like perfume”
- “Fragrance irritated my nose”
- “Wish it was unscented.”
Sources: lovi.care, aveneusa.com, dermstore.com, ulta.com, lovelyskin.com, lookfantastic.ie, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Avène Cleanance Cleansing Gel a great fit for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because zinc gluconate helps control oil and calm breakouts, while citric acid offers gentle exfoliation. It has a very safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation for your acne-prone skin.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Zinc gluconate and citric acid make this cleanser a great fit because zinc gluconate helps control oil and calm breakouts, while citric acid gently smooths the skin. This combination cleans pores deeply while keeping irritation low.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
What does Avene Thermal Spring Water do for acne-prone skin?
Avène Thermal Spring Water helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing stinging, pain, and redness. It also helps keep skin hydrated while supporting overall comfort during acne routines.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024
What does Zinc Coceth Sulfate do for acne-prone skin?
Zinc Coceth Sulfate is a cleansing ingredient that helps remove excess oil and impurities from acne-prone skin while maintaining a gentle touch. This type of cleanser works best when it is formulated with mild ingredients that keep your skin feeling comfortable rather than dry or tight.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step of your morning routine and the second step of your evening routine after a makeup remover. It helps clear pores and calm your skin without causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing thoroughly, and then following with your retinol treatment once your face is completely dry. This gentle cleansing step is unlikely to cause irritation and helps prep your skin for your evening routine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your acne-prone skin and can be used daily in both your morning and evening routines. Daily use helps regulate oil, clean pores, and reduce inflammation safely without causing 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 zinc gluconate helps control oil and clear pores while citric acid gently exfoliates. It is very unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts thanks to its gentle, safe ingredients, though a small number of users may experience dryness.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is a great fit for acne-prone skin because zinc gluconate regulates oil and citric acid gently exfoliates. While studies show skin is very thin around the eyes and thicker on the body, this gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation on either area.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It contains fragrance (parfum) and drying alcohol (isopropyl 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, 2026Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Balneotherapy 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, 2025Silybum marianum flower extract increased human hair follicle dermal papilla cell proliferation and VEGF production while suppressing cellular senescence, and in a clinical study using hair shampoo, it significantly increased hair density and total hair count at 16 and 24 weeks compared with a placebo group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 0.5% silymarin-loaded antioxidant serum applied twice daily significantly reduced clinical acne severity, lesion counts, and melanin pigmentation in 22 Korean acne patients over 4 weeks without associated adverse events.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Topical silymarin cream 1.4% showed comparable results to salicylic acid 30% peels in reducing acne severity in 30 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery, 2024
Ingredients
Avene Thermal Spring Water Avene Aqua Avene Aqua, Water, Zinc Coceth Sulphate, Lauryl Betaine, Decyl Glucoside, Ceteareth-60 Myristyl Glycol, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Parfum, Green 5 Ci 61570, Isopropyl Alcohol, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Peg-6, Ppg-26-Buteth-26, Silybum Marianum Fruit Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Zinc Gluconate
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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