CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser for combination skin
High
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 excellent cleansing for your combination skin, as salicylic acid and gluconolactone effectively exfoliate and decongest the pores to manage oily shine.
- Niacinamide and ceramides further support your skin by regulating sebum production and reinforcing the skin barrier, ensuring a balanced complexion.
- The formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components that minimize irritation risk.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- 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 3.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin report significant improvements in texture and clarity, often noting a reduction in blackheads and whiteheads within a few weeks. While effective for mild to moderate acne, some users experienced an initial "purging" phase or found it slightly drying if not paired with a good moisturizer.
Highlights
Effective acne clearance Often Mentioned
- “Clears blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples; prevents new breakouts.”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong scent; non-irritating for sensitive noses.”
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Smooths rough texture without physical scrubbing; leaves skin soft.”
Non-stripping formula Sometimes Noted
- “Feels cleaning but not overly tight; suitable for sensitive skin.”
Oil control Sometimes Noted
- “Reduces excess shine and grease; leaves a matte finish.”
Drying potential Sometimes Noted
- “Can cause dryness or flaking, especially on non-oily areas.”
Ineffective for cystic acne Rarely Noted
- “May not resolve deep, hormonal, or cystic acne alone.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenses too much product or breaks easily.”
- “Product sometimes arrives leaking or unsealed during shipping.”
Purging phase Rarely Noted
- “Causes initial breakouts before skin clears up.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cerave.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid and gluconolactone clear out pores to manage oily shine. Niacinamide and ceramides also help balance oil and keep your skin barrier strong.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Salicylic acid and gluconolactone make this cleanser a great fit by exfoliating and clearing pores to manage oily shine, while ceramides and niacinamide help balance and support your skin barrier.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Skin Research and Technology, 2023
What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?
Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What do Ceramides do for combination skin?
Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier to keep dry areas hydrated without feeling heavy on oily zones. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol to maintain a smooth and calm feel across both dry and oily areas.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003Scientific Reports, 2022
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step in both your morning and evening skincare routines. Using a mild cleanser helps manage oily shine while keeping your skin balanced and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first, followed by your retinol treatment in your evening routine. This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your skin when paired with treatments, because it contains soothing components and ceramides that help protect the skin barrier.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. It gently clears away oily shine while keeping your skin balanced and calm.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores and has a low likelihood of causing a purging phase on combination skin. Its salicylic acid and gluconolactone help clear out pores and manage oily shine safely while minimizing the risk of irritation.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Skin Research and Technology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around your eyes. Salicylic acid and gluconolactone clear pores well, but delicate areas need gentleness to stay calm.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023A 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, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2024Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Twice-weekly use of a clay mask over 4 weeks in 75 adults with oily or combination skin improved acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, hydration, and reduced dryness and irritation.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Laponite/mafenide hydrogels and films successfully released active mafenide with antibacterial effects against three tested bacterial species while reducing mafenide cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2014The 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, 2020Ten 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Niacinamide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Calcium Gluconate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Coconut Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hectorite, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates Copolymer, Benzoic Acid
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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