Cetaphil PRO DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash for dry skin
Glycerin
Zinc Coceth Sulfate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Zinc Gluconate
Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate
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
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 8.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin widely praise this cleanser for its ability to effectively remove excess sebum and control shine without stripping the moisture barrier, often describing it as a "holy grail" for sensitive, combination skin. While the majority report a gentle, non-irritating experience that leaves skin feeling matte and balanced, a notable minority experiences sensitivity to the fragrance or a burning sensation upon application.
Highlights
Effective oil control Often Mentioned
- “keeps my face matte for hours”
- “significantly reduced my midday shine”
- “removes grease without leaving residue”
- “best oil control wash I've tried”
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “cleans deep but doesn't leave skin tight”
- “gentle enough for my sensitive skin”
- “doesn't make my face feel dry or squeaky”
- “leaves skin feeling soft and balanced”
Helps clear acne Sometimes Noted
- “noticed fewer breakouts after two weeks”
- “keeps my hormonal acne at bay”
- “helped clear up my forehead bumps”
- “great maintenance wash for acne-prone skin”
Pleasant foam texture Sometimes Noted
- “love the light, airy foam”
- “one pump covers the whole face”
- “lathers well and rinses easily”
- “foam feels luxurious and soft”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is overpowering and lingers”
- “smells too like cheap perfume”
- “fragrance irritated my sensitive nose”
- “wish they made an unscented version”
Burning sensation Rarely Noted
- “burned my face immediately upon applying”
- “stung my eyes and cheeks bad”
- “caused redness and heat sensation”
- “felt like a chemical burn”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “left dry patches around my mouth”
- “too drying for winter use”
- “made my skin feel tight and flaky”
- “stripped my skin too much”
Pump issues Rarely Noted
- “pump gets stuck often”
- “dispenser broke halfway through bottle”
- “hard to get the last bit out”
Sources: lovi.care, iherb.com, ulta.com, walmart.com, influenster.com, well.ca, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with Cetaphil PRO DermaControl Oil Removing Foam Wash for dry skin?
This cleanser may be too drying for dry skin because it uses zinc coceth sulfate and lacks hydrating and skin-softening ingredients. A cleanser for dry skin needs ceramides, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, or similar moisturizing ingredients to keep the skin barrier strong and protected.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
Zinc coceth sulfate makes this cleanser a poor fit because it can strip moisture and be drying for dry skin. A cleanser for this skin needs hydrating and soothing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or niacinamide to support the moisture barrier and keep skin soft.
What does Glycerin do for dry skin?
Glycerin helps dry skin by drawing in moisture and keeping it locked in, which makes the skin feel much softer and smoother. It also supports your natural skin barrier to stop water from escaping easily. A product for dry skin needs extra ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing plant extracts to truly calm and hydrate dry patches.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
What does Zinc Coceth Sulfate do for dry skin?
Zinc Coceth Sulfate is a cleansing ingredient that washes away impurities while potentially stripping natural oils, which can make dry skin feel tighter and more irritated. Cleansers used on dry skin need to feature gentle surfactants that limit protein and lipid loss, paired with added moisturizing agents to keep the skin barrier protected.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2004International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2013
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser is a poor match for dry skin because its strong cleansing ingredients can leave the skin feeling too dry. A cleanser for this skin type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and moisturizing oils to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Using this cleanser with retinol may be too harsh and drying for dry skin because it lacks soothing and hydrating ingredients. To care for dry skin, a cleanser of this type needs gentle, moisturizing ingredients that protect the skin barrier.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You should use caution with this cleanser on dry skin because its strong cleansing ingredients can easily leave your skin feeling dry and tight. A cleanser for this skin type needs gentle, moisturizing ingredients like glycerin and rich emollients to keep your skin 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 on dry skin, though its strong cleansing ingredients may leave dry skin feeling even drier. A cleanser for dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like extra glycerin and rich softening oils to keep the skin comfortable and smooth.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be too drying for the thin skin around the eyes and body because its ingredients remove oil without adding enough moisture. A cleanser for dry skin needs gentle cleansing agents combined with rich, skin-softening ingredients and moisture-attracting helpers to keep the skin comfortable.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017The 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, 2001Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced 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, 2013
Ingredients
Water, Zinc Coceth Sulfate, Glycerin, Peg-75, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Zinc Gluconate, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Peg-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Sodium Benzoate, Masking, Disodium Edta
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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