Galderma Epiduo Gel for oily skin
Adapalene
Benzoyl Peroxide
Docusate Sodium
Glycerin
Simulgel 600 Pha
High
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
One of the best serums for oily skin.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 treatment for your oily and acne-prone skin as adapalene and benzoyl peroxide work to reduce acne lesions and blemishes by providing moderate exfoliation and antibacterial action.
- Glycerin and propylene glycol ensure adequate hydration, supporting the keratolytic action of adapalene and the antimicrobial effects of benzoyl peroxide.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use this serum in your PM routine. Start by applying it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply the serum after cleansing and toning, but right before your moisturizer for the best results.
- Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin. Let it absorb ⏱ for a minute before applying the next product.
- Apply the serum on clean and dry skin since your skin is not sensitive and you want to target oily shine. This helps control excess oil throughout the night.
- Avoid the delicate eye area and do a patch test before using the serum for the very first time.
People Say
★3.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsUsers find this gel effective for stubborn acne, including cystic and hormonal types, with many experiencing significant skin clearing after an initial adjustment. However, the treatment is frequently associated with harsh side effects such as intense burning, dryness, and an initial worsening of acne, necessitating patience and a diligent moisturizing routine.
Highlights
Intense burning Mostly Mentioned
- “face on fire”
- “burns like crazy”
- “stings upon application”
Severe dryness Mostly Mentioned
- “skin flaking off”
- “lizard skin”
- “extremely dry patches”
Clears cystic acne Often Mentioned
- “cystic acne gone”
- “cleared hormonal breakouts”
- “stopped deep cysts”
Prevents breakouts Often Mentioned
- “stops new pimples”
- “keeps face clear”
- “preventative maintenance”
Initial acne purge Often Mentioned
- “got worse first”
- “broke out badly”
- “horrible purge phase”
Redness and irritation Often Mentioned
- “red as tomato”
- “face looks sunburned”
- “raw and irritated”
Fades scars Sometimes Noted
- “scars are fading”
- “hyperpigmentation reduced”
- “marks less visible”
Smooths skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels smooth”
- “bumps are gone”
- “texture is amazing”
Bleaches fabrics Sometimes Noted
- “bleached my towels”
- “ruined my pillowcases”
- “stained my clothes”
Sources: lovi.care, drugs.com, webmd.com, doctorfox.co.uk, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Epiduo Gel a great fit for oily skin?
Galderma Epiduo Gel is a great fit for oily skin because adapalene and benzoyl peroxide work together to reduce blemishes through gentle peeling and antibacterial action. Glycerin and propylene glycol keep the skin hydrated while these active ingredients clear up acne safely without causing harsh irritation.
Which ingredients make this gel a good fit for oily skin?
Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide make this gel a great fit for oily skin because they help reduce blemishes and clear acne by providing gentle exfoliation and fighting bacteria. Glycerin and propylene glycol also help by keeping your skin hydrated while these active ingredients work.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021
What does Adapalene do for oily skin?
Adapalene helps keep pores clear and calm for oily skin by targeting microcomedones and reducing inflammation. It serves as a core treatment for acne, though a product of this type for oily skin also needs ingredients that support barrier restoration to reduce potential dryness.
What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for oily skin?
Benzoyl peroxide helps clear up acne on oily skin by targeting multiple causes of breakouts, though it may occasionally cause irritation. When used in treatments, it significantly reduces both inflamed and uninflamed pimples.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
Where does this gel go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This treatment goes in the evening routine after cleansing and before moisturizing. Putting it at night keeps it simple and lowers the risk of irritation around sun exposure.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
It is best to avoid using this treatment at the same time as retinol, as combining multiple strong exfoliants is likely to cause irritation on oily skin. Instead, alternate nights or use retinol on mornings when you do not apply this gel.
How often should I use this gel?
Apply this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. It is a great fit for your oily skin because it helps clear blemishes and reduce acne without causing irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Yes, it may cause an initial acne purge for your oily skin as the adapalene and benzoyl peroxide work to clear out blemishes and boost cell turnover. Reviewers frequently report severe dryness, redness, and irritation, so it helps to start slowly to see how your skin adjusts.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023
Is this gel fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023Daily application of adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel reduced and prevented atrophic acne scar formation, achieving a total scar count change of -15.5% versus +14.4% for vehicle over 24 weeks in 67 subjects with moderate or severe facial acne.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2018Preoperative treatment with benzoyl peroxide significantly decreases the bacterial skin load of Cutibacterium acnes in patients undergoing elective shoulder surgery from skin incision until wound closure compared to preparation with soap.
Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, 2021Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022Treatment with adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel for 48 weeks reduced atrophic acne scar counts by 26.9% in subjects with moderate or severe facial acne, while delayed treatment starting at week 24 resulted in a smaller final reduction.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2019Adapalene 0.3 %/benzoyl peroxide 2.5 % gel applied once daily for 12 weeks achieved a superior success rate of 33.7% compared to 11.0% for vehicle in subjects with moderate and severe inflammatory acne.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2016Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.
The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020Clindamycin-BPO 2.5% aqueous gel applied once daily provided statistically significant greater efficacy than individual active ingredients and vehicle in reducing inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions and acne severity in 2813 patients with moderate to severe acne vulgaris.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2008A 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, 2001
Ingredients
Adapalene, Benzoyl Peroxide, Docusate Sodium, Disodium Edetate, Glycerin, Poloxamer, Propylene Glycol, Water
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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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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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