OSEA Ocean Cleanser for oily skin
Algae Extract
Decyl Glucoside
Jojoba Seed Oil
Citrus Aurantifolia Oil
Tocopherol Vitamin E
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
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 moderate suitability for your oily skin as algae extract and citrus aurantifolia oil provide humectant and mild astringent actions, respectively, while lactic acid offers mild chemical exfoliation.
- Decyl glucoside and sodium lauroyl oat amino acids ensure excellent pore cleansing, though stronger seboregulating ingredients would optimize results for oily shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Vitamin E.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users describe this cleanser as a luxurious spa experience, effectively cleansing normal to dry and combination skin without stripping moisture. It leaves skin feeling plump and velvety. Some users with oily skin or who wear heavy makeup find it too gentle for a complete cleanse, suggesting a double cleanse may be necessary. The product is also noted for its high price point.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves my skin feeling baby bottom smooth... and best of all not stripped!”
- “No tight, dry, or 'stripped' feeling that many cleansers cause.”
- “My skin just feels nice and nourished and still hydrated after I rinse it off.”
- “Leaves skin feeling clean, soft, and refreshed without stripping natural oils.”
Invigorating spa scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like a spa... really nice and relaxing scent.”
- “Obsessed with the lime/bergamot scent this cleanser has.”
- “Invigorating citrusy scent... zesty twist of lime.”
- “Smells terrific... a joy to start and end the day with.”
Gentle and soothing Sometimes Noted
- “Great for dry/sensitive skin! Clean skin and not stripped.”
- “Soothing... reduces redness and leaves skin glowing.”
- “Gentle enough to use every day... didn't burn my sensitive eyes.”
- “Feels like dipping into sea foam; cool, refreshing, light.”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “The texture is silky and smooth... feels so premium.”
- “Glides on skin and leaves your skin feeling extra soft.”
- “Velvety smooth in your hands when you're rubbing it.”
- “Creamy texture... feels like a luxury face treatment.”
Expensive price point Sometimes Noted
- “It's not inexpensive... pretty expensive for a face wash.”
- “Pricey for something that washes down the drain.”
- “I love it but wish it was more affordable.”
Caused irritation Rarely Noted
- “Turned my skin red and it burned.”
- “Caused a reaction on my very sensitive patches.”
- “Stung my face slightly upon application.”
Scent sensitivity issues Rarely Noted
- “Overly fragranced and burns horribly if I exfoliate beforehand.”
- “Smell is too strong for my sensitive nose.”
- “One bottle smelled off... like cheese (potential bad batch).”
- “Prefer fragrance-free options for my reactive skin.”
Too gentle for makeup Rarely Noted
- “Doesn't remove heavy makeup... need to double cleanse.”
- “A bit too gentle for my taste... doesn't provide enough of a deep clean.”
- “Doesn't foam at all... I don't feel it takes off all my sunscreen.”
- “Struggles with stubborn mascara compared to oil cleansers.”
Sources: lovi.care, oseamalibu.com, ulta.com, bluemercury.com, credobeauty.com, amazon.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does OSEA Ocean Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, cleaning pores effectively while keeping your skin calm and comfortable. However, a cleanser for this skin needs stronger oil-balancing ingredients to fully control shiny areas.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Algae extract, decyl glucoside, citrus aurantifolia oil, and lactic acid make this cleanser work for oily skin by helping to clear pores, hydrate, and gently exfoliate. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it leaves out harsh ingredients and includes soothing vitamin E. To reach a better fit for oily skin, this type of product needs stronger ingredients that help control excess oil shine.
What does Algae Extract do for oily skin?
Algae extract helps balance oily skin by providing lightweight hydration and powerful antioxidants that calm the skin. This ingredient may also help reduce excess shine and protect against daily environmental stress without feeling heavy.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Marine Drugs, 2020
What does Decyl Glucoside do for oily skin?
Decyl Glucoside helps gently cleanse oily skin while respecting its barrier. This mild surfactant helps wash away buildup without stripping the skin of essential moisture.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2009Dermatologic Therapy, 2004
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening skincare routines. It is unlikely to irritate your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing agents like Vitamin E. Oily skin works best with products of this type that include stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
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 it off completely, and then following with your retinol treatment once your face is dry. The gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with retinoids, though oily skin often needs stronger ingredients to control excess shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Oily skin works best with products that include stronger oil-controlling ingredients.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it uses gentle cleansers that thoroughly wash out pores without harsh ingredients. However, to better manage oily shine, a product of this type needs stronger ingredients that help control excess oil.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is unlikely to irritate the thin skin around the eyes or on the body because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing vitamin E. However, because skin is very thin around the eyes and varies in thickness across the body, cleansers used there should be gentle and well-tolerated.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of 1% Fucus vesiculosus extract gel twice daily for five weeks significantly decreased skin thickness and improved elasticity in human cheek skin compared with controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2002Treatment with lipid algae extract reduced the level of oxidized proteins in human keratinocytes and stratum corneum skin cells.
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2004Topical astaxanthin-loaded algae extract hydrogel and lipogel formulations exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and successful in vitro release, suggesting their potential as anti-aging formulations.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Antarctic marine algae extracts increased cell viability, protected against inflammation, and enhanced the barrier integrity of human intestinal and keratinocyte cell lines damaged by lipopolysaccharide or ultraviolet radiation.
Marine Drugs, 2022Clay 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, 2012Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.
Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.
Biomolecules, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Algae Extract, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Sorbitan Olivate, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Tocopherol Vitamin E, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Juniperus Communis Oil Fruit, Cupressus Sempervirens Seed Oil, Jasmine Oil, Lactic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Glycine, Potassium Sorbate, Chlorophyll
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.