The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Glycolipids
Behenyl Alcohol
Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate
Pentylene Glycol
Glyceryl Stearate
High
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 exfoliation for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts due to the presence of glycolipids and phytic acid, which support skin renewal. It is moderately suitable for your oily skin as glycolipids offer mild emollient action, though stronger seboregulating ingredients would provide optimal oil control.
- The formula provides excellent cleansing by effectively lifting impurities from your skin.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing Glycolipids.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 1.6k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with dry and sensitive skin frequently praise this cleanser for its non-stripping and hydrating formula that leaves the face soft and comfortable. Many users also find it gentle and suitable for sensitive skin types. However, a significant number of reviews indicate that it struggles to remove heavy makeup, especially waterproof products, often requiring a double cleanse. Some users also note a moderate frequency of an unpleasant natural scent and a low frequency of residue or breakouts.
Highlights
Non-drying, hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin feels soft”
- “doesn't feel stripping”
- “leaves skin hydrated”
- “no tight feeling”
Gentle, sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “respects skin barrier”
- “very gentle formula”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “struggles with mascara”
- “doesn't remove foundation”
- “need to scrub hard”
- “requires double cleanse”
Creamy texture Sometimes Noted
- “nice gel-cream consistency”
- “glides over skin”
- “milky texture”
- “feels luxurious”
Good morning cleanser Sometimes Noted
- “perfect for morning”
- “removes SPF well”
- “good second cleanse”
- “refreshes skin”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “weird nutty smell”
- “smells like plastic”
- “funky natural odor”
- “bad scent”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “broke me out”
- “clogged pores”
- “tiny whiteheads appeared”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “hard to rinse off”
- “leaves a film”
- “greasy residue”
- “doesn't feel clean”
Sources: lovi.care, theordinary.com, influenster.com, ulta.com, sephora.co.uk, skinsort.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin because it effectively lifts impurities while offering moderate renewal support through glycolipids and phytic acid. It also has an excellent safety profile with no risk of irritation, helping to calm your skin while keeping it soft and clean.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Journal of Oleo Science, 2012
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolipids and phytic acid make this cleanser a great fit by providing moderate exfoliation that supports skin renewal for breakouts, while glycolipids also offer soothing action that helps keep irritation away. It lifts impurities effectively, and its safe formula is unlikely to trouble your oily skin.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023
What do Glycolipids do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycolipids help calm the skin and support its barrier while keeping it hydrated. For oily, acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs lightweight moisture and ingredients that soothe irritation without clogging pores.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023Journal of Oleo Science, 2012
What does Behenyl Alcohol do for oily acne-prone skin?
Behenyl alcohol helps soften and smooth oily acne-prone skin while acting as a gentle thickener in lotions and creams. Because it is non-greasy, it is unlikely to clog pores or make oily skin feel heavy.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser fits right at the start of your morning and evening routine to lift away impurities. It is very safe for oily, acne-prone skin and helps renew the surface without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser alongside retinol as part of your routine. It effectively lifts impurities while offering gentle renewal, and its safe formula is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with treatment products.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It lifts impurities effectively while offering a very safe, soothing wash that is unlikely to cause irritation on oily acne-prone skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit and is unlikely to cause irritation or breakouts on your oily, acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients and includes soothing glycolipids. While a few reviewers mention breakouts, the formula effectively lifts impurities with a very safe profile.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as its gentle formula carries no risks of irritation for those areas. The very thin skin around the eyes and the varied skin across the body tolerate this mild cleanser well.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Behenyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019An Acmella oleracea extract-loaded glycolipid emulsion serum applied topically demonstrated safety with no ocular irritation or systemic dermal absorption, alongside significant improvements in facial skin hydration, smoothness, and reductions in roughness, scaliness, and wrinkles.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Mannosylerythritol lipids recovered the viability of SDS-damaged human skin cells by over 80% and increased stratum corneum water content while suppressing perspiration in human skin compared with a control.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012MEL-C showed antioxidant activity and a higher protective activity against H2O2-induced oxidative stress than arbutin in cultured human skin fibroblasts, along with the repression of cyclooxygenase-2 expression.
Journal of Oleo Science, 2012Acidic sophorolipids and mono-rhamnolipids showed negligible effects on cell viability, morphology, and pro-inflammatory cytokine production compared with SLES, while di-rhamnolipids attenuated IL-8 and increased IL-1RA production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human keratinocytes.
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023Topical docosanol 10% cream applied 5 times daily reduced the median time to healing by 18 hours compared to placebo in adults with recurrent herpes simplex labialis.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2001A 10% docosanol cream initiated within 12 hours of symptom onset reduced time-to-healing compared with a polyethylene glycol control in patients with recurrent herpes labialis.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2004Ten percent docosanol cream is a safe and effective topical treatment for recurrent herpes labialis in immunocompetent adults, offering efficacy comparable to prescription topical antivirals and a low risk of resistance due to its unique mechanism.
Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy, 2010Exposure of epidermal full-thickness skin equivalents to a blend of betaine, pentylene glycol, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Rhodiola rosea root extract significantly increased antioxidant, skin barrier, and oxidative stress biomarkers while reducing the negative impact of hydrogen peroxide on MMP3, MMP12, FBN2, ANXA1, and HGF, whereas a blend of Narcissus tazetta bulb extract and Schisandra chinensis fruit extract significantly increased 8 growth factors, 7 signaling, 7 structural/barrier function, 7 oxidative stress biomarkers, and specific microRNAs over control levels.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2018
Ingredients
Water, Behenyl Alcohol, Polyglyceryl-2 Stearate, Glycolipids, Pentylene Glycol, Polyglyceryl-6 Dicaprate, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearyl Alcohol, Diutan Gum, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Phytate, Phytic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Chlorphenesin
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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