innisfree Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Foam for oily acne-prone skin
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Volcanic Ash- Salicylic Acid
Zinc Pca
Glycerin
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 and pore decongestion for your oily skin due to the presence of lactic acid and glycolic acid, complemented by zinc PCA for sebum regulation.
- Glycerin and kaolin provide general cleansing and hydration benefits, though specialized ingredients for targeting active acne or blemishes are not prominent.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh or prohibited ingredients.
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
★4.4Overall rating based on 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this foaming cleanser is highly recommended for oily and acne-prone skin types, effectively cleansing pores and managing excess oil for a refreshed feel. However, users with dry or sensitive skin frequently find it too stripping and drying, sometimes causing tightness or irritation.
Highlights
Deep pore cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “cleans the skin thoroughly”
- “removes dirt and visible impurities”
- “pores look smaller and nose is smooth”
Excellent oil control Often Mentioned
- “no oil for hours”
- “soaks up any sebum in first use”
- “best for oily skin”
Rich lather Often Mentioned
- “little goes a long way”
- “foams generously”
- “creamy, rich lather”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaving my skin definitely very tight”
- “removes little to no moisture you have”
- “too drying for dry skin”
Acne & blackhead reduction Sometimes Noted
- “decrease of pimples”
- “struggling with blackheads”
- “keeps acne-prone skin clear”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “worth the money”
- “cost-effective”
- “lasts for 5-6 months easily”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings my eyes so much”
- “smallest amount will make your eyes burn”
- “manage to sting my eyes”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “fragrance is insanely strong”
- “smells like bar soap”
- “too scented for me”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “got tiny bumps”
- “skin definitely a little bit irritated”
- “not for sensitive skin”
Texture/residue issues Rarely Noted
- “made my face feel so rubbery”
- “leaving kind of like a white film”
- “slippery residue”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nykaa.com, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does innisfree Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Foam work for oily acne-prone skin?
Innisfree Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Foam works well for oily acne-prone skin by offering moderate pore decongestion and sebum regulation. It is safe for your skin type, though a cleanser for this skin needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to better address active acne and calm the skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works for your oily skin thanks to lactic acid and glycolic acid for gentle pore clearing, plus zinc PCA to help control excess oil. It also features glycerin for hydration and kaolin for cleansing, though cleansers that fit this skin type best also include specialized soothing and balancing ingredients like niacinamide, probiotics, or ceramides.
What does Bha do for oily acne-prone skin?
BHA helps clear up breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing excess oil and calming redness. It works deep inside pores to clear away dirt and oil while keeping skin smooth and comfortable.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Volcanic Ash do for oily acne-prone skin?
Volcanic Ash helps soak up extra oil and clear out pores, which is great for keeping oily and acne-prone skin calm and clear. It may also help gently remove dead skin cells, though a product for this skin type also needs soothing ingredients to prevent redness and dryness.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine as your main cleansing step, and it is safe for your oily skin without harsh irritation. Oily acne-prone skin typically benefits from cleansers that also provide targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil control to better manage breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine alongside retinol, applying it first to cleanse your skin before using your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but to achieve a better fit for acne-prone skin, it should ideally include specialized ingredients to directly target active pimples and blemishes.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines as a gentle way to wash and hydrate your skin. Oily acne-prone skin often benefits even more from a cleanser that includes targeted ingredients for active breakouts and stronger blemish control.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your oily skin, as it contains salicylic acid and zinc PCA to help clear out pores and manage oil. However, because it can feel drying and stripping for some users, a cleanser for this skin also needs soothing ingredients and gentle hydration to keep your skin calm and balanced.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe for your body, but it is unlikely to suit the very thin skin around the eyes.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 2024Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012The 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
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Kaolin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-22, Silica, Hot Spring Water, Zinc Pca, Disodium Edta, Propanediol, Lactic Acid Glycolic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Polyquaternium-10, Ethylhexylglycerin
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.