La Mer The Cleansing Foam for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Algae Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil
CaffeineAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it 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 cleansing for your oily skin due to myristic acid and lauric acid, which help lift impurities without exacerbating oiliness, though it lacks strong seboregulating ingredients for optimal oil control.
- The presence of humectants like glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provides essential hydration, supporting your skin's moisture balance.
- The product is safe for your skin, with algae extract and sea salt offering soothing benefits and no risk of irritation.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsUsers with oily and combination skin appreciate this cleanser's rich lather and effective cleansing, leaving skin feeling refreshed. However, some users with dry or sensitive skin find it to be stripping, and a few long-time users have noted changes in recent reformulations.
Highlights
Luxurious texture Mostly Mentioned
- “soft creamy lather”
- “texture is exquisite”
- “foams up so much”
Very expensive Mostly Mentioned
- “ridiculous price point”
- “not worth the money”
- “too pricey for a cleanser”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes mascara easily”
- “face feels squeaky clean”
- “takes off all impurities”
Lasts long Often Mentioned
- “pea size for whole face”
- “little goes a long way”
- “tube lasts a year”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells heavenly”
- “clean calming scent”
- “classic La Mer smell”
Soft post-wash feel Sometimes Noted
- “skin feels silky”
- “leaves face soft”
- “refreshed and bright”
Drying for skin Sometimes Noted
- “stripped all oils”
- “face felt parched”
- “too drying for sensitive skin”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings my eyes”
- “irritating to eye area”
- “burns if it gets in eyes”
Reformulation issues Rarely Noted
- “formula seems watery”
- “quality has lowered”
- “not as good as the old version”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like cheap soap”
- “overpowering perfume”
- “smells like grandma”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, macys.com, nordstrom.com, sephora.com, cremedelamer.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Mer The Cleansing Foam work for oily acne-prone skin?
La Mer The Cleansing Foam works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, lifting impurities with gentle cleansers while glycerin and sodium hyaluronate maintain moisture balance. It is safe and soothing for your skin, but a cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients to control oil and clear blemishes for optimal results.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate help keep your skin hydrated and balanced, while algae extract and sea salt soothe it. A cleanser for this skin type needs strong oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-fighting components to properly manage breakouts and excess shine.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Algae Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Algae extract helps keep oily, acne-prone skin balanced by providing lightweight moisture and powerful antioxidants that calm irritation. Because this skin type needs ingredients that soothe redness and protect against breakouts without clogging pores, a product of this type needs non-greasy hydrators and calming plant extracts.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or as the second cleansing step in the evening if you use a makeup remover first. A cleanser of this type for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help balance oil and clear impurities without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it cleans without causing irritation. However, oily and acne-prone skin typically benefits more from cleansers that include targeted ingredients for oil control.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. A cleanser of this type needs added oil-controlling and pore-clearing ingredients to properly manage oily acne-prone skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it safely lifts impurities without irritating your skin. However, because it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients, oily skin types often need a cleanser with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing agents.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should be careful around the thin skin of your eyes. While it helps lift impurities and keeps moisture balanced with glycerin, oily acne-prone skin needs cleansers with strong oil-controlling ingredients.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, and limonene).
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, 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, 2012Treatment 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, 2022Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical application of sesame oil combined with standard care significantly reduced infusion-related phlebitis in adults compared to a control condition, with a risk ratio of 0.54.
Complementary Therapies in Medicine, 2025Sesamol loaded silver nanoparticles gel showed a twofold increase in skin permeation and higher antioxidant activity compared to conventional formulations, demonstrating potential for topical wound healing delivery.
Current Pharmaceutical Design, 2024Treatment with moderately ozonated sesame oil accelerates cutaneous wound closure and enhances cell response, angiogenesis, and VEGF and cyclin D1 expression in SKH1 mice compared to oil with lower or higher peroxide values and controls.
Wound Repair and Regeneration, 2011A topical cosmetic slimming product containing tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, caffeine, carnitine, forskolin and retinol significantly reduced body circumferences and improved skin aspect compared with placebo in 78 women over 12 weeks.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2011Topical sunscreen formulations containing caffeine combined with UV filters increased in vivo anti-UVB protection by approximately 25% and showed higher SPF values compared to caffeine-free sunscreen, while being well tolerated by the skin of healthy subjects.
Frontiers in Physiology, 2019Caffeine gel combined with choline geranate showed high skin permeation capacity and superior clinical results in cellulite treatment compared to caffeine gel without ionic liquid.
AAPS PharmSciTech, 2021
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A 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, 2019Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Declustered Water, Myristic Acid, Glycerin, Behenic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Potassium Hydroxide, Lauric Acid, Stearic Acid, Algae Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Oil, Medicago Sativa Seed Powder, Helianthus Annuus Seedcake Sunflower Seedcake, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Seed Meal Seed, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf Eucalyptus Oil Leaf, Sodium Gluconate, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Gluconate, Magnesium Gluconate, Zinc Gluconate, Tocopheryl Succinate, Niacin, Quartz Powder, Nephrite Powder, Pearl Powder, Caffeine, Sea Salt, Humic Acids, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sucrose, Tourmaline, Macrocystis Pyrifera Protein Kelp Protein, Polyquaternium-51, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Water, Trehalose, Cellulose, Butylene Glycol, Sodium Coco Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Pca, Peg-3 Distearate, Urea, Parfum, Disodium Edta, Linalool, Limonene, Phenoxyethanol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Yellow 5 Ci 19140, Ci 15985, Blue 1 Ci 42090, Green 5 Ci 61570
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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