La Mer The Essence Foaming Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Algae Extract
Sodium Hyaluronate
Niacin
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 suitability for your oily skin as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration, while myristic acid and lauric acid effectively cleanse impurities and excess oil. The formula supports your goals for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, and oiliness or shiny skin.
- The presence of algae extract and aloe barbadensis leaf water contributes to a soothing experience, ensuring gentle cleansing without irritation.
- 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 components.
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
★4.5Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsUsers generally praise this cleanser for its luxurious, rich lather that leaves oily and combination skin feeling refreshed without residue. Those with dry or sensitive skin frequently report that the formula is too stripping and the strong fragrance can cause irritation.
Highlights
High efficiency Mostly Mentioned
- “pea-sized amount needed”
- “lasts months”
- “little goes a long way”
Deep cleansing Often Mentioned
- “squeaky clean feel”
- “removes makeup”
- “removes excess oil”
Luxurious lather Often Mentioned
- “rich foam”
- “creamy texture”
- “pillow-soft”
High price point Often Mentioned
- “expensive”
- “not worth cost”
- “luxury markup”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “spa-like smell”
- “divine fragrance”
- “fresh scent”
Post-wash feel Sometimes Noted
- “soft skin”
- “refreshed”
- “smooth texture”
Drying or stripping Sometimes Noted
- “leaves skin tight”
- “strips natural oils”
- “dry patches”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “overpowering scent”
- “musky/masculine smell”
- “irritates sensitive skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “leaky cap”
- “defective lid”
- “cheap packaging”
Reformulation concerns Rarely Noted
- “watery consistency”
- “quality decline”
- “less effective than original”
Sources: lovi.care, macys.com, bloomingdales.com, sephora.com, spacenk.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Mer The Essence Foaming Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
La Mer The Essence Foaming Cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as glycerin and sodium hyaluronate provide hydration while cleansing away excess oil. It helps cleanse impurities and supports acne goals without causing irritation, though cleansers of this type need ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to fit this skin best.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2019Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and sodium hyaluronate hydrate your skin, while myristic acid and lauric acid help wash away excess oil and impurities. Algae extract and aloe leaf water provide a soothing experience, and this cleanser needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to fit oily acne-prone skin even better.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2019Dermatologic Therapy, 2020
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 fits into your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step to remove excess oil and impurities. To truly clear and balance oily acne-prone skin, a routine of this type needs targeted blemish-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide and oil-controlling hydrators.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it first before applying your retinol treatment. A cleanser for oily acne-prone skin needs to clear away excess oil and impurities gently while keeping your skin calm and balanced.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This cleanser works well for oily skin, but this skin type often does better with products that include oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to help manage excess shine and breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for oily acne-prone skin, as it cleanses excess oil and impurities gently without harsh ingredients. Oily acne-prone skin still needs a cleanser that balances oil without stripping moisture, using ingredients like glycerin and soothing botanical extracts.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2019Dermatologic Therapy, 2020
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use on your body, but you should avoid the thin skin around your eyes to prevent irritation. Cleansers for oily acne-prone skin need gentle cleansing agents and soothing ingredients to clean effectively without drying.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, linalool, and limonene).
What the research says
Co-application of curcumin and lauric acid liposomal gel exhibited enhanced antibacterial effect and a two-fold reduction in comedones count and cytokines in a rat ear model compared to the placebo-treated group.
Drug Development and Industrial Pharmacy, 2019All three treatments—benzoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide plus erythromycin, and the combination of niacinamide, gallic acid, and lauric acid—were effective in reducing acne vulgaris severity in ninety patients over eight weeks.
Dermatologic Therapy, 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, 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 post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005A 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
Ingredients
Declustered Water, Water, Eau De-Structuree, 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, Sesamum Indicum Seed Powder, Quartz Powder, Nephrite Powder, Pearl Powder, Caffeine, Sea Salt, Sel Marin, 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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