Mustela Baby Cleansing Water for oily acne-prone skin

Avocado Perseose
Glycerin
Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Patented Soothing
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
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 caprylyl capryl glucoside and saponaria officinalis root extract, but lacks targeted ingredients for acne, blemishes, and breakouts, potentially worsening these conditions.
- While glycerin provides general hydration, the formula doesn't offer sufficient oil control for your oily skin type.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 500+ reviewsThis no-rinse cleansing water is widely celebrated for its ability to clear up baby acne and soothe sensitive skin without causing irritation. Parents frequently use it for quick cleanups between baths, noting that it leaves skin soft and hydrated, though opinions on its signature scent are divided.
Highlights
Convenient no-rinse Mostly Mentioned
- “perfect for in-between baths”
- “great for quick diaper changes”
- “easy face wipe after feeding”
- “lifesaver for on-the-go cleaning”
Clears baby acne Often Mentioned
- “cleared up newborn's acne in 2-3 days”
- “healed red bumps in a week”
- “skin looked better overnight”
- “magic for baby acne”
Gentle on sensitive Often Mentioned
- “soothing on rashy skin”
- “gentle enough for newborns”
- “never causes redness”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells amazing and clean”
- “classic baby smell”
- “love the signature scent”
- “leaves baby smelling fresh”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for water”
- “price is pretty steep”
- “pricier than standard wipes”
- “costly for daily use”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smell is too flowery”
- “perfume is overwhelming”
- “wish it was fragrance-free”
- “scent lingers too long”
Pump dispenser issues Rarely Noted
- “squirts out too much”
- “pump is hard to control”
- “wastes product when pumping”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “left skin feeling tacky”
- “slightly sticky after drying”
- “residue on the neck”
Sources: lovi.care, mustelausa.com, walmart.com, target.com, influenster.com, iherb.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Mustela Baby Cleansing Water work for oily acne-prone skin?
Mustela Baby Cleansing Water is an average fit for oily acne-prone skin because it cleanses moderately and hydrates with glycerin, but it lacks targeted ingredients for breakouts and does not control oil well. Cleansers that fit this skin better need soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, and salicylic acid to balance oil production and manage acne without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser gives moderate cleansing for your oily skin through caprylyl capryl glucoside and saponaria officinalis root extract, while glycerin provides general hydration. However, it lacks ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to control oil and help with acne. Cleansers that fit this skin better need ingredients that balance oil production, soothe the skin, and keep it clear without causing irritation.
What does Avocado Perseose do for oily acne-prone skin?
Avocado Perseose helps calm oily acne-prone skin and supports the natural skin barrier. For this skin type, a product of this type needs lightweight ingredients that soothe irritation without clogging pores or feeling heavy.
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
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works as a morning and evening step in your daily routine. Because your skin is oily and prone to breakouts, a product of this type needs extra ingredients for oil control and blemishes to keep skin clear.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser before retinol, but oily acne-prone skin needs a product that also provides oil control and targeted blemish-fighting ingredients.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This product of this type needs targeted ingredients for breakouts and oil control to best manage your oily acne-prone skin.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is an average fit for oily acne-prone skin because it lacks targeted ingredients to control oil and fight breakouts, which may lead to worsening these conditions. To care for this skin type, a product needs oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-fighting agents to keep pores clear.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should use caution around the eye area. Cleansers for this skin type need gentle, lightweight ingredients that clean without irritation and help keep oil and breakouts under control.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2001A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
A 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, 2024Topical 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 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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside, 1,2-Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Maltodextrin, Saccharide Hydrolysate, Sodium Hydroxide, Lecithin, Persea Gratissima Fruit Extract Avocado Fruit Extract, Tocopherol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Allantoin, Parfum, Tartaric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf
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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

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.

