Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Glycerin
Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil
Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit
Average
- 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, as Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract and Glycerin help remove impurities while maintaining hydration, though these ingredients lack specialized action against acne and blemishes.
- Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil and Olea Europaea Oil Fruit provide emollient action suitable for oily skin, but may not offer sufficient seboregulation.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh 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
★4.1Overall rating based on 4.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, Burt's Bees facial cleansers are frequently praised for their natural ingredients and gentle, hydrating effects, particularly for sensitive, dry, and combination skin. Many users report a soothing outcome. However, a significant number of reviews mention that the cleansers can leave a residue, and some users experienced breakouts or irritation. The effectiveness for removing makeup is also a concern for some.
Highlights
Gentle on skin Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't strip moisture”
- “No stinging/redness”
- “Feels very mild”
Hydrating feel Often Mentioned
- “Leaves skin soft”
- “Not tight/dry”
- “Moisturizing cream texture”
Leaves residue Often Mentioned
- “Weird waxy film”
- “Doesn't rinse off”
- “Feels grimy”
Natural ingredients Sometimes Noted
- “99% natural origin”
- “No harsh chemicals”
- “Clean ingredients”
Soothing effect Sometimes Noted
- “Helps reduce redness”
- “Calms reactive skin”
- “Aloe is soothing”
Caused breakouts Sometimes Noted
- “Broke me out”
- “Acne in a tube”
- “Clogged my pores”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't remove makeup”
- “Not for heavy makeup”
- “Needs double cleanse”
Irritating sensation Rarely Noted
- “Burned around eyes”
- “Tingling was painful”
- “Skin on fire”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, target.com, walmart.com, burtsbees.ca, sephora.my, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
Burt's Bees Facial Cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin because its ingredients remove impurities and maintain hydration, though they lack specialized action against breakouts. It is safe for your skin with no risk of irritation, but a cleanser of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like Niacinamide, Ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to properly balance oil production and manage acne.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Quillaja Saponaria bark extract and glycerin help remove impurities while maintaining hydration, and sunflower seed oil and olive oil fruit provide soft smoothing benefits. Cleansers that fit this skin better need soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to help clear acne and balance oil production.
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm redness and reduces acne breakouts for oily skin. Studies show it effectively targets acne lesions and lowers redness when used regularly.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
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 fits in both your morning and evening routine, helping remove impurities while keeping your oily skin hydrated. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients for blemishes, oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also provides specialized breakout control and oil regulation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin, rinsing thoroughly, and then following with your retinol treatment once your face is dry. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation, though oily acne-prone skin often needs products with specialized blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing control.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is unlikely to irritate your oily acne-prone skin, but an ideal cleanser for this skin type also needs targeted ingredients to help control excess oil and breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser may cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as reviewers commonly complain about this issue and the formula lacks specialized ingredients to clear blemishes. A cleanser for this skin type needs ingredients that help balance oil and target breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should avoid applying it directly around your eyes because facial cleansers can sometimes irritate the very thin skin in that area. To properly care for oily skin, a product of this type needs specialized ingredients that clear blemishes and balance oil production.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene). Cetearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
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, 2017A 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, 2010The 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
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
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Limonene, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Oil, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil Oat Kernel Oil, Lanolin, Beta-Carotene, Tocopherol, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract Rosemary Leaf Extract, Glycine Soja Oil Soybean Oil, Canola Oil, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Benzoate
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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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