Curél Foaming Facial Wash for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate
Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate
Lauryl Hydroxysultaine
Maltitol
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 with Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, but the humectants glycerin and maltitol may not be ideal for managing excess sebum.
- While it provides general hydration and soothing benefits from Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, it lacks targeted ingredients to address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence 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
★4.7Overall rating based on 700+ reviewsThe product is frequently described as gentle and non-stripping, leaving the face feeling soft and clean rather than tight or "squeaky," though it is widely recommended to be used as a second step in a double-cleansing routine for heavy makeup.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin of moisture”
- “no tightness after rinsing”
- “skin feels soft and comfortable”
- “perfect for my sensitive barrier”
Dense, rich foam Often Mentioned
- “foam is dense and luxurious”
- “one pump gives rich lather”
- “velvety texture on skin”
- “bubbles last through the wash”
Safe for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “calmed my redness”
- “only wash that doesn't break me out”
- “great for reactive skin”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “completely scentless”
- “no chemical smell”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “smells like nothing”
Not for heavy makeup Sometimes Noted
- “need an oil cleanser first”
- “won't take off mascara”
- “too gentle for full glam”
- “better as a morning wash”
Price vs. quantity Sometimes Noted
- “runs out faster than tube cleansers”
- “a bit pricey for the amount”
- “wish the bottle was bigger”
- “refills are hard to find”
Not actively moisturizing Rarely Noted
- “still need moisturizer immediately”
- “not as hydrating as a cream cleanser”
- “felt a little dry in winter”
- “neutral but not moisturizing”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump got stuck”
- “bulky bottle for travel”
- “hard to tell how much is left”
- “leaked in my bag”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, curel.com, lookfantastic.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Curél Foaming Facial Wash work for oily acne-prone skin?
Curél Foaming Facial Wash works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, cleansing gently while soothing with dipotassium glycyrrhizate, but its glycerin and maltitol may not manage excess oil and it lacks blemish-fighting ingredients. Cleansers that fit this skin better need soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to balance oil and clear breakouts without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate and Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate provide moderate cleansing for oily skin, while Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate helps soothe it. However, a cleanser for this skin type needs targeted ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to balance oil and manage breakouts without irritation.
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 Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate is a mild cleanser ingredient that helps wash away excess oil and dirt without stripping your skin barrier or causing dryness. Because it has gentle interactions with your skin, it is less likely to cause irritation while keeping your face feeling soft and clean.
Dermatologic Therapy, 2004Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
Curél Foaming Facial Wash goes in the morning and evening routine as a cleanser, right before your toner and moisturizer. It is unlikely to irritate oily skin due to its gentle ingredients, but because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients, an oily acne-prone routine needs added acne-clearing treatments or exfoliating steps to fully manage breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it first to clean your skin before you put on your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to irritate oily skin, but to properly manage breakouts, an oily acne-prone routine also needs targeted ingredients that treat acne and control excess oil.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleanses gently without causing irritation, though oily acne-prone skin needs cleansers with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components for the best results.
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 oily skin, as it has a good safety profile with gentle, well-tolerated cleansers and soothing ingredients. However, it lacks targeted ingredients to help clear acne, blemishes, or breakouts, so an oily acne-prone skin type needs a cleanser with specific acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as its gentle formula works well on thin areas like the eyelids and thicker body skin. It is unlikely to cause irritation on these areas, though cleansers used for the body or eye area may sometimes benefit from extra targeted hydrators or soothing extracts depending on your skin needs.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026A 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, 2001Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025
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, Maltitol, Propylene Glycol, Peg-150, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Polysorbate 60, Ethylhexylglycerin, Disodium Edta, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Potassium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben
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.