La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash for oily acne-prone skin
Shea Butter
Niacinamide
La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water
Glycerin
Cocamide MeaLow
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for oily acne-prone skin; the cleansers alongside 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 general cleansing benefits for your oily skin, but the presence of Butyrospermum Parkii Butter may be too heavy and lacks strong seboregulating properties to effectively address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- While coco-betaine and sodium laureth sulfate provide excellent pore cleansing, the formula does not contain targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to manage your specific concerns.
- The product is safe for your oily 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.1k+ reviewsUsers frequently report that it effectively soothes irritation and supports the skin barrier, providing long-lasting hydration for both face and body. Some users noted it may cause mild irritation or burning for sensitive skin, and a few mentioned concerns about sulfates and its lipid-replenishing properties compared to cream versions.
Highlights
Hydrating, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “cleanses without stripping your skin of its natural moisture”
- “makes my skin stay hydrated all night”
- “my skin felt noticeably moisturized after getting out of the shower”
- “provides 24 hour hydration starting from the shower”
Face and body use Sometimes Noted
- “having a double-duty cleanser saves me major space”
- “using it for both my face and body, and it's amazing how versatile it is”
- “can be used on babies, kids, body & face”
- “great cleanser for dry skin... removing makeup”
Pleasant foaming Sometimes Noted
- “foams lightly, making it easy to massage”
- “creates these gentle suds that feel incredibly soft”
- “maintains a creamy feel that is extra gentle”
- “gives you the lather you want without the harsh stripping”
Contains sulfates Rarely Noted
- “it still contains sodium laureth sulfate, so it is not strictly sulfate-free”
- “Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying.”
- “Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.”
- “PEG-200 Glyceryl Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.”
Less lipid-replenishing Rarely Noted
- “mildly more drying and less lipid-replenishing than the cream version”
- “very dry or highly reactive atopic skin should choose the lipid-replenishing cream version”
- “foaming formula is mildly more drying”
- “slightly less lipid-replenishing than the cream version”
May burn skin Rarely Noted
- “Whenever I use a face wash too harsh, it makes all of my skincare products BURN”
- “this one hydrates, but is NOT gentle”
- “not for sensitive skin... glad I didnt buy the full bottle”
- “I am sticking to my old face wash”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, dermstore.com, cvs.com, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash a weak match for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a weak match because the shea butter in it may be too heavy and lacks strong oil-controlling properties to address your acne and breakouts. It also misses targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to manage your specific concerns. Cleansers that fit oily acne-prone skin well need soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid, and probiotics to balance oil production and maintain skin clarity.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Shea butter may be too heavy for your oily skin and lacks strong oil-controlling properties to address breakouts. A cleanser for this skin needs soothing and effective ingredients like salicylic acid, ceramides, and niacinamide.
What does Shea Butter do for oily acne-prone skin?
Shea butter is generally too heavy for oily, acne-prone skin and may clog pores, leading to breakouts. Skin of this type needs lightweight, non-greasy hydrators like green tea extract to keep it smooth and calm without extra oil.
What does Niacinamide do for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oil production, calms redness, and is unlikely to irritate oily, acne-prone skin while improving blemishes. Clinical tests show it reduces excess oil and helps clear up both inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, but a weak match like this for oily acne-prone skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid and lighter components instead of shea butter to properly manage breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser in your routine with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin before rinsing and following with your retinol treatment. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like salicylic acid to manage breakouts and oil-controlling ingredients rather than heavy butters.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. However, because it is a weak match for oily acne-prone skin, this skin type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid and lighter hydrating components to effectively manage breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation, but the shea butter in it may feel too heavy and lead to breakouts on oily acne-prone skin. Skin of this type needs lighter cleansers with targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to help clear pores and manage blemishes.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body, but it is a weak match for the thin skin around your eyes and for oily acne-prone skin. Oily acne-prone skin needs a lighter cleanser with targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to manage breakouts without heavy ingredients like shea butter.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical 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, 2005Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A 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, 2001
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
Acrylates Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Edta, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Mannose, Niacinamide, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyquaternium-11, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Water
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?
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