La Roche-Posay TOLERIANE PURIFYING FOAMING CLEANSER for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Ceramide Np
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 suitability for your oily skin as niacinamide helps with seboregulation, while glycerin and cocamidopropyl betaine provide general cleansing and hydration benefits. Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate effectively cleanses pores, but stronger ingredients for optimal oil control are not present.
- The product is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients, minimizing irritation risks.
- This cleanser is safe for your skin as it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients, ensuring a low risk of irritation.
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 54.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle yet effective daily cleansing, suitable for normal to oily and sensitive skin. It successfully removes makeup and excess oil without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling clean and balanced. Many users report improved skin clarity and reduced pore visibility over time.
Highlights
Gentle & Non-Stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “doesn't feel squeaky”
- “gentle but effective”
Effective Cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes all makeup”
- “cleanses dirt and oil”
- “pores look smaller”
Skin Balancing Sometimes Noted
- “keeps oil at bay”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “helped clear my skin”
Texture & Lather Sometimes Noted
- “foams nicely”
- “light and foamy”
- “a little goes a long way”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “completely dried out skin”
- “flaky texture”
- “too drying for me”
Irritation/Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “burning sensation”
- “gave me little bumps”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump broken”
- “mold in pump”
- “leaking bottle”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like ammonia”
- “medicinal smell”
- “smells like chemicals”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, target.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, as it cleanses pores and helps manage oil with niacinamide and glycerin while keeping irritation risks low. It is safe for your skin type, but oily acne-prone skin needs stronger oil-controlling and acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or probiotics for the best results.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps balance oil, while glycerin provides hydration and sodium lauroyl sarcosinate cleanses pores. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, but a product of this type needs stronger oil-controlling and soothing ingredients like salicylic acid and probiotics to truly excel on this skin.
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 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 fits into both your morning and evening routine, washing your face before you apply toner, moisturizers, or treatments. It is safe for your skin with a low risk of irritation, but oily acne-prone skin often needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients for the best results.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it has no harsh ingredients, and an oily, acne-prone skin type needs stronger ingredients for optimal oil control along with gentle cleansing.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleanses pores well and is unlikely to cause irritation, though oily skin often needs stronger ingredients for better oil control.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily skin because it contains no harsh or prohibited ingredients that trigger irritation. However, because it provides only moderate oil control, an oily acne-prone skin type needs stronger ingredients dedicated to managing oil and deep pore clearing.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes since cleansers can easily dry out that sensitive area. This cleanser works for your oily acne-prone skin, though an oily skin type needs stronger ingredients for optimal oil control along with balancing and clarifying agents.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser decreased prokaryotic microbial alpha diversity, altered prokaryotic microbiome structure, increased phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and decreased ceramides on facial skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A 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, 2012Topical 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, 2005
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, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
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.