Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser for sensitive skin
Retinol
Niacinamide
Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Peptide
Glycerin
Trehalose
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- Low RiskSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin due to decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside, which help remove impurities, while glycerin and panthenol vitamin b5 provide hydration and soothing effects that are supportive but not directly targeted at your redness and irritation concerns.
- Niacinamide offers barrier repair and anti-inflammatory action, which is beneficial for your skin, though the formula could benefit from more potent antioxidants to fully address your primary concerns.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 600+ reviewsThis cleanser is highly praised for its ability to hydrate and soften the skin, making it a favorite for those with dry, sensitive, or aging skin concerns. While it excels at daily cleansing and improving overall skin texture, some users find it less effective at removing heavy or waterproof makeup.
Highlights
Leaves skin soft Often Mentioned
- “My skin feels soft and moisturized after washing.”
- “Within 1 week, you'll reveal soft, smooth skin.”
- “Face is soft and smooth after every use.”
Non-drying formula Often Mentioned
- “Cleanses without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped.”
- “Removes dirt, oil, and impurities without drying skin out.”
- “Never taut or dry.”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “Did not irritate my sensitive skin.”
- “Great for sensitive skin or combination skin.”
- “Dermatologist tested formula make it approachable for most skin types.”
Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
- “Noticed an improvement in the clarity of my skin.”
- “Smooths rough patches and refines texture.”
- “My skin went from dull to brighter.”
Weak makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Struggle with eye makeup.”
- “Heavier or waterproof formulas might require a dedicated remover.”
- “Not a powerhouse for heavy makeup removal.”
Minimal lather Rarely Noted
- “This is not a foaming, big lathering cleanser.”
- “It doesn't have much lather.”
- “There's absolutely zero lather with this.”
Polarizing scent Rarely Noted
- “If you don't like scents or are sensitive to scents you might want to think twice.”
- “The cleanser has a noticeable floral scent.”
Sources: lovi.care, olay.com, walmart.com, youtube.com, skinsort.com, thingtesting.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser work for sensitive skin?
This cleanser works reasonably well for sensitive skin, though other products fit it better by addressing redness and irritation more completely. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle cleansing agents along with soothing, barrier-repairing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Glycerin, panthenol vitamin B5, and niacinamide help this cleanser fit sensitive skin by adding moisture and calming redness. A cleanser for this skin needs effective soothing ingredients that address redness and irritation without any risks of irritation, along with a balanced mix of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Retinol do for sensitive skin?
Retinol is generally too harsh for sensitive skin and may cause stinging, scaling, and irritation. A product for this skin needs gentle ingredients that smooth and calm without causing redness.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Toxicology Letters, 2003
What does Niacinamide do for sensitive skin?
Niacinamide helps calm sensitive skin by strengthening the skin barrier and reducing redness and irritation. It is very well tolerated and may improve overall comfort and resilience with regular use.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
In a routine for sensitive skin, use this cleanser in the morning and evening. Sensitive skin needs a cleanser that offers gentle cleansing combined with soothing and barrier-repairing ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to keep skin calm and hydrated.
Can I use this cleanser with vitamin C, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with vitamin C by washing your face with it first, then applying your vitamin C serum after your skin is dry. This cleanser helps wash away dirt while keeping your skin calm, though sensitive skin requires extra soothing ingredients and gentle antioxidants to fully prevent irritation.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Mild cleansers used regularly help improve skin condition and hydration without causing irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for sensitive skin, though it contains ingredients that may feel a bit heavy for some people. Because it includes retinol, it is possible for sensitive skin to experience mild purging as skin cell turnover adjusts to the product.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser can be used on the body and around the eyes, though the thin skin in the eye area and certain body zones may need extra gentle care due to varying skin thickness across the body. When using cleansers on delicate areas, formulas benefit from soothing ingredients like glycerin and panthenol to help maintain moisture and keep the skin calm.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.
Journal of Controlled Release, 2018Topical 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, 2005A 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, 2001Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.
Skin Research and Technology, 2024Topical chloramphenicol-betamethasone combined with sodium hyaluronate/trehalose/carbomer gel compared to chloramphenicol-betamethasone alone reduced most subjective symptoms at 1 week but increased blurred vision at 4 weeks following strabismus surgery in 31 patients, with no significant differences in conjunctival inflammation between treatments.
Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2019Topical treatment with Thealoz Duo significantly improved dry eye disease symptoms, tear break-up time, and restored tear lipid layer functionality by reducing inflammatory response proteins in moderate to severe dry eye patients over 56 days.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025
Why other cleansers fit sensitive skin better
Avène Thermal Spring Water significantly decreased postpeeling redness and reduced the overall sensitive scale of consumers by 47% compared to mineral-rich thermal spring water in human volunteers.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Trehalose, Petrolatum, Retinol, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Peptide, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium Edta, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, 1.2-Hexanediol, 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.
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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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