Paula's Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Ceramide Np
Sodium Hyaluronate
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for oily acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin is provided by sodium lauroamphoacetate and glycerin, which effectively cleanse pores and offer humectant action without stripping your skin. Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract further soothes, ensuring a comfortable experience.
- The formula's cleansing agents, sodium lauroamphoacetate and sodium cocoyl isethionate, are present in concentrations that thoroughly cleanse pores, addressing your concerns about oiliness or shiny skin.
- This product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 4.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily, combination, and sensitive skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to effectively remove dirt and makeup without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier. Many reviewers note that it balances oil production and leaves the face feeling soft and refreshed, though a small minority experienced dryness or disliked the scent.
Highlights
Gentle and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “Cleanses without stripping”
- “Gentle and non-drying cleanser”
- “Does not strip away the natural moisture”
- “Leaves skin soft and hydrated”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Removes almost all of my makeup”
- “Skin felt so clean after cleansing”
- “Cleanses the skin from makeup and impurities so well”
- “Takes my makeup off easily”
Balances oily skin Sometimes Noted
- “Noticeably less oily”
- “Helps clear my skin”
- “Relieves my skin of feeling oily”
- “Great for oily acne prone skin”
Pleasant texture Sometimes Noted
- “Foams up beautifully into a silky froth”
- “Creamy and lightly foaming”
- “Feels like I am washing my face with clouds”
- “Smooth foam cleanser”
Safe for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
- “No irritation or purging effect”
- “Soothes redness and irritation”
- “Best cleanser I've ever used [for sensitive skin]”
- “Gentle enough for daily use”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “Went a little dry”
- “Need to moisturize after drying off”
- “Skin feel tight after I rinse”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Causes breakouts”
- “Making my acne worse”
- “Break me out in a rash”
Ineffective on heavy makeup Rarely Noted
- “Heavy makeup is not washed enough”
- “Still need a Clarisonic”
- “Used 2 times [to remove makeup]”
Price point Rarely Noted
- “A bit pricy for the amount”
- “Wasting money”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “Smelled like an unwashed towel”
- “Bad smell”
- “Strange smell”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, paulaschoice.com, dermstore.com, sephora.com, theskyshine.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Paula's Choice Perfectly Balanced Foaming Cleanser one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because it thoroughly washes out pores and keeps moisture balanced without stripping your skin. Its gentle ingredients and soothing aloe vera help calm redness while keeping your face comfortable and free from harsh irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium lauroamphoacetate and glycerin make this cleanser a great fit because they clean out pores and keep moisture balanced without stripping your skin. Aloe leaf extract and sodium cocoyl isethionate also help by calming the skin and gently washing away extra oil without causing irritation.
What does Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate do for oily acne-prone skin?
Sodium cocoyl isethionate helps cleanse oily acne-prone skin gently without stripping the skin barrier because its large molecular structure prevents it from penetrating deep into the skin. This mild surfactant washes away dirt and excess oil while keeping the skin calm and comfortable.
What do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help keep oily acne-prone skin calm and smooth by strengthening the skin barrier and locking in moisture. Since acne-prone skin often has lower levels of these natural lipids, adding ceramides helps reduce irritation, redness, and moisture loss. A product for this skin type needs barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and gentle hydrators to prevent dryness and balance oil.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes into your routine both in the morning and at night, as well as during weekly care steps. Using a mild cleanser twice a day helps clean pores and manage oiliness without stripping your skin.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first in your routine to clear your pores without stripping your skin, followed by your retinol treatment. Using a gentle cleanser with soothing ingredients like aloe vera and ceramides helps keep your skin calm and supports your skin barrier while you use retinoids.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
How often should I use this cleanser?
Use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to thoroughly clean pores and manage oiliness without stripping your skin. Daily use of a mild cleanser helps improve overall skin condition safely.
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 acne-prone skin. Its gentle cleansing agents and soothing ingredients thoroughly clear out pores without irritating your skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should take care around the thin skin of your eyes since facial cleansers are designed primarily for the face. The mild cleansing agents and soothing aloe vera help keep skin comfortable, though harsh scrubbing should still be avoided.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A 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, 2018Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019A 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, 2001Topical 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Stearic Acid, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Phytosphingosine, Sphingolipids, Lecithin, Arginine, Cholesterol, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Disodium Edta, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Xanthan Gum, Carbomer, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol
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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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
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