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Principia Gel de Limpeza GL-01 for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Principia Gel de Limpeza GL-01

Average

  • HighOily 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 exfoliation for your oily skin due to salicylic acid and sodium gluconate, which help decongest pores and manage oiliness. While beneficial for general cleansing, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it avoids harsh or prohibited ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • This product provides excellent cleansing benefits for your oily skin.

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

★4.8Overall rating based on 11.8k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for oily and acne-prone skin, effectively managing oil and reducing breakouts without over-drying. Users frequently praise its generous volume and active ingredients for visibly improving skin texture and oiliness over time.

Highlights

  • Excellent oil control Mostly Mentioned
    • “Keeps skin matte”
    • “reduces sebum production”
    • “fresh feeling”
  • Great cost-benefit Mostly Mentioned
    • “Large bottle (350g)”
    • “affordable price”
    • “lasts months”
  • Effective acne treatment Often Mentioned
    • “Dries pimples”
    • “reduces blackheads”
    • “improves texture”
  • Gentle but deep cleaning Sometimes Noted
    • “Removes impurities”
    • “doesn't strip skin”
    • “soft foam”
  • Pleasant texture/smell Sometimes Noted
    • “Easy to spread”
    • “mild scent”
    • “refreshing sensation”
  • Drying for some Sometimes Noted
    • “Tight sensation”
    • “dry patches”
    • “not for dry skin”
  • Eye burning Rarely Noted
    • “Stings eyes”
    • “uncomfortable if contact occurs”
  • Potential irritation Rarely Noted
    • “Redness”
    • “stinging”
    • “sensitivity on first use”
  • Pump/Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “Pump failures”
    • “leaking during shipping”
    • “hard to open”

Sources: lovi.care, principiaskin.com, mercadolivre.com.br, magazineluiza.com.br, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Principia GL-01 work for oily acne-prone skin?

Principia Gel de Limpeza GL-01 works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin because it offers gentle exfoliation to help clear pores and manage oiliness. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne and breakouts. Cleansers of this type need soothing and effective ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or glycerin to reduce blemishes and balance oil without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid and sodium gluconate make this cleanser a good fit because they offer moderate exfoliation that helps clear pores and manage oiliness. However, to truly fit oily acne-prone skin, this type of product needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics to directly target breakouts and keep skin calm.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Salicylic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear breakouts and keeps oily skin balanced by reducing oil levels and calming inflammation. It is well suited for oily, acne-prone skin because it targets pimples while helping keep the skin hydrated and protected.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019

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

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits in the morning routine after waking up and in the evening routine after removing makeup, as part of your daily cleansing steps. Oily acne-prone skin works best with products that clear pores and manage oiliness while also containing specialized ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin and manage oiliness before your retinol treatment. This cleanser helps clear out pores with salicylic acid, but an oily acne-prone skin also needs specialized ingredients that directly target breakouts.

How often should I use this cleanser?

This cleanser works well for daily use on your oily acne-prone skin to clean and manage oiliness. However, because this average-fit product lacks specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts, your skin needs additional targeted treatments specifically formulated for acne and blemishes.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser helps clear pores and manage oiliness for your oily skin with salicylic acid, though it may leave skin somewhat dry. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne, this skin type needs products with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients to properly manage breakouts.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser provides great cleansing for your oily skin, but it is best to avoid using it right around the eyes because the skin there is much thinner and more sensitive. You can safely use it on your body to help manage oil and keep your skin feeling fresh.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • A 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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

  • The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003

  • Coadministration of 40% topical L-menthol with 10% trans-cinnamaldehyde reduced spontaneous pain intensity, neurogenic inflammation, primary and secondary mechanical hyperalgesia, and heat hyperalgesia, but not cold hyperalgesia, in 14 healthy volunteers.

    The Journal of Pain, 2016

  • Topical application of menthol-based cooling gel decreased intramuscular temperature by 1.9 °C and increased cutaneous blood flow by 0.3 ml/min in healthy males compared to placebo gel.

    International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy, 2018

  • Cooling skin temperature or applying topical menthol reduced histamine-induced itch intensity and flare diameters in healthy male volunteers.

    Neuroscience Letters, 1995

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Gluconate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Decyl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Coco-Glucoside, Glyceryl Oleate, Sorbeth-450 Tristearate, Peg-9 Cocoate, Peg-32 Distearate, Peg-175 Distearate, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Menthol, Sodium Hydroxide

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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