Cetaphil Daily Exfoliating Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Bambusa Vulgaris Extract
Vitamin E
Vitamin B5
Glycerin
Hydrated SilicaHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily acne-prone skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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 and acne concerns, as Citric Acid and Hydrated Silica gently address breakouts and excess sebum. Glycerin further supports hydration, ensuring a balanced cleanse.
- The combination of Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer and Sodium Hydroxide aids in managing oiliness and refining pores.
- This formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good profile for managing 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
★4.5Overall rating based on 8.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded as a gentle physical exfoliator, particularly for sensitive and acne-prone skin. Users frequently report smoother skin texture and reduced dullness without irritation. Most users find it non-stripping and suitable for daily use, though a moderate number of reviews mention an unpleasant fragrance and a low number experienced irritation or found it too gentle.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “Micro-fine granules are soft enough for everyday use.”
- “Doesn't feel like sandpaper, just a light buffing.”
- “Perfect for my sensitive skin that can't handle rough scrubs.”
Smoothes texture Often Mentioned
- “Left my face feeling incredibly soft and smooth.”
- “Helped get rid of dry patches and flakiness.”
- “Noticed a reduction in small bumps and roughness.”
Clears pores Sometimes Noted
- “Helps keep my blackheads at bay with daily use.”
- “Cleared up my breakouts without irritating them.”
- “Great second cleanse to remove residual makeup and dirt.”
Non-drying Sometimes Noted
- “Face doesn't feel tight or stripped after washing.”
- “Leaves a hydrated film rather than squeaky dryness.”
- “Good balance of cleaning and moisturizing.”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Has a weird, strong perfume smell despite being 'gentle'.”
- “Smells like old lady perfume or masking fragrance.”
- “The scent is too overpowering for a sensitive skin product.”
Caused irritation Rarely Noted
- “Broke me out in tiny red bumps after two days.”
- “Caused a burning sensation around my nose.”
- “My skin turned red and itchy immediately.”
Too gentle Rarely Noted
- “Barely exfoliates, feels just like a regular face wash.”
- “Granules are too sparse to do anything.”
- “Didn't remove dead skin as well as I hoped.”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, nykaa.com, superdrug.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil Daily Exfoliating Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it uses citric acid and hydrated silica to gently wash away excess oil and help manage breakouts without irritation. Glycerin and vitamin B5 further support a balanced, hydrated cleanse while keeping your skin feeling soft and calm.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Citric acid and hydrated silica make this cleanser a great fit by gently clearing away excess oil and breakouts, while glycerin keeps your skin balanced and hydrated. This combination helps manage oiliness and refine pores safely without harsh ingredients.
What does Bamboo Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Bamboo Extract helps oily acne-prone skin by reducing skin eruptions and sebum levels. Combining it with ingredients like green tea and lactic acid may further improve your skin's clarity and manage breakouts.
What does Vitamin E do for oily acne-prone skin?
Vitamin E helps reduce oiliness, redness, and dark spots on oily acne-prone skin while improving moisture. It also helps calm irritation and smooth the skin when used consistently.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Giornale Italiano Di Dermatologia E Venereologia, 2014
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes as the first step of your morning routine and the second step of your evening routine after removing makeup. It gently helps clear excess oil and breakouts while keeping your skin balanced.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first and applying your retinol treatment afterward in your evening routine. This formula offers moderate exfoliation and helps manage excess oil safely, and using a gentle wash helps lower irritation while you use retinoids.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily acne-prone skin and can be used daily as part of your morning and evening routine to help manage oiliness, clear breakouts, and keep your skin balanced. It provides gentle exfoliation with a safe profile that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily acne-prone skin, as it gently sweeps away excess oil and dead skin without harsh ingredients that lead to irritation. Glycerin and Vitamin B5 further help keep your skin balanced and calm during cleansing.
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 very thin skin around the eyes where skin is more delicate. This gentle formula helps manage oil and breakouts with a safe profile, though facial scrubs are generally formulated to respect the thicker skin of the body and face rather than the ultra-thin eye area.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A novel composition containing salicylic acid, capryloyl salicylic acid, HEPES, glycolic acid, citric acid, and dioic acid showed similar tolerance and efficacy compared with clindamycin 1% and benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in subjects with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013Topical 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 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, 2025Ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions of Bambusa vulgaris leaves accelerate cutaneous wound healing and inhibit carrageenan-induced paw edema in rats.
Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine, 2016Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Panthenyl triacetate (PTA) demonstrated skin de-acetylation into panthenol, stimulated energetic and synthesis metabolic pathways, and achieved a statistically significant improvement in wound healing after 72 hours compared to saline treatment in human volunteers, outperforming panthenol in long-lasting wound healing action.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012A comprehensive topical regimen incorporating niacinamide, Pro-Xylane, and panthenol following PicoWay laser treatment decreased transepidermal water loss, increased hydration and skin elasticity, reduced wrinkles and redness, and improved skin tone in 88 Chinese females compared to a standard care control group.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2026A 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, 2001Film-forming formulations containing porous silica achieved skin permeation rates comparable to immediate release formulations while confirming prolonged drug availability and causing no skin irritation in healthy volunteers.
European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2017Topical treatment with silica mud and microalgae extracts from the Blue Lagoon improved skin barrier function by inducing epidermal gene expression and reducing transepidermal water loss in healthy humans, while preventing skin aging markers in vitro.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Flower-like mesoporous silica nanoparticles exhibited a significantly superior oil-absorption capacity, including a 226.3% increase in adsorbing large-molecular-weight PDMS-15000 w, compared to conventional mesoporous silica nanoparticles.
RSC Advances, 2026
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Hydrated Silica, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Citric Acid
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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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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Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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