Cetaphil Hydrating Gentle Skin Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Panthenol
Cetearyl Alcohol
Citric Acid
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
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 glycerin provides humectant action and niacinamide offers soothing benefits, though it lacks strong seboregulating ingredients for optimal results.
- The cleanser provides general skincare benefits like hydration and cleansing, but lacks specialized ingredients to effectively target your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide.
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 17.6k+ reviewsWhile it is frequently noted as being too mild for effectively removing heavy makeup or oil on its own, and some users dislike its non-lathering texture, its extremely gentle nature is a significant positive for many.
Highlights
Extremely gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't sting my eyes”
- “only thing my sensitive skin tolerates”
- “no redness after washing”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “completely scent-free”
- “great for fragrance allergies”
- “no chemical smell”
- “perfect for sensitive noses”
Hydrating & non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “doesn't strip moisture”
- “feels like a lotion”
- “no tight feeling”
Poor makeup remover Often Mentioned
- “didn't touch my mascara”
- “makeup still on towel”
- “need to double cleanse”
- “useless for sunscreen”
New formula issues Sometimes Noted
- “new formula burns”
- “caused breakouts”
- “consistency changed”
- “miss the old version”
Texture complaints Sometimes Noted
- “feels like slime”
- “miss the bubbles”
- “too runny”
- “leaves a film”
Too gentle for oily Sometimes Noted
- “didn't feel clean”
- “pores stayed clogged”
- “too mild for grease”
- “did nothing for acne”
Versatile application Rarely Noted
- “great for camping”
- “wipe off with tissue”
- “used when I couldn't shower”
- “good for morning refresh”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Cetaphil Hydrating Gentle Skin Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your oily acne-prone skin, as it cleans and hydrates with glycerin and niacinamide without causing irritation, though it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients. To work best for this skin type, a cleanser needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to balance oil production and manage blemishes.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin and niacinamide make this cleanser a decent fit for oily skin by providing hydration and calming benefits. However, a product for this skin type needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid, probiotics, or ceramides to target breakouts and balance oil production.
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 it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning and evening routine as the first or second cleansing step. It gently washes your face and adds moisture with glycerin and niacinamide, but oily and breakout-prone skin also needs ingredients that help control oil and target blemishes.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it before your retinol step to gently wash your face without irritating your skin. A cleanser for this skin needs strong oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine and specialized ingredients like salicylic acid to target breakouts.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, because it is gentle and safe for your oily skin. It provides basic cleansing and hydration with ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide, but oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with strong oil-controlling ingredients and blemish-targeting components to manage breakouts effectively.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it is gentle and free of harsh ingredients, but it does not treat or prevent acne. Oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with strong oil-controlling and breakout-targeting ingredients for optimal results.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can safely use this gentle cleanser around the eyes and on your body because it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide. This product type needs gentle cleansing agents and hydrating ingredients to care for thin or body skin without causing irritation.
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 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, 2017Topical 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, 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, 2005Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020A 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, 2013Daily 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, 2021Topical 20% citric acid lotion increases viable epidermal thickness and dermal glycosaminoglycan content in sun-damaged skin compared to vehicle alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 1997
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical 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, Cetearyl Alcohol, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Benzoate, 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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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
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