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Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Foaming Cleanser for acne-prone skin

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

Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Foaming Cleanser

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin, as cocamidopropyl betaine and glycerin gently remove impurities while providing hydration. It lacks specialized ingredients to directly address your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The formula provides general skincare benefits and moderate suitability for combination skin due to glycerin's humectant action, but it does not offer sufficient oil control for your oily areas.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.0Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

Many appreciate its creamy foam texture and ability to remove daily makeup. A significant number of users report issues with the pump dispenser failing before the product is finished.

Highlights

  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip my face at all”
    • “skin feels soft and calm”
    • “gentle enough to not dry out my skin”
  • Reduces redness, calms Often Mentioned
    • “calmed down the redness on my cheeks”
    • “face was free of redness and irritation”
  • Faulty pump dispenser Often Mentioned
    • “pump does not work”
    • “leaves about one-fourth of the product”
    • “pump does not spring back”
  • Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
    • “removes my eye makeup beautifully”
    • “routinely removes ALL my make up”
    • “cleans makeup, dirt and oil”
  • Pleasant foam texture Sometimes Noted
    • “pumps into a creamy foam”
    • “comfortable, soft foam”
    • “texture is perfect for cleaning”
  • Inferior to old formula Sometimes Noted
    • “poor substitute for Ultra Calming”
    • “miss the ultra calming formula”
    • “not as good as the old version”
  • Struggles with heavy makeup Rarely Noted
    • “doesn't remove heavy makeup”
    • “don't see this taking off sunscreen”
    • “need to double cleanse”

Sources: lovi.care, aveeno.com, walmart.com, reddit.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Foaming Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for acne-prone skin by washing away dirt gently, but it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and control oil. Cleansers that fit this skin better need powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to clear blemishes, along with hydrating and barrier-repairing agents to keep skin balanced.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Cocamidopropyl betaine and glycerin make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin by gently washing away impurities while keeping the skin hydrated. Because it lacks specialized ingredients to directly handle blemishes and oil control, cleansers for this skin type need powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides along with soothing and hydrating agents to balance oily and dry areas.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Feverfew do for acne-prone skin?

Feverfew helps calm acne-prone skin by reducing redness and swelling through its natural anti-inflammatory properties. It is unlikely to cause irritation, making it a gentle option to soothe angry breakouts.

Inflammopharmacology, 2009Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

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

This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routine. For acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs added oil control and ingredients that directly target blemishes and breakouts.

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

Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. A product of this type works well for acne-prone skin when it includes oil-controlling ingredients to clear breakouts and pore-clearing ingredients to keep skin smooth.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, because it gently removes impurities while keeping your skin calm. A cleanser of this type for acne-prone skin needs ingredients that help control oil and target breakouts more directly.

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

This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on your acne-prone skin because it lacks harsh ingredients, but it does not control oil or clear breakouts well. An acne-friendly cleanser for this skin needs oil-balancing ingredients and targeted blemish-fighting actives to help keep pores clear.

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

You can use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its gentle formula has an excellent safety profile with no harsh ingredients. While the skin around the eyes is very thin, this cleanser provides mild cleansing without causing irritation.

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

  • 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

  • Topical parthenolide-depleted Feverfew extract protected skin by scavenging free radicals, restoring antioxidants, and significantly reducing UV-induced erythema compared to placebo in a clinical study.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2008

  • Parthenolide and magnolol, as NF-kappaB inhibitors, effectively blocked UVB-induced gene expression, production of MMP-1 and bFGF, and proliferation of keratinocytes and melanocytes.

    Current Drug Metabolism, 2010

  • A purified parthenolide-depleted feverfew extract protects skin cells from UV-induced DNA damage by inducing Nrf2 nuclear translocation and ARE activity via a PI3-kinase-dependent pathway.

    Journal of Dermatological Science, 2013

  • 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

  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

  • 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

  • Hydrophobically modified polymers and sodium hydrolyzed potato starch dodecenylsuccinate reduce irritation and surfactant penetration while providing effective cleansing and improved tolerability in individuals with sensitive skin compared to commercial mild cleansers.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2026

Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better

  • A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023

Ingredients

Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Glycerin, Decyl Glucoside, Sodium Hydrolyzed Potato Dodecenylsuccinate Starch, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Acrylates Copolymer, Linoleamidopropyl Pg-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Disodium Edta, Sodium Hydroxide, Chrysanthemum Parthenium Flower Leaf Stem Juice

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

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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