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

Aveeno Calm + Restore Redness Relief Foaming Cleanser

Average

  • AverageOily 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 cleansing for your oily skin, as decyl glucoside and glycerin gently remove impurities while maintaining hydration, but it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • While glycerin provides some humectant action suitable for oily skin, the formula does not offer sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

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

★4.0Overall 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 oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by washing away impurities without stripping moisture, but it lacks specialized ingredients to target acne and breakouts. It is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or salicylic acid to control oil and clear blemishes.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Decyl glucoside and glycerin help wash away impurities while keeping oily skin hydrated. However, this type of skin needs a cleanser with ingredients like niacinamide, salicylic acid, and ceramides to target breakouts and manage oil production.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Feverfew do for oily acne-prone skin?

Feverfew helps calm oily, acne-prone skin by soothing redness and reducing irritation with its natural anti-inflammatory properties. It is unlikely to clog pores and may protect the skin from everyday damage, though a product for this skin type also needs ingredients that clear out pores and balance oil.

Inflammopharmacology, 2009Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2013

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 it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step to remove impurities without irritation. Oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also includes ingredients for oil control and targeting breakouts.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before putting on your retinol. This product is safe and unlikely to cause irritation, though oily acne-prone skin still needs ingredients that control oil and target breakouts for the best results.

How often should I use it?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, because its mild ingredients gently remove impurities while keeping skin hydrated without irritation. To properly care for oily acne-prone skin, this type of product also needs specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and provide better oil control.

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, as it is safe and free of harsh ingredients. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes and does not offer sufficient oil control for this skin type.

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is safe for use on the body and around the eyes because its gentle ingredients suit thin skin and body skin well. It is very unlikely to cause irritation on delicate areas, though an eye-specific product may offer targeted benefits there.

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 oily 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
  • 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, 2021
  • A 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, 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.

How does it fit your skin?

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