CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
High
- 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 excellent cleansing and oil control for your oily, acne-prone skin, as salicylic acid and gluconolactone work to exfoliate and decongest pores, while niacinamide helps regulate oil production.
- The inclusion of ceramides and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid provides essential hydration and barrier support, which is beneficial for maintaining skin comfort.
- The formula is safe for your skin, with no harsh ingredients and a good balance of soothing and active components.
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 3.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin report significant improvements in texture and clarity, often noting a reduction in blackheads and whiteheads within a few weeks. While effective for mild to moderate acne, some users experienced an initial "purging" phase or found it slightly drying if not paired with a good moisturizer.
Highlights
Effective acne clearance Often Mentioned
- “Clears blackheads, whiteheads, and pimples; prevents new breakouts.”
Fragrance-free Often Mentioned
- “No strong scent; non-irritating for sensitive noses.”
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Smooths rough texture without physical scrubbing; leaves skin soft.”
Non-stripping formula Sometimes Noted
- “Feels cleaning but not overly tight; suitable for sensitive skin.”
Oil control Sometimes Noted
- “Reduces excess shine and grease; leaves a matte finish.”
Drying potential Sometimes Noted
- “Can cause dryness or flaking, especially on non-oily areas.”
Ineffective for cystic acne Rarely Noted
- “May not resolve deep, hormonal, or cystic acne alone.”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump dispenses too much product or breaks easily.”
- “Product sometimes arrives leaking or unsealed during shipping.”
Purging phase Rarely Noted
- “Causes initial breakouts before skin clears up.”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, cerave.com, ulta.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser a great fit for oily acne-prone skin?
CeraVe Acne Control Cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid and gluconolactone exfoliate and clear clogged pores while niacinamide helps control extra oil. It also includes ceramides and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid to keep your skin comfortable by supporting your moisture barrier.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Salicylic acid and gluconolactone help clear out pores, while niacinamide helps control oil to keep your skin balanced. Ceramides and hydrolyzed hyaluronic acid add lightweight hydration, and hectorite clay helps absorb extra oil without leaving your skin dry.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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 do Ceramides do for oily acne-prone skin?
Ceramides help restore the protective barrier of oily, acne-prone skin, which often lacks these vital lipids and suffers from moisture loss and irritation. Using products with ceramides supports skin hydration, calms redness, and improves overall texture while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes into your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step. It helps wash away excess oil and dirt while keeping your skin comfortable, with a safe formula that is unlikely to cause irritation.
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 in the same routine as retinol by applying the cleanser first to clean your skin, and following it with your retinol treatment once your face is dry. Using a gentle cleanser that supports your skin barrier helps keep your skin comfortable while using active ingredients like retinol.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine to help clear pores and control oil on oily, acne-prone skin. It features salicylic acid and gluconolactone for gentle exfoliation alongside ceramides and hyaluronic acid to support skin comfort.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily, acne-prone skin because salicylic acid and gluconolactone clear out clogged pores and control oil. It is unlikely to cause breakouts, though a low purging phase may happen as your skin adjusts to the active ingredients.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, particularly for oily areas, but you should avoid using it directly around the delicate eye area. The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the rest of the body, and active ingredients like salicylic acid may cause irritation there.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Gluconolactone 14% solution significantly improved mild to moderate acne by reducing inflamed and non-inflamed lesions similarly to 5% benzoyl peroxide, but with fewer side-effects in 150 patients.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1992Twice 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, 2024Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019The 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, 2023Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Topical 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, 2005Twice-weekly use of a clay mask over 4 weeks in 75 adults with oily or combination skin improved acne-related outcomes, sebum content, skin evenness, hydration, and reduced dryness and irritation.
Skin Research and Technology, 2023Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.
Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012Laponite/mafenide hydrogels and films successfully released active mafenide with antibacterial effects against three tested bacterial species while reducing mafenide cytotoxicity on fibroblast cells.
Journal of Materials Science. Materials in Medicine, 2014A 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, 2001
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Niacinamide, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Gluconolactone, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Calcium Gluconate, Triethyl Citrate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Cholesterol, Coconut Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate, Hectorite, Phytosphingosine, Xanthan Gum, Acrylates Copolymer, Benzoic 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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