Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Panthenol Vitamin B5
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate
Superior
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for oily acne-prone skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your oily skin and acne concerns is provided by niacinamide, which effectively regulates oil production and reduces inflammation, complemented by glycerin for optimal hydration.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate offer superior pore-cleansing action, addressing your additional goal of managing oiliness.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring a gentle formula with no harsh ingredients and incorporating soothing 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 1.4k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this cleanser as a gentle, non-stripping option ideal for sensitive, combination, and oily skin types, noting that it effectively removes dirt and oil without disrupting the moisture barrier. While the majority report softer, balanced skin, a subset of long-time users expressed dissatisfaction with the recent formula change, citing issues with the new scent and occasional irritation.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “cleans without stripping”
- “doesn't leave skin tight”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “skin feels soft”
- “no over-scrubbed sensation”
Safe for sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no redness or irritation”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't cause breakouts”
- “hypoallergenic formula”
Dermatologist recommended Sometimes Noted
- “recommended by my derm”
- “staple brand”
- “trusted for years”
- “doctor suggested”
- “classic skincare staple”
Effective daily cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes excess oil”
- “reliable everyday face wash”
- “skin feels fresh”
- “good morning cleanser”
- “minimizes pores”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “struggles with heavy makeup”
- “need a second cleanse”
- “leaves residue behind”
- “not for waterproof makeup”
Scent complaints Sometimes Noted
- “smells like masking fragrance”
- “scent is too strong”
- “smells like chemical/glue”
- “preferred the old smell”
- “weird perfume odor”
Hydrating ingredients Rarely Noted
- “contains niacinamide”
- “hydrating glycerin”
- “leaves skin moisturized”
- “vitamin B5 included”
- “helps moisture barrier”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “dried out my cheeks”
- “skin felt tight”
- “caused flaky patches”
- “not hydrating enough”
- “stripped my natural oils”
Formula change irritation Rarely Noted
- “new formula burns”
- “caused stinging”
- “face turned red”
- “broke me out”
- “irritated my eyes”
Texture issues Rarely Noted
- “feels slimy”
- “leaves a film”
- “hard to rinse off”
- “too runny”
- “lotion-like consistency”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, influenster.com, walmart.com, cetaphil.com, byrdie.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser one of the best fits for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is one of the best fits for your oily acne-prone skin because niacinamide helps control extra oil and calm redness, while glycerin keeps your skin hydrated without feeling heavy. Cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate also provide deep pore-cleansing action to manage oiliness safely with a gentle, non-harsh formula.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide, glycerin, cocamidopropyl betaine, and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate make this cleanser a great fit by helping control oil, soothe breakouts, and clean deep into pores while keeping your skin hydrated.
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 this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is used in both your morning and evening routines as the first step before applying toners, treatments, and moisturizers. A consistent daily cleansing routine helps improve skin condition safely without harsh ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first both morning and evening, followed by your retinol treatment. This gentle formula with no harsh ingredients helps keep your skin calm while you use stronger treatments.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this gentle cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. It features niacinamide and glycerin to help calm and hydrate your skin while managing excess oil.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 skin because it features a gentle formula designed to clean deeply without harsh ingredients. Ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin help regulate oil and keep skin balanced and calm.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should use it with care around the eyes since that area is much thinner and more sensitive than the rest of the face. The gentle formula is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, making it safe for general cleansing.
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, 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, 2005Topical 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, 2002Moisturizer 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, 2000The 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Masking, Sodium Chloride, 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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