La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil for oily skin
Niacinamide
Shea Butter
La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water
Glycerin
Vitreoscilla FermentCaution
- CautionOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for oily skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 sodium laureth sulfate and coco-betaine help remove impurities, but Peg-75 Shea Glycerides Butter can provide emollient actions not ideal for managing excess sebum.
- The formula provides general skincare benefits like hydration and soothing, which are supportive but not directly targeted at reducing oily shine.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 9.0k+ reviewsWhile many appreciate its gentle, hydrating, and versatile nature for face and body, a significant number of reviews mention it functions more like a foaming gel than a traditional oil, and some dislike its natural scent or experience eye irritation.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “Leaves skin feeling soft”
- “Doesn't strip moisture”
- “No tight feeling after”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “Safe for my baby”
- “Soothing on reactive skin”
Not a true oil Often Mentioned
- “More like a gel”
- “Doesn't dissolve waterproof makeup”
- “Expected a cleansing balm”
Effective second cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “Perfect morning cleanser”
- “Removes sunscreen residue”
- “Great second step cleanse”
Versatile for face/body Sometimes Noted
- “Use it head to toe”
- “Huge bottle lasts forever”
- “Convenient for shower use”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “Smells like plastic”
- “Odd chemical scent”
- “Scent is off-putting”
Causes eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “Stings my eyes bad”
- “Burns if it gets in eyes”
- “Not eye-safe”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Pump arrived broken”
- “Leaked in the box”
- “Dispenser stops working”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, walmart.com, ulta.com, lovelyskin.com, laroche-posay.us, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with the La Roche-Posay Lipikar AP+ Gentle Foaming Cleansing Oil for oily skin?
Lovi advises caution because while it removes impurities, its shea butter derivative provides heavy softening that is not ideal for managing excess shine. Oily skin needs a cleanser with ingredients like salicylic acid, ceramides, or niacinamide to target oiliness and control shine without heavy softening agents.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?
Peg-75 Shea Glycerides Butter makes this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin because it provides extra softening and smoothing actions that are not ideal for managing excess sebum. An oily skin cleanser needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to control shine and support skin health without causing irritation.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
What does Shea Butter do for oily skin?
Shea butter may feel too heavy for oily skin and is unlikely to be the best fit without careful testing. This skin type needs light, non-greasy moisturizers and ingredients that balance oil production without clogging pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for oily skin, though its rich shea ingredients are not ideal for managing excess shine. Oily skin needs lightweight cleansers with clarifying ingredients that remove excess oil without heavy softening ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but it is a poor match because its heavy ingredients do not help manage excess sebum. To properly care for oily skin, a cleanser of this type needs lightweight ingredients that remove excess oil without adding extra moisture.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine, though it may not be the ideal match for managing excess sebum on oily skin. Oily skin types typically need cleansers with ingredients that help clear away excess oil and impurities without adding rich softening agents.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is a poor match for oily skin and may contribute to clogged pores or breakouts because shea butter and related ingredients can add extra richness that is not ideal for managing excess sebum. Oily skin needs lightweight, balancing cleansers with ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide that help clear away oil and impurities without leaving a heavy layer behind.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is suitable for use on the body and around the eyes, where the skin is much thinner and benefits from gentle cleansing. Because it contains hydrating and soothing ingredients, it helps maintain moisture without harsh irritation.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 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, 2005A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025A formulation containing vitamin C, biopeptides, hyaluronic acid, and mineralizing water accelerated cell turnover to 17.1 days versus 19.2 days for untreated skin, and reduced crow's-feet, forehead, and nasolabial folds by 9%, 11%, and 5% respectively after 28 days in female subjects.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2021The 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, 2012A dermocosmetic formulation containing Vichy volcanic mineralizing water, Vitreoscilla filiformis extract, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E accelerated skin renewal, improved antioxidant defenses, enhanced skin barrier recovery after acute stress, and improved microbiome recovery compared to untreated skin.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022The combination of Vitreoscilla filiformis extract and Vichy volcanic mineralizing water strengthens the skin barrier by stimulating skin differentiation and tight junctions, enhances biochemical defenses via antimicrobial peptides, and supports cellular immune defenses by increasing the IL-10/IL-12 ratio and protecting Langerhans cells from ultraviolet radiation compared to controls.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sucrose, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Coco-Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Niacinamide, Parfum, Peg-75 Shea Glycerides Butter, Polysorbate 20, Ppg-5-Ceteth-20, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Hydroxide, Vitreoscilla Ferment
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
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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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