La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra for oily acne-prone skin
La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water
Poloxamer 124
Glycerin
Peg-7 Caprylic Capric Glycerides
Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other products 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 Poloxamer 124 and Poloxamer 184 effectively lift dirt and impurities without causing irritation. Glycerin is present to provide a soothing effect, supporting your skin's comfort.
- While beneficial for general cleansing, the formula lacks specific ingredients to actively target your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the inclusion of soothing components.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM or PM routine. Start using it daily to help manage your oily skin.
- Apply this micellar water as your first step before your cleanser and the rest of your routine.
- Pour some micellar water onto a cotton pad and gently wipe it across your face. Avoid harsh rubbing.
- Apply the micellar water on dry skin to effectively remove excess oil and impurities.
- Do a patch test before your first use. Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 1.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with sensitive and reactive skin frequently praise this product for its ability to remove makeup and impurities without triggering redness or tightness. While the "Sensitive Skin" version contains a light fragrance that divides opinion, the formula is widely celebrated for leaving the skin barrier feeling hydrated and intact rather than stripped.
Highlights
Effective cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “removes waterproof mascara”
- “melts foundation”
- “cleans pollution”
- “no harsh rubbing”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no stinging”
- “calms redness”
- “soothing sensation”
Convenience Sometimes Noted
- “no rinse needed”
- “quick morning cleanse”
- “great for travel”
- “easy glide”
Hydrating finish Sometimes Noted
- “no tight feeling”
- “skin feels soft”
- “contains glycerin”
- “moisturizing residue”
Fragrance presence Sometimes Noted
- “strong floral scent”
- “irritating perfume”
- “smell lingers”
- “unexpected in sensitive product”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricier than Garnier”
- “small bottle for price”
- “costly daily use”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings eyes”
- “blurry vision”
- “burns slightly”
- “irritates contacts”
Sticky residue Rarely Noted
- “leaves tacky film”
- “needs rinsing”
- “feels heavy”
- “slightly sticky”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, ulta.com, lovelyskin.com, target.com, beautycrew.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Roche-Posay Micellar Water Ultra work for oily acne-prone skin?
This micellar water works for your skin by gently lifting dirt without causing irritation, though a product of this type needs powerful ingredients to actively target breakouts and clear blemishes for an ideal fit.
Which ingredients make this micellar water a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Poloxamer 124, Poloxamer 184, and glycerin make this micellar water a good fit by gently lifting dirt while keeping your skin soft and comfortable. However, a product of this type needs powerful ingredients to actively target breakouts, clear blemishes, and control oil for this skin.
What does Thermal Spring Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Thermal spring water helps calm angry, oily skin and reduces redness, stinging, and discomfort. It is gentle enough to use alongside acne treatments to keep skin comfortable and less dry.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2007The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024
What does Poloxamer 124 do for oily acne-prone skin?
Poloxamer 124 is a gentle cleansing ingredient that helps remove excess oil and dirt from oily, acne-prone skin without stripping away essential moisture. Cleansers formulated with mild ingredients like this are unlikely to cause heavy skin barrier damage or irritation while keeping the face clean. To work best for acne-prone skin, this type of product needs to clean deeply while maintaining skin barrier health and avoiding harsh irritation.
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This micellar water is used in the evening routine as a makeup remover before cleansing, or as part of a weekly routine. It lifts dirt comfortably without irritation, but oily acne-prone skin needs a product that also includes specific ingredients to actively target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
Can I use this micellar water with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this micellar water before your retinol product to gently lift away dirt without causing irritation. Because this formula does not actively target breakouts, oily acne-prone skin needs cleansers or treatments with blemish-fighting ingredients to properly manage acne.
How often should I use it?
You can use this micellar water daily as part of your cleansing routine, as it gently lifts dirt without causing irritation. To properly address oily acne-prone skin, a product of this type needs dedicated blemish-fighting and oil-balancing ingredients.
Can this micellar water clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This micellar water is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin because it gently lifts dirt without harsh ingredients. However, it lacks specific active ingredients to target blemishes, so oily acne-prone skin needs a cleanser with ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to actively clear breakouts.
Is it 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, 2017Balneotherapy 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, 2023Malaysian 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, 2024A 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, 2025The 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, 2012
Why other products fit oily acne-prone skin better
A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Peg-7 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Poloxamer 124, Poloxamer 184, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Polysorbate 80, Disodium Edta, Bht, Myrtrimonium Bromide
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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