La Roche-Posay TOLERIANE PURIFYING FOAMING CLEANSER for acne-prone skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Ceramide Np
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 benefits for your combination skin, as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine effectively remove impurities and excess oil without causing irritation. Niacinamide and glycerin provide mild hydration and soothing effects, which are supportive for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The formula is highly suitable for combination skin, with niacinamide helping to regulate sebum production and glycerin acting as a humectant to balance oil and hydration.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your acne-prone skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
- This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 54.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle yet effective daily cleansing, suitable for normal to oily and sensitive skin. It successfully removes makeup and excess oil without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling clean and balanced. Many users report improved skin clarity and reduced pore visibility over time.
Highlights
Gentle & Non-Stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “doesn't feel squeaky”
- “gentle but effective”
Effective Cleansing Often Mentioned
- “removes all makeup”
- “cleanses dirt and oil”
- “pores look smaller”
Skin Balancing Sometimes Noted
- “keeps oil at bay”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “helped clear my skin”
Texture & Lather Sometimes Noted
- “foams nicely”
- “light and foamy”
- “a little goes a long way”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “completely dried out skin”
- “flaky texture”
- “too drying for me”
Irritation/Breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “burning sensation”
- “gave me little bumps”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump broken”
- “mold in pump”
- “leaking bottle”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “smells like ammonia”
- “medicinal smell”
- “smells like chemicals”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, ulta.com, target.com, dermstore.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works well for acne-prone skin, as it gently removes excess oil and impurities without causing irritation. It helps calm breakouts with niacinamide and glycerin, though other products fit this skin type better. A cleanser for acne-prone skin needs powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, strong cleansing performance, and barrier-repairing agents to keep the skin balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide and glycerin make this cleanser a good fit because they help calm blemishes and provide mild hydration without causing irritation. Acne-prone skin needs a product of this type that is exceptionally safe, effectively addresses breakouts with powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, and performs its cleansing function excellently.
What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
What does Niacinamide do for acne-prone skin?
Niacinamide helps acne-prone skin by reducing both inflamed and uninflamed breakouts and calming redness. It is also very helpful for keeping oily skin balanced by cutting down on excess oil production, and it is well tolerated by most people.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in both your morning and evening routines, used right after your makeup remover at night and before your toner and moisturizer. It helps wash away excess oil and impurities gently, though acne-prone skin often does better with a product that includes stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and targeted pore-clearing actives.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation, but acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also includes soothing ingredients and barrier-repairing ceramides to handle retinoid dryness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This product works for your skin, though an acne-prone skin type often benefits more from a cleanser that includes targeted acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to better manage breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for acne-prone skin because it has an excellent safety profile with no harsh or prohibited ingredients. However, because it is an average fit, acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that balances oil control with extra soothing ingredients and deep hydration to truly prevent breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as its gentle ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation. This type of product needs mild cleansers that remove impurities without stripping moisture, alongside soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and glycerin to keep sensitive areas calm and soft.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser decreased prokaryotic microbial alpha diversity, altered prokaryotic microbiome structure, increased phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and decreased ceramides on facial skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A 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, 2005
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Niacinamide, Ceramide Np, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Citric Acid, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol
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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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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