La Roche-Posay TOLERIANE PURIFYING FOAMING CLEANSER for oily skin
Glycerin
Niacinamide
Ceramide Np
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers 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 suitability for your oily skin as Glycerin and Niacinamide provide hydration and help regulate sebum, though stronger ingredients for optimal oil control are lacking.
- The cleansing agents, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine, effectively cleanse pores, supporting your goal of reducing oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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 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 oily skin?
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Purifying Foaming Cleanser offers moderate suitability for oily skin, as its ingredients provide hydration and help manage shine, though it lacks stronger ingredients for optimal oil control. To best fit oily skin, a cleanser of this type needs powerful oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid and probiotics to effectively target excess oil and acne.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin and Niacinamide help provide hydration and regulate sebum, while gentle cleansing agents effectively clean pores to reduce oily shine. To work best for oily skin, this type of cleanser needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid and probiotics.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
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
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first or second step to wash away oily shine safely. Oily skin works best with products that include stronger oil-controlling ingredients to properly balance shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. Oily skin also benefits from stronger oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine best.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works fine for daily use on your oily skin as it gently clears pores without causing irritation. Oily skin often benefits from an effective cleanser paired with stronger oil-controlling ingredients and mattifying actives to keep shine completely under control.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it cleanses pores effectively without harsh or irritating ingredients. A product for this skin needs stronger oil-controlling ingredients to manage shine best.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is generally best to avoid the very thin skin directly around the eyes. Because facial cleansers are formulated for the face, body skin may need richer moisturizers or stronger cleansers depending on your specific needs.
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, 2017Sodium 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, 2024The 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
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
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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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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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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.