Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser for oily skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Ascorbic Acid
CarnosineHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin as salicylic acid effectively decongests pores and manages oiliness, while glycerin provides essential moisture. Panthenol and tocopheryl acetate further support skin hydration and offer antioxidant benefits, complementing the primary cleansing action.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
- This cleanser offers excellent pore decongestion and helps manage 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with aging, dry, or textured skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to gently exfoliate without stripping moisture, often reporting softer and smoother skin immediately after use. While it is highly effective for daily cleansing and makeup removal, some users with oily skin find the creamy, non-foaming formula leaves a moisturizing film that they perceive as greasy.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “tiny beads aren't harsh”
- “perfect amount of grit”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “smooths without scratching”
Non-drying formula Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “face feels moisturized”
- “no tight feeling after”
- “creamy and soothing”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels like silk”
- “helped with rough patches”
- “face is much smoother”
- “softens fine lines”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “melts away foundation”
- “removes mascara easily”
- “cleans all makeup off”
- “no residue left behind”
Pleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “light fresh scent”
- “smells clean”
- “nice mild fragrance”
- “not too perfumey”
Does not lather Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't foam at all”
- “miss the bubbles”
- “feels like washing with lotion”
- “hard to spread without suds”
Leaves residue Sometimes Noted
- “feels like a coating”
- “leaves a greasy film”
- “hard to rinse off”
- “felt waxy afterwards”
Formula changes Rarely Noted
- “thinner than before”
- “watered down formula”
- “beads are different”
- “not as creamy as it used to be”
Scent too strong Rarely Noted
- “smell is overwhelming”
- “too much perfume”
- “scent lingers too long”
- “gave me a headache”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, chemistwarehouse.com.au, shespeaks.com, tryandreview.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because salicylic acid effectively clears out pores and controls oily shine, while glycerin adds essential moisture without feeling heavy. It is safe for oily skin and avoids harsh ingredients that might cause irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Salicylic acid makes this cleanser a great fit because it helps clear out pores and manage oily shine, while glycerin keeps skin hydrated without feeling heavy. Vitamin E and panthenol further support the skin with extra moisture and gentle comfort.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Scientific Reports, 2025
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
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
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines. It helps manage oily shine and decongest pores safely without causing irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol, but it is best to use them at different times of day to keep your skin calm. Use this cleanser in the morning to clear pores and manage oil, and save your retinol for your evening routine to avoid dryness or irritation.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin because salicylic acid helps clear out pores and manage oily shine, while glycerin and other ingredients keep skin hydrated without irritation. You can use it daily in your morning and evening routines to keep your skin clean and balanced.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because salicylic acid effectively decongests pores and manages oiliness, and the formula is safe without harsh ingredients that may cause irritation. It helps clear away buildup while supporting skin hydration.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin, but you should avoid using it around the delicate eye area where skin is very thin. It is safe to use on the body to help manage oiliness and clear pores.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Co-encapsulation of alpha-tocopherol and alpha-tocopheryl acetate in nanostructured lipid carrier gel formulations significantly enhanced moisture retention up to 68% and improved skin elasticity in human volunteers compared to a solution gel.
Scientific Reports, 2025Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.
CMAJ, 2010A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.
BioMed Research International, 2020Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.
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, 2001Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A topical antioxidant serum significantly reduced air pollution-induced skin pigmentation and proinflammatory gene expression ex vivo, and improved skin aging signs in 40 healthy adult females after 90 days of daily use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022A night cream containing melatonin, carnosine, and Helichrysum italicum extract reduced oxidative stress ex vivo and improved hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased wrinkles and spots, and lowered skin reactivity in 117 individuals over up to 12 weeks of nightly use.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2020Supramolecular carnosine improves skin reactivity, upregulates Nrf2 expression, activates antioxidant defenses, and reduces AGE levels while demonstrating whitening efficacy in cells and clinical tests compared to conventional carnosine.
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2024A targeted skincare regimen containing active ingredients such as rhodophyceae extract, ergothioneine, and L-carnosine significantly reduced transepidermal water loss by 24.09%, improved skin elasticity, and decreased redness, dryness, and desquamation in thirty-five female Chinese participants over 4 weeks following advanced optimal pulse technology treatment.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Ingredients
Water, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Betaine, Hydrated Silica, Salicylic Acid, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Carnosine, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Ppg-30, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Disodium Edta
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
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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