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Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser for acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser

Average

  • AverageCombination 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 suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and panthenol vitamin b5 provide hydration and soothing effects beneficial for acne and blemishes, but lack sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on oily areas.
  • The cleansing agents decyl glucoside and lauryl glucoside effectively remove impurities, supporting your overall skincare needs.
  • The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your combination 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

★4.5Overall rating based on 600+ reviews

This cleanser is highly praised for its ability to hydrate and soften the skin, making it a favorite for those with dry, sensitive, or aging skin concerns. While it excels at daily cleansing and improving overall skin texture, some users find it less effective at removing heavy or waterproof makeup.

Highlights

  • Leaves skin soft Often Mentioned
    • “My skin feels soft and moisturized after washing.”
    • “Within 1 week, you'll reveal soft, smooth skin.”
    • “Face is soft and smooth after every use.”
  • Non-drying formula Often Mentioned
    • “Cleanses without leaving skin feeling tight or stripped.”
    • “Removes dirt, oil, and impurities without drying skin out.”
    • “Never taut or dry.”
  • Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
    • “Did not irritate my sensitive skin.”
    • “Great for sensitive skin or combination skin.”
    • “Dermatologist tested formula make it approachable for most skin types.”
  • Improves skin texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Noticed an improvement in the clarity of my skin.”
    • “Smooths rough patches and refines texture.”
    • “My skin went from dull to brighter.”
  • Weak makeup removal Sometimes Noted
    • “Struggle with eye makeup.”
    • “Heavier or waterproof formulas might require a dedicated remover.”
    • “Not a powerhouse for heavy makeup removal.”
  • Minimal lather Rarely Noted
    • “This is not a foaming, big lathering cleanser.”
    • “It doesn't have much lather.”
    • “There's absolutely zero lather with this.”
  • Polarizing scent Rarely Noted
    • “If you don't like scents or are sensitive to scents you might want to think twice.”
    • “The cleanser has a noticeable floral scent.”

Sources: lovi.care, olay.com, walmart.com, youtube.com, skinsort.com, thingtesting.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?

Olay Smoothing Daily Facial Cleanser works moderately well for acne-prone skin, providing gentle cleansing along with glycerin and panthenol to keep the skin calm and hydrated. However, it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on oily areas. A cleanser for this skin needs powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to effectively address acne and blemishes while balancing oily and dry areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin and panthenol vitamin b5 make this cleanser a good fit for your acne-prone skin by providing hydration and soothing effects that help calm blemishes. To work even better for this skin type, a cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides for oil control and barrier repair.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Retinol do for acne-prone skin?

Retinol helps acne-prone skin by speeding up cell turnover and clearing pores to reduce breakouts. It regulates skin growth and fights inflammation, though it may cause some mild peeling or stinging when you first start using it.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2022The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

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.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Cureus, 2024

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser goes in your morning routine as the first step, and in your evening routine as the second step after a makeup remover. It gently washes away impurities while providing soothing hydration, though acne-prone skin needs additional oil-controlling ingredients for an ideal fit.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can I use this cleanser with vitamin C, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with vitamin C by washing your face with the cleanser first and applying your vitamin C serum right after. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on your acne-prone skin, but a cleanser for this skin also needs ingredients to help control oil on oily areas.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is gentle on your skin, though an acne-prone skin type needs oil-controlling ingredients for the best results.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin, as it has a good safety profile without harsh ingredients. However, because it lacks sufficient oil-controlling ingredients, acne-prone skin needs a cleanser that also includes ingredients to balance oil.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is unlikely to irritate the thin skin around the eyes or on your body because it contains gentle cleansing agents and soothing ingredients like glycerin and panthenol. However, acne-prone skin on the body and face often needs targeted ingredients for better oil control.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol and cetyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

  • 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, 2017

  • 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, 2017

  • Formulating sodium laureth sulphate with sodium laureth carboxylate and lauryl glucoside prevented significant decreases in cutaneous capacitance and reduced erythema and dryness in healthy volunteers compared to unsupplemented sodium laureth sulphate.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2014

  • Topical 0.4% retinol significantly increased epidermal thickness, dermal vascularity, and extracellular matrix production by stimulating keratinocyte proliferation, endothelial cell proliferation, and fibroblast activation in naturally aged human skin compared to vehicle.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

  • Topical bakuchiol 0.5% applied twice daily compared with retinol 0.5% applied daily significantly decreased wrinkle surface area and hyperpigmentation with no statistical difference between the compounds in 44 patients over 12 weeks, while retinol users reported more facial skin scaling and stinging.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2019

  • Silicone particles encapsulating retinol increased its half-life by 9-fold and yielded 12-23% lower skin irritation in human subjects compared to Microsponge particles while maintaining biological activity.

    Journal of Controlled Release, 2018

  • Topical 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, 2021

  • Topical 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, 2008

  • Topical 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

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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

  • Sodium trehalose sulfate decreased transepidermal water loss and increased stratum corneum water content in participants with low stratum corneum water content when applied for 4 weeks compared to placebo.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2024

  • Topical chloramphenicol-betamethasone combined with sodium hyaluronate/trehalose/carbomer gel compared to chloramphenicol-betamethasone alone reduced most subjective symptoms at 1 week but increased blurred vision at 4 weeks following strabismus surgery in 31 patients, with no significant differences in conjunctival inflammation between treatments.

    Journal of Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, 2019

  • Topical treatment with Thealoz Duo significantly improved dry eye disease symptoms, tear break-up time, and restored tear lipid layer functionality by reducing inflammatory response proteins in moderate to severe dry eye patients over 56 days.

    Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025

Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better

  • Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.

    Molecules, 2023

Ingredients

Water, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycerin, Trehalose, Petrolatum, Retinol, Niacinamide, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide-4 Peptide, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Mineral Oil, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethiconol, Steareth-21, Steareth-2, Stearic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Alcohol, Disodium Edta, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, 1.2-Hexanediol, 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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