Prequel GLEANSER for oily skin
Glycerin
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Inulin
Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 cleansing for your oily skin, as cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium cocoamphodiacetate effectively remove impurities without causing irritation due to the presence of soothing glycerin and aloe barbadensis leaf juice.
- While glycerin and glyceryl glucoside provide humectant action to support your oily skin, the formula lacks specialized ingredients for optimal oil control to address oily shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation from harsh ingredients and a good balance of cleansing and soothing components.
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+ reviewsA significant number of reviews also highlight its excellent value and large size. Some users find the unique, viscous texture unappealing and report difficulty rinsing the product completely, while a small number experienced breakouts or irritation.
Highlights
Very hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “skin felt like I'd applied a very light moisturizer”
- “kept me hydrated while cleansing”
- “saved my skin from peeling”
- “no tight dry feeling anymore”
Great value Often Mentioned
- “massive by face-wash standards”
- “can't think of a better value”
- “13.5 oz bottle lasts forever”
- “sub-$20 price is a steal”
Soothes sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “calmed my redness”
- “didn't sting my sensitive skin”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “bouncy and a little viscous”
- “luxurious texture”
- “thick and lovely”
- “feels like a cushion”
Difficult to rinse Sometimes Noted
- “hard to wash fully off”
- “leaves a weird film”
- “feels like it hasn't rinsed off”
- “need a washcloth to remove it”
Unappealing texture Sometimes Noted
- “texture reminds me of snot”
- “thick and slimy”
- “consistency is like lube”
- “too gooey”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke out my blemish free skin”
- “turned my face bright red”
- “caused clogged pores”
- “gave me the worst flare”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “pump doesn't lock”
- “leaked in the box”
- “bottle slipped and top broke”
- “hard to travel with”
Sources: lovi.care, target.com, prequelskin.com, reddit.com, nymag.com, newbeauty.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Prequel GLEANSER work for oily skin?
Prequel GLEANSER is an average fit for oily skin, as it cleans away impurities and keeps skin calm without causing irritation, though it lacks targeted ingredients for oil control. Cleansers that fit oily skin better need ingredients that actively manage oiliness while keeping the skin clear and balanced.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycerin, aloe vera, and gentle cleansers help this cleanser wash away impurities without causing irritation. Oily skin also needs ingredients that actively control shine and manage excess oil.
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 Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily skin?
Aloe vera leaf juice helps hydrate oily skin by increasing water content in the outer skin layer without adding heavy oils or modifying water loss. It is also often combined with treatments to help calm redness and reduce acne breakouts.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Skin Research and Technology, 2006
Where does it go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for oily skin, right before hydrating toner or makeup remover. A cleanser of this type for oily skin needs ingredients for optimal oil control to better manage oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it gently removes impurities with soothing ingredients, though oily skin of this type needs specialized oil-control ingredients to properly manage shine.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Mild cleansers of this type help remove impurities safely when used daily, though oily skin needs additional oil-controlling ingredients for optimal shine management.
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 cleans away impurities safely without harsh irritation. Reviewers rarely report breakouts from it, though an oily skin routine often needs specialized ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to properly control excess shine.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as it features well-tolerated cleansing ingredients that gently remove impurities without causing irritation. Oily skin in these areas generally benefits from cleansers that balance gentle cleansing agents with soothing components.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of glyceryl glucoside significantly increased AQP3 mRNA levels and reduced transepidermal water loss compared with vehicle-controlled areas in volunteer subjects.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2012Topical oil-in-water and water-in-oil emulsions containing glyceryl glucoside, natural moisturizing factors, and ceramide significantly improved skin hydration and barrier function while reducing visible dryness and tactile roughness in subjects with very dry skin compared to untreated sites and vehicles.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2012A 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, 2001A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
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, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Glycerin, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Sodium Chloride, Inulin, Dihydroxypropyl Arginine Hcl, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour, Glyceryl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-10, Citric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate, Lecithin, Xanthan Gum, Pentylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide
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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Medical Board
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.