SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser for oily skin
Glycolic Acid
Phytic Acid
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Salicylic Acid
GlycerinHigh
- 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
- Offers excellent exfoliation for your oily skin, as glycolic acid and salicylic acid effectively smooth texture and provide seboregulation to combat oily shine.
- The inclusion of Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice offers soothing benefits, complementing the active ingredients for your oily skin.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, with no harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing agents like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsUsers with dull, rough, or acne-prone skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to refine texture and boost radiance without stripping moisture. While the majority find it to be an effective "reset" for their complexion that removes makeup well, a significant subset of users experiences frustration with the packaging durability and occasional sensitivity.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “gentle yet powerful exfoliation”
- “did not sting or burn”
- “cleans thoroughly without over-drying”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “visible improvement in texture and clarity”
- “made my skin more supple and smooth”
- “removes dead skin cells to smooth”
Packaging issues Often Mentioned
- “top seam splits”
- “tube expanded and became unusable”
- “packaging just deteriorates so fast”
Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
- “makes my skin clear and glowy”
- “boosts skin's natural glow”
- “helps deliver a clear and bright complexion”
Deep cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes all traces of makeup”
- “removes oil, dirt, and debris”
- “gets the skin incredibly clean”
Skin sensitivity Sometimes Noted
- “burn/sting your skin something fierce”
- “not for sensitive skin”
- “had to cut back usage due to sensitivity”
Lack of brightening Rarely Noted
- “haven't noticed much in the way of brightening”
- “no striking difference”
- “didn't see major changes in tone”
Sources: lovi.care, skinceuticals.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, bluemercury.com, realself.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?
SkinCeuticals Glycolic Renewal Cleanser is a great fit because glycolic acid and salicylic acid smooth texture and help control oily shine. Aloe barbadensis leaf juice provides soothing benefits to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid and salicylic acid make this cleanser a great fit by effectively smoothing texture and controlling oily shine, while aloe barbadensis leaf juice helps soothe the skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
What does Phytic Acid do for oily skin?
Phytic acid helps clear active acne and fades post-acne dark spots while smoothing oily skin. A product of this type needs acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or mandelic acid to properly manage breakouts and uneven tone on oily skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes first in your morning and evening routine, before toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen or treatments. It provides great exfoliation with glycolic acid and salicylic acid to smooth texture and control oily shine, while aloe juice helps keep your skin calm.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but it is best to use them at different times of the day or on alternate nights to prevent irritation. Using this cleanser in the morning and your retinol at night helps keep your skin smooth while minimizing the risk of dryness and redness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start by using this cleanser once a week, and if your skin handles it well and you see good results, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps your skin adjust to the exfoliating acids while keeping your skin calm and smooth.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser helps clear oily shine and smooth texture using glycolic and salicylic acids, which is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts. However, because it deeply exfoliates, you may experience some initial skin sensitivity as it clears your skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is not ideal for the thin skin around the eyes due to its strong exfoliating acids, but it works well on the body where skin is thicker. Its formulation helps smooth texture and control shine safely.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (citral).
What the research says
Twice 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, 2024The 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, 2023A 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, 2020A 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, 2018Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017L-ascorbic acid 10% plus phytic acid 2% serum significantly reduced the pigmentation index of solar lentigines compared to a vehicle control in 30 healthy subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2011Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019A topical facial emulsion containing 10% glycolic acid, 2% phytic acid, and a soothing complex significantly improved skin hyperpigmentation, texture, and tone homogeneity from week 4 through week 12 in American female volunteers with Fitzpatrick skin types II-VI.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010A 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Glycolic Acid, Coco-Glucoside, Propylene Glycol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Hydroxide, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phytic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Dipropylene Glycol, Coconut Acid, Caprylyl Glycol, Salicylic Acid, Chlorphenesin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Boswellia Serrata Gum, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Oil, Citral, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Tocopherol
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
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