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Cetaphil Oil Control for oily acne-prone skin

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

Cetaphil Oil Control

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and salicylic acid help decongest pores and provide supportive benefits for acne and breakouts.
  • Camellia sinensis leaf extract and aloe provide antioxidant and soothing properties, which are beneficial for maintaining healthy skin.
  • The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.2Overall rating based on 3.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this 2-in-1 moisturizer and sunscreen is widely praised by users with oily and acne-prone skin for its ability to hydrate without clogging pores or causing breakouts. Many appreciate its lightweight, matte finish. A significant number of users report that the formula can cause severe stinging if it gets into the eyes.

Highlights

  • Lightweight texture Mostly Mentioned
    • “Non-greasy feel, absorbs quickly, goes on smooth”
  • Stings eyes Mostly Mentioned
    • “Stings badly, eyes water, irritates sensitive eyes”
  • Controls oil Often Mentioned
    • “Keeps face matte, reduces grease, prevents midday shine”
  • Effective sun protection Often Mentioned
    • “SPF 30 included, prevents sunburn, good daily defense”
  • Acne-friendly formula Sometimes Noted
    • “Non-comedogenic, doesn't cause breakouts, safe for sensitive skin”
  • Hydrating but light Sometimes Noted
    • “Moisturizes well, leaves skin soft, balances dry areas”
  • Leaves white cast Sometimes Noted
    • “Pale residue, looks ghostly, hard to blend”
  • Formula consistency Rarely Noted
    • “Too runny, thin liquid, separates in bottle”
  • Greasy finish Rarely Noted
    • “Feels oily later, not matte enough, heavy for some”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Smells like sunscreen, strong chemical odor, weird fragrance”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, iherb.com, ulta.com, samsclub.com, amazon.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Cetaphil Oil Control Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?

Cetaphil Oil Control Cleanser offers moderate cleansing for oily acne-prone skin, as its ingredients help clear pores and calm breakouts safely without irritation. For the best fit on this skin type, a cleanser needs soothing and effective ingredients like Niacinamide, Ceramides, or probiotics to balance oil production and maintain clarity while cleaning.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

This cleanser is a good fit for oily acne-prone skin because sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and salicylic acid help decongest pores, while camellia sinensis leaf extract and aloe soothe the skin. To work best for this skin type, a product of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, or glycerin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate do for oily acne-prone skin?

Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate is a cleansing ingredient that helps wash away excess oil, but it may decrease ceramides and alter the skin microbiome on oily, acne-prone skin. Because of this, an oily, acne-prone skin cleanser needs gentle surfactants and moisturizing ingredients that clean the skin without weakening its barrier or stripping away healthy lipids.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Dermatologic Therapy, 2004

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

This cleanser goes in the morning and evening steps of your routine before applying toners, treatments, and moisturizers. An average-fitting product for oily acne-prone skin needs deep pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid and soothing plant extracts to keep skin calm and clear without irritation.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first and following it with your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your oily acne-prone skin, but to give you the best fit, a product of this type needs stronger blemish-fighting ingredients and barrier-repairing components like ceramides.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. It helps clear pores and calm breakouts while keeping your skin comfortable, but oily acne-prone skin often needs stronger oil control and deeper pore-clearing ingredients to get the best results.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

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

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it contains salicylic acid to help clear out pores, but an average fit for your oily acne-prone skin means it would work better with added ingredients like clay or niacinamide to thoroughly control excess oil and shine.

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 safe to use on the body, but it is generally best to avoid applying salicylic acid cleansers directly around the delicate eye area. A product of this type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and non-irritating cleansers to safely care for thin skin.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

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, 2024

  • The 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, 2023

  • A 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, 2020

  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009

  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

  • 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

  • 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

  • Sodium 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, 2024

  • Coacervates formed from mixed micelles of sodium lauroylsarcosinate and cocamidopropyl betaine with cationic guar gum exhibited a dense porous structure with high viscoelastic modulus under strong electrostatic interactions, and a looser mesh structure with lower viscoelasticity and enhanced skin adsorption under weakened interactions.

    Soft Matter, 2024

  • Cryotherapy 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, 2010

  • Treatment 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, 2024

  • Topical 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, 2010

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Salicylic Acid

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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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Saudi Arabia.

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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