Simple Refreshing Facial Wash for oily skin
Panthenol Vitamin B5
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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
- Highly suitable for your oily skin due to niacinamide and zinc pca, which help regulate sebum and reduce inflammation, though it lacks specialized ingredients to fully manage oily shine.
- The presence of cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium laureth sulfate offers moderate cleansing benefits for oily skin by aiding in impurity removal.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh or prohibited ingredients.
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+ reviewsThis gel-based cleanser is widely praised as a gentle, no-nonsense staple for sensitive and acne-prone skin, effectively removing daily dirt and oil without stripping the moisture barrier. While most users find it non-drying and refreshing, a minority complain about a "slimy" film that is difficult to rinse off or report that it struggles to remove heavy waterproof makeup.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't burn my eyes”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “no redness after use”
Effective daily cleanser Often Mentioned
- “Best morning cleanser”
- “great second cleanse”
- “removes daily grime”
- “reliable everyday wash”
Non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels soft not dry”
- “doesn't leave face tight”
- “good for dry winter skin”
- “gentle moisture barrier protection”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “No strong smell”
- “love that it's unscented”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “smells clean and simple”
Slimy residue Sometimes Noted
- “Feels slimy on skin”
- “takes forever to rinse”
- “leaves a film”
- “hard to wash off completely”
Weak on makeup Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't touch waterproof mascara”
- “need a separate makeup remover”
- “left foundation residue”
- “not for heavy makeup”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Gave me tiny red spots”
- “caused closed comedones”
- “broke me out after a week”
- “skin reacted badly”
Chemical smell Rarely Noted
- “Smells like chemicals”
- “weird plastic scent”
- “has an odd odor”
- “smell is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, simpleskincare.in, amazon.com, makeupalley.com, cosmeticsarena.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Simple Refreshing Facial Wash work for oily skin?
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is an average fit for oily skin because, while niacinamide and zinc pca help control oil and reduce redness safely, it lacks specialized ingredients to fully manage oily shine. Cleansers that fit oily skin better need ingredients like ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to effectively manage shine and support skin health without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Niacinamide and zinc PCA make this cleanser a good fit because they help control oil and soothe your skin. To better manage oily shine, an oily skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients like ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics.
What does Panthenol do for oily skin?
Panthenol helps regulate sebum and reduce redness for oily skin while keeping it hydrated. It is very well tolerated and is unlikely to cause adverse reactions across oily skin types.
What does Niacinamide do for oily skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily skin by significantly reducing excess oil production and shine. It is well tolerated and may improve skin texture without clogging pores.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Antioxidants, 2021
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes into both your morning and evening routines as the first step after removing makeup at night. Oily skin works best with cleansers that feature purifying and oil-balancing ingredients like niacinamide and zinc pca, while also needing specialized ingredients to fully manage oily shine.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it is safe and unlikely to cause irritation. Oily skin using this type of product alongside retinol also needs specialized ingredients to fully manage oily shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It gently removes impurities and helps manage oil, but oily skin also needs specialized ingredients to fully control shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is unlikely to cause breakouts for oily skin since it has a very low risk of irritation, though reviewers occasionally report minor breakouts. A cleanser for oily skin like this needs strong shine-controlling ingredients and deep pore-clearing agents to fully prevent clogged pores.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes since it has a very safe profile with no harsh ingredients. However, for oily skin, a cleanser of this type also needs specialized ingredients to fully manage oily shine.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2002Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Topical 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, 2021Topical 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, 2008Topical 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, 2005Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012The 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, 2003Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.
Langmuir, 2014
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, 2019Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Niacinamide, Zinc Pca, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Edta, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
How does it fit your skin?
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