ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser for oily skin
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
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 Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine effectively remove impurities and excess oil without causing irritation. Pterocarpus Soyauxii Extract Wood and Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract contribute to seboregulation, helping to manage oiliness.
- While the formula provides general cleansing benefits, it does not offer specialized ingredients to specifically target and reduce oily shine.
- The product is safe for your oily skin 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
★4.7Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsThis cleanser is highly rated for its ability to deeply cleanse pores and remove makeup without stripping the skin's natural moisture. It is often recommended for all skin types, including sensitive and post-procedure skin, leaving it feeling refreshed, soft, and hydrated. Some users find it to be expensive, and there are concerns about counterfeit products being sold online. A small number of users with very sensitive skin reported mild irritation due to fragrance or dye, and a few found it too drying.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes mascara and eye make-up”
- “Gets the make-up off”
- “Cleanses impurities for refreshed-feeling skin”
- “Takes off all the makeup including eye makeup.”
Non-stripping, hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Did not irritate her skin”
- “Never leaves the skin tight”
- “Leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed”
- “Doesn't strip essential moisture.”
Pleasant sensory experience Sometimes Noted
- “Love the clean feel”
- “Fresh smelling”
- “Luxurious lather”
- “Silky gel formulation”
- “Subtle grapefruit scent.”
Versatile for skin types Sometimes Noted
- “Ideal for all skin types”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Helps prevent congestion”
- “Safe for post-procedure skin.”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “On the pricier side”
- “Cost is high”
- “Expensive for a face wash”
- “Investment skincare.”
Risk of counterfeits Sometimes Noted
- “This online product must be an imitation”
- “Consistency is completely different”
- “Fake product on Amazon”
- “Seal was broken.”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “Left my skin dry”
- “Felt a bit tight after use”
- “Not hydrating enough for very dry skin.”
Fragrance/dye sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Has both a fragrance and a dye”
- “Avoid if allergic to fragrance”
- “Blue dye unnecessary”
- “Caused slight tingling.”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, influenster.com, amazon.com, youtube.com, facedr.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does ZO Gentle Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, removing excess oil and impurities without causing irritation. However, it lacks specialized ingredients to specifically target and reduce oily shine. To truly fit oily skin, a product of this type needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to help manage shine and support skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine wash away excess oil, while plant extracts help manage oiliness. An oily skin cleanser of this type needs balancing ingredients like Niacinamide, ceramides, or salicylic acid to better control oily shine.
What do Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids do for oily skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids help clean oily skin gently while preserving your skin barrier and keeping the surface soft and calm. This ingredient acts as a mild cleanser that is unlikely to cause dryness or irritation.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2025Dermatologic Therapy, 2004
What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for oily skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a cleansing ingredient that helps wash away excess oil and dirt from oily skin. While it is generally safe for use in wash-off products, it is unlikely to change oil production and may cause mild skin irritation in some people.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as your main cleansing step, and should be followed by a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning, or a cleansing toner, treatment, and moisturizer at night. To better control oily shine, this type of skin needs a cleanser with specialized oil-reducing ingredients.
Can I use it with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it right before your retinol step to wash your face. It is safe for your skin, but an oily skin routine also needs specialized ingredients to specifically target and reduce oily shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. A daily skincare regimen featuring a mild cleanser helps improve overall skin condition safely.
Can it clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it safely washes away excess oil and impurities without harsh ingredients. However, it does not include specialized ingredients to specifically target and reduce oily shine, so oily skin also needs oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is not specifically formulated for the extremely thin skin found around the eyes. While it washes the skin safely, cleansers for this skin work best when they feature targeted ingredients for delicate areas.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool).
What the research says
The 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, 2003A 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, 2001Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An 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, 2019Topical steroid withdrawal is driven by excess mitochondrial NAD+ metabolism that can be successfully targeted using complex I-inhibiting interventions such as metformin and berberine.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025Topical steroid withdrawal presents as a distinct dermatopathology characterized by burning, flushing, thermodysregulation, and elevated mitochondrial NAD+ oxidation, which can be improved by targeting complex I with metformin or berberine.
MedRxiv, 2024Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020
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, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical 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, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Glycerin, Pterocarpus Soyauxii Extract Wood, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hordeum Distichon Barley Extrait Dorge À Deux Rangs Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Blue 1 Ci 42090, Red 33 Ci 17200
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.