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e.l.f. Pure Skin Cleanser for oily skin

High

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

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

  • Highly suitable for your oily skin as niacinamide helps regulate sebum production and sodium hyaluronate provides essential hydration. Glycerin and oat kernel flour further support a balanced complexion by soothing and retaining moisture.
  • The inclusion of ceramides and allantoin offers additional barrier support and calming benefits, enhancing overall skin health.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, free from harsh ingredients and containing beneficial components like glycerin and niacinamide that minimize irritation risk.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 4.2k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this fragrance-free, non-foaming cleanser is highly praised for its soothing, barrier-supportive ingredients, making it an excellent choice for sensitive and dry skin types. While it leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated, users frequently recommend it as a morning cleanser or the second step in a double-cleansing routine, as it struggles to remove heavy makeup independently.

Highlights

  • Very gentle formula Mostly Mentioned
    • “Doesn't irritate sensitive skin”
    • “Feels soothing”
    • “No stinging sensation”
  • Excellent value Often Mentioned
    • “Great price point”
    • “Affordable daily staple”
    • “Inexpensive but effective”
  • Non-stripping/Hydrating Often Mentioned
    • “Skin feels soft after”
    • “Not tight or dry”
    • “Maintains moisture”
  • Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
    • “Doesn't remove foundation”
    • “Need oil cleanser first”
    • “Struggles with mascara”
  • Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
    • “No harsh scent”
    • “Perfect for fragrance sensitivity”
    • “Clean, neutral smell”
  • Non-foaming texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Feels strange at first”
    • “Miss the lather”
    • “Hard to tell if cleaning”
  • Not for heavy-duty Sometimes Noted
    • “Not enough for sunscreen”
    • “Leaves residue on heavy days”
    • “Requires double cleansing”

Sources: lovi.care, asos.com, dermapproved.com, elfcosmetics.com, oliveunicornbeauty.com, theaestheticedge.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes e.l.f. Pure Skin Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?

This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide helps regulate oil production while sodium hyaluronate provides essential moisture without heaviness. Ingredients like oat flour and glycerin further support a balanced complexion by soothing the skin and keeping it calm. Ceramides and allantoin add helpful barrier support to keep your skin healthy and comfortable.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Niacinamide and sodium hyaluronate make this cleanser a great fit for oily skin because niacinamide helps balance oil production while sodium hyaluronate provides essential hydration without feeling heavy. Glycerin and oat kernel flour further support a clear complexion by soothing the skin and locking in moisture.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Oat Milk do for oily skin?

Oat milk is generally too heavy and rich for oily skin, as it tends to add extra moisture and weight that oily types do not need. Skincare for oily skin needs lightweight, oil-controlling ingredients like niacinamide and salicylic acid to keep pores clear and skin balanced without feeling greasy.

What does Allantoin do for oily skin?

Allantoin helps calm oily skin and keeps it feeling soft and smooth by supporting skin healing and keeping irritation low. This ingredient works well for skin that gets easily bothered, helping it stay comfortable and balanced.

Acta Cirurgica Brasileira, 2010

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

This cleanser goes in your routine both morning and evening as the first or second step to wash your face. Using a mild cleanser every day helps keep your skin balanced and clean without stripping away needed moisture.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your regular routine, using it before applying your retinol treatment to help cleanse the skin safely. Barrier-supporting cleansers with ceramides and soothing ingredients are unlikely to cause irritation and may help keep your skin calm while using active treatments.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Cutis, 2006

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines as part of a consistent skincare regimen that supports your skin barrier. Using a mild cleanser daily helps keep your complexion balanced without stripping away essential moisture.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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 because it has a great fit and is free from harsh ingredients that trigger irritation. Beneficial components like niacinamide help regulate oil production while keeping your skin calm and balanced.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body, but take extra care around the thin skin of your eyes. Its gentle ingredients like glycerin and oat kernel flour help clean safely without stripping moisture.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • 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
  • Application of Body Lotion for 5 weeks on cosmetic dry skin improved barrier properties, increased levels of cholesterol, ceramides, and long-chain fatty acids, increased beneficial skin bacteria, and enhanced microbiome functional potential compared to baseline.

    Scientific Reports, 2022
  • A repair cream containing Rhealba oat plantlets extract, l-ALA-l-GLU dipeptide, and hyaluronic acid provided immediate relief and was judged by doctors as good or very good in 96.8% of cases for wound healing in 2,363 patients following dermatological acts.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2018
  • Topically applied Avena sativa and Avena Rhealba oatmeal extracts significantly reduced skin irritation parameters including a* parameter increase and blood flow increase compared to vehicle in 12 healthy individuals subjected to the sodium lauryl sulfate irritation model.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2002
  • Colloidal oat extracts diminished pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro and colloidal oat lotion improved skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity in healthy female subjects compared to baseline.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2015
  • Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016
  • A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.

    Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020
  • An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.

    Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018
  • Topical 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, 2021
  • Topical 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, 2008
  • Topical 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, 2005
  • Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
  • Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.

    Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022
  • Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.

    BMC Oral Health, 2019

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Niacinamide, Avena Sativa Kernel Flour Oat Kernel Flour, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Water Matricaria Flower Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Allantoin, Phytosphingosine, Cholesterol, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Carbomer, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Tromethamine

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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