🇬🇧United Kingdom

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser for oily skin

High

  • 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 cleansing for your acne-prone skin, as benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid effectively reduce acne lesions and exfoliate, while niacinamide helps regulate oil production for your oily skin.
  • The formula provides moderate exfoliation for oily shine, with glycolic acid and benzoyl peroxide working to reduce oiliness and acne.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh 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

★4.5Overall rating based on 4.7k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users find this cleanser to be a gentle and effective treatment for acne-prone skin, successfully clearing breakouts without stripping moisture. While it excels at preventing new blemishes and clearing pores, some users with very sensitive skin may experience dryness or irritation if used too frequently.

Highlights

  • Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “moisturizing for BP”
    • “no tight feeling”
    • “gentle on barrier”
  • Effective acne clearance Often Mentioned
    • “cleared my skin”
    • “stopped cystic acne”
    • “reduced redness”
  • Bleaches fabrics Often Mentioned
    • “ruined my towels”
    • “bleached my shirt”
    • “stained everything”
  • Beneficial ingredients Sometimes Noted
    • “love the niacinamide”
    • “helps skin heal”
    • “soothing ingredients”
  • Texture & feel Sometimes Noted
    • “feels like lotion”
    • “smooth application”
    • “no strong smell”
  • Can be drying Sometimes Noted
    • “dried me out”
    • “skin felt flaky”
    • “too harsh for daily use”
  • Lack of foam Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't foam much”
    • “more like a lotion”
    • “creamy not foamy”
  • Eye irritation Rarely Noted
    • “stings eyes bad”
    • “avoid eye area”
    • “burning sensation”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, ulta.com, cerave.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?

CeraVe Acne Foaming Cream Cleanser is a great fit because benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid effectively reduce acne and oily shine by gently exfoliating, while niacinamide helps keep excess oil under control. The formula is very safe and is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020

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

Benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid make this cleanser a great fit by effectively reducing acne and washing away oily shine, while niacinamide helps calm and balance oil production. The formula is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022

What does Benzoyl Peroxide do for oily skin?

Benzoyl peroxide helps clear up acne on oily skin by targeting multiple causes of breakouts, though it may occasionally cause irritation. When used in treatments, it significantly reduces both inflamed and uninflamed pimples.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022

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 fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first cleansing step, helping to clear blemishes and manage oily shine. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it lacks harsh or prohibited ingredients.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by using the cleanser first and applying your retinol later in your routine. Because benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid actively target acne and oil, starting slowly helps your oily skin adjust safely without extra irritation.

Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine to help manage oil and clear acne breakouts. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin because it lacks harsh ingredients.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020

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

This cleanser is a great fit for oily skin because benzoyl peroxide and glycolic acid effectively clear blemishes and reduce oiliness, while niacinamide helps calm the skin. It has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients, making it unlikely to cause clogged pores or breakouts.

The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020

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

This cleanser is great for your oily skin and body, but you should avoid using it directly around your eyes where the skin is much thinner. It washes away excess oil and clears acne effectively while keeping irritation very low.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical benzoyl peroxide may improve acne more effectively than placebo or no treatment, while showing little to no difference compared with adapalene or clindamycin, but with an increased risk of treatment discontinuation due to adverse effects compared to placebo.

    The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2020
  • Once-daily fixed-dose clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1%/adapalene 0.15% gel achieved superior treatment success (52.5%) and greater reductions in inflammatory and noninflammatory lesions compared to vehicle (8.1%) and dyad component gels in participants with moderate-to-severe acne over 12 weeks.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2022
  • Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, gluconolactone, and licochalcone A combined with 0.1% adapalene showed no hindrance compared to adapalene monotherapy and provided benefits in reducing complications in 25 subjects with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • 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
  • Topical clindamycin phosphate 1.2%/adapalene 0.15%/benzoyl peroxide 3.1% gel achieved significantly greater treatment success and lesion reductions compared to vehicle in participants with moderate-to-severe acne.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2023
  • Daily application of adapalene 0.3%/benzoyl peroxide 2.5% gel reduced and prevented atrophic acne scar formation, achieving a total scar count change of -15.5% versus +14.4% for vehicle over 24 weeks in 67 subjects with moderate or severe facial acne.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 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
  • Repeated 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, 2000
  • Serial 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, 2017

Ingredients

Water, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Xanthan Gum, Potassium Hydroxide, Ceramide Np, Ceramide Ap, Ceramide Eop, Carbomer, Niacinamide, Glycolic Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Lauroyl Lactylate, Sodium Hydroxide, Cholesterol, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Citric Acid, Tetrasodium Edta, Diethylhexyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate, Phytosphingosine, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzoic Acid, Benzoyl Peroxide

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?

Scan your face, then any product.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.