Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser for combination skin
Niacinamide
Panthenol
Glycerin
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
High
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 combination skin, as cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate effectively remove impurities and excess oil to manage oily shine. Glycerin and niacinamide further support oil control and provide moderate hydration, making it suitable for your skin type.
- Panthenol and pantolactone contribute to soothing and maintaining skin barrier function, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 110.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with oily and acne-prone skin find this cleanser highly effective at removing excess oil and preventing breakouts. Most users report it balances deep cleaning with gentleness, though some with combination or sensitive skin mention it can be drying if used too often.
Highlights
Effective oil control Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes excess oil without drying.”
- “My face feels less oily.”
- “Reduces oily look for 5 hours.”
- “Thorough, oil-busting cleanse.”
Gentle and non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Cleaned and balanced, not tight.”
- “Doesn't strip skin of natural moisture.”
- “Gentle surfactants, pH of 5.5.”
- “Leaves skin feeling fresh, not dry.”
Strong fragrance Often Mentioned
- “Scent is overwhelmingly artificial.”
- “Smells like chemical fragrance.”
- “Contains perfume, disappointing for sensitive skin.”
- “Strong lemony fresh smell.”
Good lather/texture Sometimes Noted
- “Glides on smoothly, foams slightly.”
- “Lathers easily, light water-based lotion.”
- “Rinses off cleanly, no residue.”
- “Gel-to-foam formula.”
Reduces acne Sometimes Noted
- “Helps to remove pimple and acne.”
- “Reduces my acne.”
- “No acne, no allergies.”
- “Great for acne-prone guys and gals.”
Drying for some Sometimes Noted
- “Felt a little stripping on sensitive areas.”
- “Made dry patches worse.”
- “Can feel tight if you have combination skin.”
- “Not hydrating enough for winter.”
Medicinal smell Rarely Noted
- “Smells like hospital soap.”
- “Scent might be hit or miss.”
- “Has a strange chemical scent.”
- “Smells too good to be true (suspicious).”
Poor makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “Struggles with mascara.”
- “Need a separate makeup remover.”
- “Doesn't remove heavy makeup well.”
- “Foundation came off after two attempts.”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, nykaa.com, smytten.com, amazon.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Cetaphil Oily Skin Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because its ingredients like cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate effectively remove excess oil and impurities from combination skin. Glycerin and niacinamide help control shine while providing moderate hydration, and panthenol soothes the skin to keep it comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine and disodium laureth sulfosuccinate make this cleanser a great fit by removing excess oil to manage oily shine, while glycerin, niacinamide, and panthenol help control oil and keep your skin comfortable and hydrated.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
What does Panthenol do for combination skin?
Panthenol helps balance combination skin by boosting moisture while keeping redness and irritation calm. It is unlikely to cause breakouts and may help repair the skin barrier safely.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser is used in the morning and evening as the main cleansing step of your routine. Using a mild cleanser twice a day helps remove impurities and excess oil while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Yes, you can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first to remove impurities without stripping your skin, followed by your retinol treatment. This gentle approach helps manage oil while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
How often should I use this cleanser?
Use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It effectively removes excess oil and impurities while keeping your skin calm and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because it effectively removes excess oil without harsh ingredients. It also includes soothing components like glycerin and niacinamide that help keep your skin calm and balanced.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes because it contains gentle ingredients like glycerin and panthenol that soothe and maintain moisture without causing irritation. Clinical studies show that panthenol helps improve skin hydration and barrier repair, making it safe for delicate areas.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, citronellol, geraniol, and linalool).
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, 2017Topical 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, 2002A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Topical 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, 2005Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006Moisturizer 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, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 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 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, 2024Coacervates 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
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Panthenol, Niacinamide, Pantolactone, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Benzoate, Parfum, Amyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Geraniol, Hydroxycitronellal, Linalool, Sodium Chloride, Citric 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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.