Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser for oily skin
Ascorbic Acid
Glycerin
Retinyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed ExtractAverage
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin as glycerin provides humectant action, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for strong oil control to address your oily shine concerns.
- The decyl glucoside and coco-caprylate caprate offer moderate cleansing to remove impurities without stripping your skin, while citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil provides general skincare benefits.
- The formulation is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like glycerin and tocopherol.
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 200+ reviewsWhile the potent citrus scent and lotion-like texture are favorites for most, some users with oily skin or those who prefer a sudsy lather may find it leaves a residue or fails to feel "clean" enough.
Highlights
Deeply hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “Non-drying formula”
- “leaves skin soft”
- “moisturizing texture”
- “good for winter dryness”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “calms redness”
- “great for post-peel”
Invigorating citrus scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells like oranges”
- “fresh citrus aroma”
- “spa-like fragrance”
- “delicious orange smell”
Creamy texture Sometimes Noted
- “Feels like lotion”
- “silky consistency”
- “spreads easily”
- “luxurious feel”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “Melts away makeup”
- “removes impurities”
- “cleanses well”
- “good for double cleanse”
Does not lather Sometimes Noted
- “No suds”
- “feels like cold cream”
- “doesn't foam up”
- “weird texture for cleanser”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “Expensive for cleanser”
- “pricey”
- “cost is high”
- “not budget-friendly”
Packaging pump issues Sometimes Noted
- “Pump stops working”
- “hard to get product out”
- “heavy bottle design”
- “broken dispenser”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Caused cystic acne”
- “skin broke out”
- “not for oily skin”
- “clogged pores”
Leaves residue Rarely Noted
- “Feels filmy”
- “leaves oily coating”
- “skin feels heavy”
- “sticky after rinsing”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, imageskincare.com, womensblogtalk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Image Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin, as it cleans without stripping and provides soothing hydration, but it lacks ingredients for strong oil control. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to help manage oily shine and support skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
This cleanser works for oily skin because glycerin helps keep the skin hydrated while gentle cleansing agents remove impurities. To manage oily shine and support oily skin best, this type of product needs effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, and probiotics.
What does Vitamin C do for oily skin?
Vitamin C helps brighten skin tone and smooth texture while providing antioxidant protection that prevents sebum oxidation. For oily skin, this type of product typically needs to be paired with oil-controlling or pore-clearing ingredients like salicylic acid or plant extracts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2005Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, though your oily skin needs a product that also has strong oil-control ingredients to properly address oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine when using retinol, applying it first to gently wash your skin before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation because it has a gentle formula with soothing ingredients, though oily skin of this type also needs ingredients for strong oil control.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser fits your oily skin moderately well and is safe to use daily in your morning and evening routines. Because it lacks strong oil control ingredients, an oily skin type needs oil-absorbing minerals or clay and clarifying acids to better manage midday shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your oily skin, as its gentle ingredients clean away daily impurities safely without harsh irritation. To truly keep oily shine under control, an oily skin type needs a cleanser with ingredients that help balance excess oil and clear pores more deeply.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is gentle enough to use around the eyes or on the body because its mild ingredients clean without stripping. To properly care for oily skin on the body or manage shine, a product of this type needs targeted oil-controlling ingredients.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and eugenol). Cetyl 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, 2017A topical serum containing vitamin C, vitamin E, and raspberry leaf cell culture extract improved skin color, elasticity, radiance, smoothness, scaliness, and wrinkles compared to the untreated contralateral side in fifty female volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022The 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, 2012Over-the-counter retinol products provided only weak evidence for a mild ameliorating effect on fine facial skin wrinkle lines in randomized, double-blind, vehicle-controlled trials, and major methodological flaws call the validity of positive results into question.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2021A cosmetic niacinamide/peptide/retinyl propionate regimen significantly improved periorbital wrinkle appearance relative to a 0.02% tretinoin regimen at 8 weeks with comparable benefits at 24 weeks, while demonstrating significantly better tolerability in 196 women.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2010A novel triple-active cosmetic formulation containing 4-hexylresorcinol, retinyl propionate, and niacinamide improved the visual appearance of photoageing similarly to 0.02% tretinoin and reversed a consensus gene signature associated with ageing in female adults while causing less skin irritation.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical CE Ferulic plus resveratrol BE serum following ablative fractional CO2 laser treatment reduced erythema index (308.9 vs. 325.3), shortened complete scabbing detachment time (6.0 vs. 6.5 days), decreased melanin index (-7.4% vs. +0.2%), and improved skin hydration compared to normal saline in 51 Chinese patients.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2024Resveratrol cream improved skin hydration and tightening compared to cream without resveratrol in a group of probands.
Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2019Topical application of a water-in-oil emulsion containing 2% Muscat hamburg grape seed extract significantly improved melanin, elasticity, and sebum content compared to a placebo in human volunteers over 8 weeks, with no reported skin hypersensitivity.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2015
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, Isododecane, Cetearyl Olivate, Cetyl Alcohol, Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprylate Dicaprate, Caprylic Capric Triglyceride, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Sorbitan Olivate, Limonene, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Peg-100 Stearate, Coco-Caprylate Caprate, Decyl Glucoside, Glycereth-26, C10-16 Alkyl Glucoside, Glycerin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Clove Oil Leaf, Retinyl Palmitate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Butylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Yeast Polysaccharides, Sodium Hydroxide, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopherol, Vitis Vinifera Seed Extract Grape Seed Extract, Alchemilla Vulgaris Extract, Saponaria Officinalis Root Extract Leaf, Pentylene Glycol, Tromethamine, Superoxide Dismutase, Phenoxyethanol, Eugenol
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?
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