La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash for oily skin
Shea Butter
Niacinamide
La Roche-Posay Prebiotic Thermal Water
Glycerin
Cocamide MeaLow
- LowOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A weak match for oily skin; the cleansers alongside 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 excellent cleansing for your oily skin due to coco-betaine and sodium laureth sulfate effectively clearing pores, while glycerin and niacinamide provide moisturizing and sebum-regulating effects.
- The presence of Butyrospermum Parkii Butter offers emollient action that may be too heavy for oily skin, and a lack of ingredients with strong seboregulating properties limits its suitability.
- The product is safe for your oily skin with no risks of irritation 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 2.1k+ reviewsUsers frequently report that it effectively soothes irritation and supports the skin barrier, providing long-lasting hydration for both face and body. Some users noted it may cause mild irritation or burning for sensitive skin, and a few mentioned concerns about sulfates and its lipid-replenishing properties compared to cream versions.
Highlights
Hydrating, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “cleanses without stripping your skin of its natural moisture”
- “makes my skin stay hydrated all night”
- “my skin felt noticeably moisturized after getting out of the shower”
- “provides 24 hour hydration starting from the shower”
Face and body use Sometimes Noted
- “having a double-duty cleanser saves me major space”
- “using it for both my face and body, and it's amazing how versatile it is”
- “can be used on babies, kids, body & face”
- “great cleanser for dry skin... removing makeup”
Pleasant foaming Sometimes Noted
- “foams lightly, making it easy to massage”
- “creates these gentle suds that feel incredibly soft”
- “maintains a creamy feel that is extra gentle”
- “gives you the lather you want without the harsh stripping”
Contains sulfates Rarely Noted
- “it still contains sodium laureth sulfate, so it is not strictly sulfate-free”
- “Sodium Laureth Sulfate is a type of sulfate. It can be drying.”
- “Because it is derived from lauric acid, it may not be fungal acne safe.”
- “PEG-200 Glyceryl Stearate isn't fungal acne safe.”
Less lipid-replenishing Rarely Noted
- “mildly more drying and less lipid-replenishing than the cream version”
- “very dry or highly reactive atopic skin should choose the lipid-replenishing cream version”
- “foaming formula is mildly more drying”
- “slightly less lipid-replenishing than the cream version”
May burn skin Rarely Noted
- “Whenever I use a face wash too harsh, it makes all of my skincare products BURN”
- “this one hydrates, but is NOT gentle”
- “not for sensitive skin... glad I didnt buy the full bottle”
- “I am sticking to my old face wash”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, dermstore.com, cvs.com, lemon8-app.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash a weak match for oily skin?
La Roche-Posay Gentle Foaming Moisturizing Wash is a weak match for oily skin because shea butter may feel too heavy, and it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients. Oily skin needs cleansers with ingredients like ceramides, salicylic acid, and targeted oil-managing agents to control shine and support skin health without feeling heavy.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for oily skin?
Shea butter is the main ingredient that makes this cleanser a weak match for oily skin because it may feel too heavy, and the formula lacks stronger oil-controlling ingredients. Oily skin needs cleansers with powerful oil-managing components like salicylic acid and ceramides to keep shine under control without clogging pores.
What does Shea Butter do for oily skin?
Shea butter may feel too heavy for oily skin and is unlikely to be the best fit without careful testing. This skin type needs light, non-greasy moisturizers and ingredients that balance oil production without clogging pores.
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 goes in both your morning and evening routines as the first or second step to clear your pores. Because it contains shea butter, it may feel too heavy for oily skin and needs stronger oil-balancing ingredients to be a great match.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. A cleanser for oily skin needs strong oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight, non-greasy moisture to balance your skin without feeling too heavy.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. While it clears pores well, the shea butter may feel too heavy for oily skin, so this skin type needs a cleanser with strong oil-controlling ingredients and lightweight moisturizers instead.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it effectively clears pores, though its shea butter may feel a bit heavy for oily skin. Oily skin generally needs cleansers with strong oil-controlling ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to help keep shine under control.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as it is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation. However, the skin on the body is often thicker than facial skin, and the skin around the eyes is much thinner, so you may need to follow up with a targeted eye cream or a rich body lotion depending on your skin's hydration needs.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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 combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 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, 2005Balneotherapy with thermal water altered specific skin microbiota at genus and species levels in healthy female volunteers compared to tap water, which produced no significant microbiome changes.
Life, 2023Malaysian thermal spring water as an adjunct to standard acne therapy improved skin hydration, reduced dryness and stinging, enhanced overall tolerability, and improved the acne disability index in patients with mild to moderate acne.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia, 2024A 2% Sphingomonas xenophaga ferment extract cream applied twice daily for 4 weeks significantly decreased facial vascular disorder scores compared to vehicle in 86 Caucasian female subjects, alongside dose-dependent inhibition of pre-kallikrein activity in vitro.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025The 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, 2012
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
Acrylates Copolymer, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Citric Acid, Cocamide Mea, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Edta, Glycerin, Glycol Distearate, Mannose, Niacinamide, Peg-200 Hydrogenated Glyceryl Palmate, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Polyquaternium-11, Polysorbate 20, Sodium Benzoate, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Vitreoscilla Ferment, Water
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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