Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser for skin with dark spots
Aloe Vera Extracts
Alpine Herbs
Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract
Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract
Squalane
Average
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for skin with dark spots; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dark spots: hyperpigmentation, sun spots, and uneven skin tone. 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 normal skin due to glycerin and squalane providing humectant and emollient actions, though it lacks more potent hydrating ingredients for optimal results.
- The cleansing agents, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, effectively cleanse pores and offer general skincare benefits, but do not directly address your pigmentation concerns.
- The product is safe for your normal skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- You can use this cleanser AM and PM every single day. Start slowly 3 times a week and move to daily use if your skin likes it.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in your morning routine or the second step in your evening routine. Follow it with toner and moisturizer.
- Massage a small amount of cleanser gently onto your face using circular motions. Rinse well with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- For the best results, apply your cleanser directly to wet skin to help wash away dirt. Make sure your face is clean before you begin.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes. Always do a quick patch test before using the product for the very first time.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this creamy cleanser for normal to dry skin is praised for leaving complexions soft and hydrated, with a luxurious texture and effective cleansing. A moderate number of users enjoy its pleasant, spa-like scent and find it gentle, though a similar proportion find the fragrance strong. A low number of reviews mention it can be drying, cause eye irritation, or that the price is high.
Highlights
Non-stripping hydration Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and hydrated”
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “face feels comfortable after washing”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “takes off all makeup”
- “skin feels perfectly clean”
- “removes pollution and dirt”
Luxurious texture Often Mentioned
- “mousse texture is sumptuous”
- “creamy and smooth”
- “lathers beautifully”
Gentle on skin Sometimes Noted
- “very gentle”
- “calming effect”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells divine”
- “love the herbal scent”
- “smells like a spa”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “scent is too strong”
- “perfume gave me a headache”
- “smells like old lady perfume”
Drying effect Rarely Noted
- “left my face tight”
- “dried out my skin”
- “not hydrating as claimed”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings if it gets in eyes”
- “eyes watered”
- “irritated my eyes”
Formula change Rarely Noted
- “miss the old formula”
- “new version isn't as good”
- “changed the scent”
High price Rarely Noted
- “too expensive for a wash”
- “pricey for the amount”
- “luxury price tag”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, clarinsusa.com, sephora.com, johnlewis.com, escentual.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser work for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works moderately well for skin with dark spots because it safely cleans pores, but it does not directly target pigmentation. To work best for this skin, a cleanser needs effective ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to fade dark spots, along with a balanced mix of hydrating and skin-repairing components.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser works for skin with dark spots because it contains glycerin and squalane to keep your skin soft and smooth, though it does not directly target pigmentation. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to help fade dark spots while keeping your skin calm.
What does Aloe Vera Extract do for skin with dark spots?
Aloe Vera Extract helps fade dark spots and uneven skin coloring by slowing down the pigment production in your skin. Using it regularly is unlikely to cause irritation and may gradually make your skin look more even and clear.
What do Alpine Herbs do for skin with dark spots?
Alpine Herbs help brighten dark spots and even out uneven skin tone. They work gently to calm the skin while fading discoloration over time.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or the second step at night if you use a makeup remover first. It cleanses your pores safely, but a cleanser of this type needs targeted brightening ingredients to properly care for dark spots.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it safely cleanses pores without harsh ingredients. However, this skin needs targeted brightening ingredients and potent hydrators to properly care for dark spots.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can safely use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine, as it cleans pores gently without causing irritation. To properly address dark spots, this skin type needs a cleanser that also features targeted brightening ingredients.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for skin with dark spots?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on your skin, as it gently cleans pores with mild ingredients while carrying a low risk of irritation. Skin with dark spots typically needs targeted brightening ingredients and stronger hydrating components to help fade dark spots while maintaining optimal moisture levels.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe to use on the body and around the eyes, though the skin on the body and the thin skin around the eyes need extra care that targeted products provide.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Sodium 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, 2024Emulgels containing Perilla frutescens seed oil, Moringa oleifera seed oil, and mixed seed oil microemulsions exhibit good stability, lack of cytotoxicity in PBMC, and no skin irritation or allergic reactions in human subjects.
Polymers, 2022A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010Aqueous standardized leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera showed the highest human dermal fibroblast and human keratinocyte proliferation and migration properties, leading to the development of an alginate-pectin film dressing with optimal physicochemical properties.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2018Topical administration of Moringa oleifera seed extract on excision wounds in male albino rabbits significantly increased the wound healing rate, elevated TGF-β1, VEGF, and Type I collagen relative expression, and reduced inflammatory markers like IL-1β and TNF-α compared to untreated and MEBO-treated groups.
Antioxidants, 2022Moringa oleifera leaf extracts provided significant UV protection with an SPF of 2 at 2% to 4% concentrations and showed no significant irritant potential in cosmetic formulations.
Molecules, 2018Topical application of a cream containing the NHE1 activator rosmarinic acid decreased skin surface pH and transepidermal water loss while increasing skin hydration in 50-60-year-old adult females compared to vehicle cream and no treatment.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2022Topical treatment with a lemon balm leaf extract formulation reduced eye-corner wrinkles in 20 healthy women compared to placebo by promoting Endo180 production and inhibiting the decline in collagen levels.
Photodermatology, Photoimmunology & Photomedicine, 2025Incorporating rosmarinic acid into sunscreens enhanced the in vivo SPF of octocrylene by over 157% and reduced lipid peroxidation in the human stratum corneum.
Antioxidants, 2025Squalane at 0.005-0.015% counteracts UVA-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and collagen metabolism inhibition while stimulating fibroblast migration in human dermal fibroblasts.
Molecules, 2025Plant-derived squalane protected human dermal fibroblasts against UVA-induced damage by counteracting ROS formation, suppressing apoptosis-related proteins p53, caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, and restoring the pro-survival p-Akt/mTOR pathway.
Antioxidants, 2025
Why other cleansers fit skin with dark spots better
Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Squalane, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Coconut Acid, Glyceryl Behenate, C14-22 Alcohols, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Isethionate, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Disodium Edta, Maltodextrin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Gentiana Lutea Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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