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SLMD Salicylic Acid Cleanser for combination skin

High

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even better.

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

  • Highly suitable for your combination skin, this cleanser effectively addresses oily shine with salicylic acid to exfoliate and decongest pores, while glycerin provides essential hydration.
  • The inclusion of ingredients like Rosa Canina Fruit Extract and Bisabolol further supports skin balance and soothes, complementing the primary cleansing action.
  • This formula is safe for your skin, containing no harsh or prohibited ingredients that would cause irritation.

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

★4.5Overall rating based on 200+ reviews

This cleanser is highly praised for its effectiveness in clearing pores and reducing active breakouts, with many users noting smoother, healthier-looking skin. While it is marketed as non-stripping, some users with sensitive or combination skin report experiencing dryness or peeling, suggesting it may require careful integration into a routine.

Highlights

  • Clears acne Often Mentioned
    • “Works fast on active breakouts.”
    • “Chilled out five spots at once.”
    • “Never seen anything work that fast.”
  • Refreshed feel Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves skin feeling clean and refreshed.”
    • “Skin feels clean but not tight.”
    • “Fresh, clinical-but-clean vibe.”
  • Causes dryness Often Mentioned
    • “Made me feel pretty dry.”
    • “Causes that drying issue.”
    • “Skin started feeling super dry.”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Smells really nice and fresh.”
    • “Smells so good.”
    • “Fresh, herby scent.”
  • Smooths texture Sometimes Noted
    • “Visibly smooths texture.”
    • “Skin looks smoother immediately.”
    • “Skin feels smooth from exfoliation.”
  • Leads to peeling Sometimes Noted
    • “Peeling is a big drawback.”
    • “I could peel off big chunks.”
    • “Peeling issue is a flaw.”
  • Not non-stripping Sometimes Noted
    • “Claims it's non-drying, I call bullshit.”
    • “Was really harsh on my skin.”
    • “Left my skin feeling stripped.”

Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, slmdskincare.com, gopicky.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes SLMD Salicylic Acid Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?

SLMD Salicylic Acid Cleanser is a great fit for combination skin because it uses salicylic acid to clear out pores and reduce oily shine while glycerin keeps the skin hydrated. Additional ingredients like bisabolol and rose fruit extract help soothe the skin and maintain balance without causing irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

Salicylic acid makes this cleanser a great fit for your combination skin by clearing oily shine and pores, while glycerin keeps skin hydrated. Ingredients like bisabolol and Rosa Canina fruit extract also help soothe and balance your skin.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Rosehip Fruit Extract do for combination skin?

Rosehip Fruit Extract helps nourish dry areas while keeping oily zones feeling balanced and smooth. It provides antioxidant protection that may keep skin looking healthy and fresh.

Where does it go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This cleanser is used in the morning and evening for combination skin, paired with a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen in the morning, and a makeup remover, cleansing toner, treatment, and moisturizer at night. Using a gentle cleanser helps clear away excess shine and dirt while keeping your skin balanced and comfortable.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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 retinol afterwards, though you may want to alternate days if your skin feels dry or sensitive. Using a gentle cleanser helps keep your skin balanced while retinol works, and following with a good moisturizer keeps your skin smooth and comfortable.

How often should I use it?

This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin, using salicylic acid to clear away oily shine and glycerin to keep skin soft. It is safe for daily use, helping to balance and calm your skin without causing irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

This cleanser is a great fit for your combination skin because salicylic acid clears out pores and helps manage oily shine, while glycerin provides essential hydration. Reviewers do mention dryness and peeling, so it may cause some irritation or flaking as your skin adjusts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?

This cleanser is safe for use on the body, but it is unlikely to be suitable for the thin skin around the eyes.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

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, 2017
  • 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
  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010
  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020
  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical treatments containing rosehip extract may reduce the size and erythema of postsurgical scars through macrophage polarization and inflammatory cytokine inhibition, though current clinical evidence remains insufficient to recommend its routine use.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Sunflower and rosehip oil nanoemulsions prepared with a mix of phospholipids and synthetic emulsifiers permeated intact skin to the dermis and showed a more prominent healing effect in a human organotypic skin explant culture wound model compared to nanoemulsions prepared only with phospholipids.

    Pharmaceutics, 2023
  • Topical treatment with rosehip seed oil stimulates hair growth in telogenic C57BL/6 mice by inducing the early transition of hair follicles from the telogen to the anagen phase and upregulating hair growth-associated genes.

    Preventive Nutrition and Food Science, 2023
  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017
  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009
  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019
  • An ointment containing larch turpentine, eucalyptus oil, and turpentine oil improved discomfort scores (7.3 vs. 4.7) and increased complete healing (67% vs. 46%) compared to placebo in outpatients with painful skin abscesses over 10 days.

    Complementary Medicine Research, 2023
  • Application of an alpha-bisabolol-containing cream produced a significant skin-lightening effect in pigmented skin compared to a vehicle control in the majority of female subjects after 8 weeks.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2010
  • The combination of allantoin, bisabolol, D-panthenol and dipotassium glycyrrhizinate reduces UVB-induced PGE2, inflammatory cytokines, and mitochondrial superoxide in human epidermal keratinocytes.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

Ingredients

Salicylic Acid, Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Rosa Canina Fruit Extract, Myristoyl Tetrapeptide-13, Acetyl Carboxymethyl Cocoyl Glycine, Beta-Glucan, Bisabolol, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Extract Oat Kernel Extract, Saccharomyces Lysate Extract, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Allantoin, Eucalyptus Globulus Oil Leaf, Menthol, Xanthan Gum, Disodium Edta, Caprylyl Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Hydroxide

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?

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