🇨🇦Canada

Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser

Average

  • HighOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 cleansing for your oily skin due to coco-betaine and lactic acid, which help remove impurities and provide mild exfoliation.
  • While glycerin and chamomile oil offer soothing benefits, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to directly target your concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The product is generally safe for your skin, with no significant irritation risks identified.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.3Overall rating based on 600+ reviews

This cleanser is highly praised for its gentle and effective cleansing, leaving skin feeling soft and refreshed, particularly beneficial for combination, oily, or sensitive skin types. It is noted as a good option for a morning cleanse or as a second step in a routine, though it may not be sufficient for removing heavy makeup and some users find it can be slightly drying. The product's high price point and polarizing scent are also frequently mentioned drawbacks.

Highlights

  • Gentle cleansing Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing.”
    • “Cleanses the skin well without any gross/sticky/greasy residue.”
    • “Gentle on the skin but it is a shame it is so expensive.”
  • Non-stripping formula Often Mentioned
    • “Will not remove makeup—which is exactly what you want for a gentle morning wash.”
    • “Doesn't feel like it's stripping my skin at all.”
    • “Does not cause the skin to feel or look dry.”
  • Expensive product Often Mentioned
    • “The price is quite high for the amount you get.”
    • “Expensive. But the price is more than a bit off-putting.”
    • “It is a shame it is so expensive.”
  • Improves skin Sometimes Noted
    • “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared.”
    • “My skin absolutely glows after using this.”
    • “Kept my problem skin in check.”
  • Refreshing scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral.”
    • “I love the scent—herbal refreshing and invigorating.”
    • “Lovely calming smell.”
  • Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
    • “The downside is the pump.”
    • “Does not come with a pump.”
    • “Glass bottle... makes it that much heavier, and more importantly, that much more fragile.”
  • Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
    • “I found this doesn't effectively remove makeup.”
    • “Not great at removing eye make-up.”
    • “Not the most thorough cleanser on its own.”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Nasty smell... would not buy again.”
    • “The scent was too strong for a cleanser.”
    • “A peculiar, subtle licorice-like scent.”

Sources: lovi.care, hwahae.com, spacenk.com, whatsinmyjar.com, youtube.com, thevelvetlife.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser removes impurities and gives mild exfoliation for your oily skin, but it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts. A product of this type needs soothing and effective ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, probiotics, and salicylic acid to balance oil and manage acne.

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Coco-betaine and lactic acid make this cleanser a decent fit for oily skin by removing impurities and gently exfoliating. However, a product for this skin type needs specialized ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, salicylic acid, or probiotics to properly target breakouts, calm redness, and balance oil without causing excess dryness.

What does Licorice Root Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?

Licorice root extract helps calm redness and swelling in oily, breakout-prone skin. Because acne-prone skin needs ingredients that soothe irritation and clear marks without clogging pores, this extract works well to keep skin smooth and comfortable.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2003

What does Lactic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?

Lactic acid helps oily acne-prone skin by gently clearing pores and reducing breakouts, which supports a smoother and clearer face. Using appropriate cosmetic acids helps calm red bumps and works well alongside acne treatments.

Der Hautarzt; Zeitschrift Fur Dermatologie, Venerologie, und Verwandte Gebiete, 2010Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2023

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the step that washes away dirt and oil. For this skin, a cleanser also needs targeted breakout-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to truly give you the best fit.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying it first to clean your skin, and it is unlikely to cause irritation. To properly target breakouts while using retinol, an oily acne-prone routine needs ingredients like salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or ceramides.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is generally safe for your skin with a low risk of irritation, though an ideal cleanser for acne-prone skin also needs specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and blemishes.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is generally safe for your skin with no significant irritation risks identified, though it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target blemishes and breakouts. A product for oily acne-prone skin needs ingredients that deeply clear pores and keep breakouts under control.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can safely use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around your eyes to prevent irritation. While the formula is generally gentle, cleansers of this type need extra soothing and hydrating ingredients to properly care for delicate areas like the eyelids.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol, linalool, and d-limonene).

What the research says

  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015

  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015

  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Multiple applications of blackcurrant seed oil successfully impregnated the stratum corneum of human dry skin, combining its essential and other fatty acids with endogenous lipids to potentially enhance protective effects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1988

  • Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.

    Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

  • Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.

    Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024

  • Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.

    Biomolecules, 2025

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Olive Peg-7 Esters Oil, Sodium Peg-7 Olive Carboxylate Oil, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Lactate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Glycerin, Jojoba Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil Flower, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Parsley Seed Oil, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, D-Limonene

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play