Curél Curel Intensive Moisture Care Foaming Facial Wash for combination skin
Ceramides
Glycerin
Glycyrrhizinic Acid
Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate
Coconut Fatty Acid Acyl Glutamate Na Oil
Low
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for combination skin; the cleansers alongside fit it 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
- Offers moderate cleansing for your combination skin, as Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate and Lauryl Hydroxy Sulfobetaine effectively remove impurities without stripping the skin, though it lacks specialized ingredients for oil control on your oily shine concerns.
- Glycerin provides humectant action suitable for combination skin, but the formula does not sufficiently address the primary concern of oily shine.
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
★4.7Overall rating based on 2.5k+ reviewsIt is frequently praised for its suitability for sensitive skin and its effectiveness as a second cleanse. Some users note that the product can be pricey for the amount, may not remove heavy makeup on its own, and a small number of ingredient-conscious users dislike the presence of parabens.
Highlights
Gentle, non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “no tight feeling”
- “skin feels soft”
- “gentlest cleanse possible”
Dense foam texture Often Mentioned
- “one pump gives rich foam”
- “airy creamy lather”
- “dense and soft”
- “marshmallow texture”
Sensitive skin safe Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “calms redness”
- “fragrance-free”
Effective second cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “perfect morning wash”
- “great second step”
- “removes oil residue”
- “leaves face fresh”
Not for makeup Sometimes Noted
- “won't remove mascara”
- “too gentle for makeup”
- “needs oil cleanser first”
- “struggles with foundation”
Price vs. quantity Sometimes Noted
- “a bit pricey”
- “bottle runs out fast”
- “expensive for size”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Contains parabens Rarely Noted
- “contains methylparaben”
- “wish it was paraben-free”
- “avoid if avoiding parabens”
Not hydrating Rarely Noted
- “still need moisturizer”
- “neutral but not hydrating”
- “expected more moisture”
Sources: lovi.care, yesstyle.com, curel.com, target.com, influenster.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Curél Intensive Moisture Care Foaming Facial Wash a weak match for combination skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for your combination skin because it lacks specialized ingredients for oil control and does not sufficiently address your oily shine concerns. Cleansers that fit this skin well need ingredients that balance oil production, maintain hydration, and manage shine while gently clearing the complexion.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for combination skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for combination skin because it lacks specialized oil-controlling ingredients to manage your oily shine concerns. A cleanser for this skin type needs ingredients that balance oil production, maintain hydration, and clarify the complexion without causing irritation.
What do Ceramides do for combination skin?
Ceramides help balance combination skin by supporting the skin barrier to keep dry areas hydrated without feeling heavy on oily zones. This type of skin needs lightweight hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and cholesterol to maintain a smooth and calm feel across both dry and oily areas.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2003Scientific Reports, 2022
What does Glycerin do for combination skin?
Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for combination skin. To properly care for combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs extra oil-controlling ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before putting on your retinol. Using a cleanser that helps keep your skin barrier strong may make it easier for your skin to get used to retinol and stay calm. Combination skin also needs ingredients that control extra oil.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Combination skin needs a gentle cleanser that removes impurities without stripping moisture, alongside ingredients that help control oily shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because its ingredients gently wash away dirt without heavy oils. However, since it lacks oil-controlling ingredients, combination skin needs products that help balance oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes because the skin there benefits from gentle cleansing and moisturizing ingredients like glycerin. This type of cleanser for combination skin needs mild washing agents and water-attracting ingredients to keep skin soft without irritation.
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, 2017The 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, 2012Combining 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, 2015Licochalcone 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, 2015Bioactive 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
Why other cleansers fit combination 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, 2019
Ingredients
Glycyrrhizinic Acid 2k, Water, Glycerin, Sodium Lauroyl Aspartate, Maltitol, Lauryl Hydroxy Sulfobetaine, Pg, Peg 6000, Coconut Fatty Acid Acyl Glutamate Na Oil, Poe Sorbitan Stearate, Glyceryl Ethyl Hexyl Ether, Potassium Hydroxide, Edetate, Phenoxyethanol, Paraben
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.