Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash for sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract RhizomeLow
- AverageNormal Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 exfoliation for your normal skin due to salicylic acid and tea tree oil, which help clear pores and decongest, but lacks sufficient soothing ingredients to address your redness and irritation.
- While the formula is safe for your sensitive skin and provides excellent cleansing, it may not adequately hydrate your normal skin due to a lack of emollient and humectant ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviewsThis foaming wash is widely praised for effectively clearing hormonal and teenage acne on both the face and body without stripping the skin of moisture. While most users find it gentle and refreshing, a minority experience dryness or irritation, and some note a "purging" phase before seeing results. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.
Highlights
Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
- “helped keep oil under control”
- “3 pimples went away overnight”
- “cleared my hormonal acne”
- “great for teenage acne”
Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
- “face feels clean not dry”
- “balanced cleanser”
Improves texture Sometimes Noted
- “brightened my skin”
- “skin looks healthier”
- “less oily throughout the day”
- “smooths texture”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells nice and fresh”
- “love the scent”
- “smells like orange peel”
- “refreshing botanical smell”
Versatile for body Sometimes Noted
- “helped tremendously with body acne”
- “use on face, back, neck”
- “cleared my back breakouts”
- “great for chest acne”
Price point Sometimes Noted
- “pricey but worth it”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “good but costly”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “makes your skin really dry”
- “left my face feeling tight”
- “too drying for me”
- “caused flaky skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “do not travel with this it leaks”
- “bottle cap does not pop open”
- “packaging arrived damaged”
- “leaked in my bag”
Purging period Rarely Noted
- “skin may experience purging”
- “caused initial breakout”
- “had to wait for purge to end”
- “worse before better”
Skin irritation Rarely Noted
- “turning red around nose”
- “caused burning sensation”
- “irritated my sensitive skin”
- “skin became inflamed”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash a weak match for sensitive skin?
This cleanser offers moderate exfoliation with salicylic acid and tea tree oil to help clear pores, but it lacks enough soothing ingredients to calm redness and irritation. It also may not hydrate your skin well because it misses rich moisturizing ingredients. A cleanser of this type needs effective hydrating and soothing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides to keep sensitive skin calm and comfortable.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for sensitive skin?
This cleanser contains salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and essential oils like lavender and citrus peel oil, which can trigger redness and irritation on sensitive skin. A cleanser for this skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides, alongside gentle cleansing agents, to keep the skin calm and comfortable.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007
What does Salicylic Acid do for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid may cause irritation on sensitive skin, so it requires careful use and good sun protection to keep skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs gentle, soothing ingredients and a mild formula that respects the skin barrier.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Toxicology, 2003
What does Tea Tree Oil do for sensitive skin?
Tea tree oil can irritate sensitive skin, as it frequently causes redness and allergic reactions, especially if the oil has become oxidized over time. This type of skin needs soothing, gentle ingredients like aloe vera or calming plant extracts that help keep skin comfortable without triggering flare-ups.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes into both your morning and evening routine, followed by a soothing toner and a moisturizer with SPF in the morning or a treatment and moisturizer at night. Because it is a weak match for sensitive skin, a cleanser for this skin type needs calming and hydrating ingredients like soothing extracts and heavy moisturizing oils to prevent redness and dryness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleanser may be too harsh to use alongside retinol on sensitive skin because it lacks sufficient soothing ingredients and hydrating components. A cleanser of this type needs calming plant extracts and rich skin-softening ingredients to keep dry and red skin comfortable during active routines.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a weak match for your sensitive skin because it lacks enough soothing ingredients to calm redness and irritation. A product of this type needs extra soothing and hydrating ingredients to keep sensitive skin soft, smooth, and calm.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but the salicylic acid and tea tree oil inside may cause a mild purging period as it clears out your skin. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle soothing ingredients to calm redness and extra hydrating ingredients to prevent dryness.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is safe for use on the body, but it is unlikely to suit the thin skin around the eyes due to the potential for irritation from its exfoliating ingredients. Cleansers for the eye area need gentle, hydrating ingredients that protect delicate skin from dryness and redness.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024A 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, 2018Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022Topical 5% tea tree oil gel significantly improved total acne lesions and acne severity index compared to placebo in 60 patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris, showing 3.55 times and 5.75 times greater efficacy respectively.
Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, 2007A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.
BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016Combining 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 sensitive skin better
A 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 dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002A dexpanthenol-containing cream accelerated skin barrier repair, increased stratum corneum hydration, reduced skin roughness, and decreased skin redness compared to vehicle and untreated controls in sodium lauryl sulphate-irritated skin.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2002
Ingredients
Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Acrylates Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate-20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract Rhizome, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol
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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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
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Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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