Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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
- This cleanser offers excellent cleansing for your oily skin due to poloxamer 184 and peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, which effectively remove impurities without adding excess oil, complemented by propanediol and glycerin for hydration.
- While it provides general hydration and cleansing benefits, it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to address your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The product is safe for your skin, featuring allantoin and panthenol to soothe and prevent irritation.
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
★4.2Overall rating based on 5.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely polarized between long-time fans who consider it a "holy grail" for its gentle, non-stripping jelly texture and users who are disappointed by the recent reformulation. While it remains a favorite for those with dry or sensitive skin looking for a mild morning wash, many recent reviews cite irritation, breakouts, and poor makeup removal compared to the original formula.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “skin never felt stripped or dry”
- “leaves face squeaky clean but not dry”
- “conditioning ingredients leave skin soft”
Effective morning cleanse Often Mentioned
- “perfect for waking up skin”
- “great mild AM cleanser”
- “use it as a second cleanse”
Unique texture Often Mentioned
- “balmy texture just melted into my skin”
- “jelly phase dissolves oil”
- “feels undeniably decadent”
Reformulation issues Often Mentioned
- “new formula is terrible”
- “broken me out completely”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “scent is light and airy”
- “smells like juicy roses”
- “nice subtle fragrance”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “makes my sensitive eyes sting”
- “burned my skin”
- “irritatingly fragranced”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't remove lash slick mascara”
- “smeared it around”
- “struggles with eye makeup”
Packaging flaws Rarely Noted
- “pump is fiddly”
- “tiny pump”
- “annoying when using with wet hands”
Sources: lovi.care, glossier.com, sephora.co.uk, influenster.com, reddit.com, livethatglow.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Milky Jelly Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works fine for oily skin by washing away dirt and adding hydration, but it lacks salicylic acid or strong oil control ingredients to clear breakouts. Oily acne-prone skin needs cleansers with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-balancing components for the best results.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Poloxamer 184 and PEG-7 glyceryl cocoate help clean oily skin without adding excess oil, while glycerin and propanediol provide hydration. To fit this skin better, a cleanser of this type needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to address acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
What does Rose Flower Water do for oily acne-prone skin?
Rose flower water helps oily, acne-prone skin by providing significant antioxidant activity and reducing unwanted swelling and irritation. This ingredient may also help keep the skin clear and calm, as it contains helpful plant compounds that support a balanced and healthy complexion.
What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, washing away impurities without adding excess oil. However, because it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to address breakouts, an oily acne-prone routine needs a cleanser with blemish-clearing ingredients to properly care for this skin.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin before following with your retinol treatment. It cleanses effectively without adding excess oil, but because it lacks targeted blemish-fighting ingredients, oily acne-prone skin also needs targeted treatments like salicylic acid.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It cleans and hydrates oily skin safely, but a cleanser for this skin needs salicylic acid to clear breakouts.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser cleans your oily skin well and hydrates it without adding excess oil, but it lacks targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to properly handle breakouts. An oily acne-prone skin type needs ingredients like salicylic acid and antimicrobial agents to clear pores and prevent breakouts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Molecules, 2021
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the thin skin around your eyes and on your body, as its gentle ingredients are safe and unlikely to cause irritation. However, because it is an average fit for oily acne-prone skin, a cleanser for this skin needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid to properly clear breakouts.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.
Molecules, 2021Topical 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 panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.
Molecules, 2020Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.
BioFactors, 2023Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020A 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, 2001Topical application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
Topical 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, 2007Tea tree oil gel and face wash significantly reduced total facial acne lesions from 23.7 to 10.7 and improved investigator global assessment scores in 14 participants with mild to moderate facial acne over 12 weeks.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2017A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propanediol, Isohexadecane, Poloxamer 184, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Polysorbate 80, Xylitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium 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.
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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
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