Simple Refreshing Facial Wash for dry skin
Panthenol Vitamin B5
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Low
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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
- Suboptimal for your dry skin as the presence of Sodium Laureth Sulfate can strip natural oils, and the lack of humectants or emollients means it won't effectively address dryness.
- While Cocamidopropyl Betaine and Sodium Laureth Sulfate offer moderate pore decongestion, the formula lacks specialized ingredients to support your dry or flaky skin.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.3Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis gel-based cleanser is widely praised as a gentle, no-nonsense staple for sensitive and acne-prone skin, effectively removing daily dirt and oil without stripping the moisture barrier. While most users find it non-drying and refreshing, a minority complain about a "slimy" film that is difficult to rinse off or report that it struggles to remove heavy waterproof makeup.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't burn my eyes”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “no redness after use”
Effective daily cleanser Often Mentioned
- “Best morning cleanser”
- “great second cleanse”
- “removes daily grime”
- “reliable everyday wash”
Non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels soft not dry”
- “doesn't leave face tight”
- “good for dry winter skin”
- “gentle moisture barrier protection”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “No strong smell”
- “love that it's unscented”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “smells clean and simple”
Slimy residue Sometimes Noted
- “Feels slimy on skin”
- “takes forever to rinse”
- “leaves a film”
- “hard to wash off completely”
Weak on makeup Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't touch waterproof mascara”
- “need a separate makeup remover”
- “left foundation residue”
- “not for heavy makeup”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Gave me tiny red spots”
- “caused closed comedones”
- “broke me out after a week”
- “skin reacted badly”
Chemical smell Rarely Noted
- “Smells like chemicals”
- “weird plastic scent”
- “has an odd odor”
- “smell is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, simpleskincare.in, amazon.com, makeupalley.com, cosmeticsarena.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is Simple Refreshing Facial Wash a weak match for dry skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for your dry skin because it contains Sodium Laureth Sulfate, which may strip natural oils and increase moisture loss. It also lacks the rich hydrators and barrier-supporting ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid that dry skin needs to stay smooth and comfortable.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
Sodium Laureth Sulfate makes this cleanser a poor fit because it strips natural oils and may increase moisture loss. This formula also lacks the ceramides and hyaluronic acid that a cleanser for dry skin needs to maintain moisture and protect the skin barrier.
What does Panthenol do for dry skin?
Panthenol helps dry skin by boosting hydration, reducing roughness, and supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth. It may also calm redness and ease irritation with a very safe profile.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?
Niacinamide helps dry skin by strengthening the skin barrier, increasing hydration, and reducing water loss. It supports ceramide production and helps keep the surface smooth and calm. This ingredient tends to be very well tolerated and is unlikely to irritate dry skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is a cleanser used in the morning and evening, but it is a weak match for dry skin because it can strip natural oils. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle cleansing agents along with added moisture-binding ingredients and softening agents to keep it smooth and comfortable.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You may use this cleanser in your routine, but it is a weak match for dry skin because it can strip natural oils and lacks ingredients to address dryness. To keep your skin soft and smooth, dry skin needs a gentle cleanser that includes nourishing oils, ceramides, or extra moisture-attracting ingredients.
How often should I use it?
This cleanser is a weak match for dry skin because it contains ingredients that can strip natural oils without providing moisture, so it may leave skin feeling tight and dry. A cleanser for dry skin needs gentle cleansing agents along with humectants and emollients to protect natural moisture and leave the skin feeling soft and smooth.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but because it contains ingredients that can strip natural oils, it may leave dry skin feeling tight or flaky rather than causing true breakouts. A cleanser for dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or rich oils to keep the face soft and comfortable.
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is a weak match for dry skin because ingredients like Sodium Laureth Sulfate can strip natural oils, and it lacks the rich hydrators and moisturizers that dry skin needs.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2002Moisturizer 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, 2000Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.
Langmuir, 2014
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
- Sodium laureth sulfate in this cleanser
Treatment with sodium lauryl ether sulfate emulsion increased transepidermal water loss and skin surface pH while reducing stratum corneum hydration and natural moisturizing factor content compared to diacyl phospholipid emulsions and controls, irrespective of UVA irradiation, in eight healthy volunteers.
International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026 A formulation containing glycerol (5%) and xylitol (5%) applied twice daily for 14 days increased skin hydration, filaggrin protein quantity, interdigitation index, and biomechanical properties, and decreased transepidermal water loss compared to untreated and vehicle-treated skin in twelve volunteers with dry skin.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 2017Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Niacinamide, Zinc Pca, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Edta, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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?
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