SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel for dry sensitive skin
Lipo Hydroxy Acid
Glycolic Acid
Salicylic Acid
GlycerinCaution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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
- Offers moderate exfoliation for dry or flaky skin, but the presence of glycolic acid and salicylic acid can cause excessive dryness and irritation, making it unsuitable for your dry and sensitive skin type.
- While capryloyl salicylic acid and menthol offer pore-cleansing benefits, they do not counteract the potential for dryness and irritation.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsThis cleanser is widely celebrated by users with oily, acne-prone, and aging skin for its ability to deeply exfoliate and decongest pores using a blend of LHA, glycolic, and salicylic acids. While most users report clearer, smoother, and brighter skin, a minority find it too drying or experience an initial "purge" of breakouts.
Highlights
Deeply exfoliates Mostly Mentioned
- “decongests clogged pores”
- “refines skin surface”
- “removes dead skin”
- “deep clean feeling”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “gets rid of blackheads”
- “controls adult acne”
- “breakouts appear reduced”
- “keeps skin clear”
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “reduces oil”
- “less oily throughout day”
- “removes excess sebum”
- “matte finish”
Refines texture Often Mentioned
- “smoothes skin texture”
- “skin feels soft”
- “improves skin clarity”
- “brightens complexion”
Refreshing feel Sometimes Noted
- “cooling sensation”
- “tingling feel”
- “fresh citrus scent”
- “feels invigorating”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “good but drying”
- “felt tight after”
- “stripped natural oils”
- “too harsh for daily use”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey for a wash”
- “costly investment”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “worsened acne initially”
- “caused purging”
- “irritated my skin”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “pours out too fast”
- “hard to control amount”
- “wastes product”
- “leaks easily”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, skinceuticals.com, reddit.com, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser can cause excessive dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin because it contains glycolic acid and salicylic acid. A cleanser for this skin needs effective moisturizing ingredients and soothing agents that provide hydration and comfort without any risk of irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and capryloyl salicylic acid make this cleanser a poor fit because they can cause excessive dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A cleanser for this skin type needs moisturizing ingredients and soothing agents that provide hydration and comfort without stripping moisture or causing irritation.
What does Lipo Hydroxy Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Lipo Hydroxy Acid helps smooth flaky spots and gently clears pores on dry, sensitive skin without causing a lot of stinging. Because it works very gradually on the surface, it is unlikely to upset dry or easily irritated skin when used a few times a week.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycolic acid can be too harsh for dry sensitive skin and may cause irritation, so this skin type needs gentle calming ingredients and deeply nourishing moisturizers to keep the skin barrier safe and smooth.
Acta Dermato-venereologica, 1995The British Journal of Dermatology, 1997
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a poor match for your dry and sensitive skin because its acids can cause excessive dryness and irritation. A product for this skin type needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and mild cleansers that protect your skin's moisture barrier without stripping it.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Using this cleanser with retinol is a poor match because the exfoliating acids in the formula can cause excessive dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and barrier-supporting components like ceramides instead.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a poor match for your dry and sensitive skin because its exfoliating acids may cause excessive dryness and irritation. Instead, this skin needs a mild cleanser paired with a gentle moisturizer to keep skin comfortable and well-hydrated.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but the exfoliating acids in it may cause dryness and irritation on dry sensitive skin. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle hydrating ingredients and soothing agents to keep skin calm and soft.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You should avoid using this cleanser around your eyes because the thin skin there is very delicate and prone to irritation from its exfoliating acids. A cleanser for this area needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and soothing botanical extracts to keep skin soft and comfortable without drying it out.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Cryotherapy 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 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Coco-Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Disteareth-100 Ipdi, Salicylic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Disodium Edta, Steareth-100
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.