Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser for dry skin
Hyaluronic Acid
Tremella Fuciformis
Shea Butter
Coconut Oil
Aloe BarbadensisSuperior
- SuperiorDry Skin Fit
- SuperiorEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
One of the best cleansers for dry skin.
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
- Excellent suitability for your dry skin is provided by the hydrating properties of hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which attract moisture, complemented by shea butter to lock it in and prevent flakiness.
- Cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate offer superior pore cleansing without compromising your skin's natural moisture barrier.
- The safety profile is excellent, with a gentle formulation free from harsh ingredients and enriched with soothing components like aloe vera and chamomile extract, ensuring no irritation for your dry 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
★4.7Overall rating based on 1000+ reviewsThis cleanser is widely praised as a gentle, non-foaming option that excels for dry, sensitive, and winter-ravaged skin by leaving the moisture barrier intact. While users love its soothing, "lotion-like" feel, many note it struggles to remove heavy makeup on its own and is best used as a morning cleanse or second step in a double-cleansing routine.
Highlights
Extremely hydrating Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and cushioned”
- “perfect for winter dryness”
- “skin feels plump”
- “doesn't strip moisture”
Gentle & soothing Often Mentioned
- “calms my redness”
- “no stinging or irritation”
- “great for sensitive skin”
- “very mild formula”
Poor makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “leaves makeup residue”
- “struggles with mascara”
- “need to double cleanse”
- “doesn't remove foundation well”
Improves skin barrier Sometimes Noted
- “healed my moisture barrier”
- “stopped my flaking”
- “skin feels stronger”
- “less tight after washing”
Pleasant milky texture Sometimes Noted
- “feels like a cloud”
- “smooth milky consistency”
- “creamy and cushioning”
- “glides over skin”
Leaves a film Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a filmy layer”
- “feels slightly sticky”
- “hard to rinse off completely”
- “residue sits on skin”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “gave me closed comedones”
- “caused small bumps”
- “broke me out”
- “too heavy for acne-prone skin”
Lack of lather Rarely Noted
- “doesn't foam at all”
- “feels like washing with lotion”
- “miss the bubbles”
- “hard to tell if it's working”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, thayers.com, target.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Thayers Hydrating Milky Cleanser one of the best fits for dry skin?
This cleanser is an excellent fit because hyaluronic acid and glycerin draw in moisture while shea butter locks it in to stop flakiness. Gentle cleansers like cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium cocoyl isethionate wash away dirt without harming your skin's natural moisture barrier. Soothing ingredients like aloe vera and chamomile extract help ensure your dry skin stays calm and free from irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid and glycerin pull in moisture, while shea butter locks it in to keep your dry skin from getting flaky. Gentle cleansers clean your pores without stripping your skin's natural moisture barrier.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for dry skin?
Hyaluronic acid draws moisture into dry skin, giving an immediate and lasting boost in hydration that helps smooth out fine lines and soften rough patches. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving overall skin smoothness and plumpness.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
What does Tremella Mushroom do for dry skin?
Tremella mushroom deeply quenches dry skin by holding onto moisture and keeping skin feeling soft and smooth. It helps shield skin cells from daily stress and dryness while supporting natural hydration factors.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2015Molecules, 2026
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser is used in the morning and evening as the first or second step of your routine to wash your face gently while protecting your skin's natural moisture. Using a mild cleanser like this helps improve visual dryness and overall skin comfort.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by using it in your evening routine before applying your treatment, as its gentle ingredients help clean your skin without drying it out. This cleanser uses hydrating components like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to bring in moisture, while shea butter helps lock it in to prevent flakiness.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. A consistent daily routine with a gentle cleanser helps improve visual dryness and keeps dry skin comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts on dry skin because it uses gentle, non-irritating cleansers that clean pores without stripping your natural moisture barrier. It also features a soothing, mild formula with aloe vera and chamomile extract designed to prevent irritation.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this gentle cleanser around the eyes and on the body because its mild ingredients and soothing aloe vera are unlikely to cause irritation. It cleans pores well while keeping moisture locked in, which helps protect thinner areas like the eyelids and body skin from drying out.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007Topical 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, 2019Snow mushroom alcohol-based hand rub gel significantly improved skin moisture better than the placebo through 180 minutes while maintaining comparable antiseptic efficacy in 20 human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Tremella fuciformis extract demonstrates potential cutaneous benefits including skin antiaging, photoprotection, wound healing, and barrier protection based on in vitro and animal models.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2023Tremella fuciformis inhibits melanogenesis by decreasing melanin content and tyrosinase expression in B16F10 cells while promoting wound healing in human HaCaT keratinocytes and Detroit 551 fibroblasts.
In Vivo, 2022A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Overnight virgin coconut oil application provides a skin protective effect against damage and increased TEWL from frequent alcohol-based hand sanitizer usage in 60 volunteers, resulting in a 25% increase in perceived moisture content compared to the control group.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021A 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, 2018Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis Oil, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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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