Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser for combination skin
Silk Amino Acids
Moringa Oil
Carthamus Tinctorius Oil
Astaxanthin
White Tea Complex
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with combination skin: an oily T-zone, enlarged pores, and dry cheeks. 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 suitability for your combination skin, as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide hydration, but the cleansing agents like Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate are not specialized enough to fully address your oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, containing no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
- It provides general cleansing and hydration benefits, making it a functional choice for daily use.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM as part of your daily routine. Start 3×/week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it well.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your skin using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
- For the best results , apply the cleanser directly onto slightly damp skin to help lift away excess oil.
- Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly recommended for individuals with dry, dehydrated, and sensitive skin. It effectively removes makeup and SPF without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple, and calm. While generally well-loved, some users find the price point high and occasionally note an unpleasant scent or minor packaging issues.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin silky soft”
- “zero tightness after washing”
- “skin feels plump and juicy”
- “doesn't strip my dry skin”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “melts away SPF easily”
- “removes daily makeup well”
- “great one-step cleanse”
- “cleans pores effectively”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “doesn't sting my eyes”
- “calmed my breakouts”
- “great for sensitive barriers”
Expensive price point Often Mentioned
- “very expensive for a face wash”
- “pricey for something you wash off”
- “wish it was cheaper”
- “hard to justify the cost”
Luxurious texture Sometimes Noted
- “rich gel texture”
- “feels like a spa treatment”
- “silky slip on the skin”
- “lathers into a creamy foam”
Unpleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like plastic”
- “weird chemical scent”
- “scent is off-putting”
- “smells like glue”
Leaves a film Rarely Noted
- “felt a film on my face”
- “didn't feel squeaky clean”
- “residue left behind”
- “caused congestion for me”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “tube is hard to squeeze”
- “cap broke easily”
- “pump stops working”
- “hard to get the last bit out”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, cultbeauty.com, sephora.sg, lovelyskin.com, allies.shop, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Allies of Skin Molecular Silk Amino Hydrating Cleanser work for combination skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for combination skin because its hydrating ingredients keep skin soft and smooth, but its cleansing agents are not specialized enough to fully manage your oily shine. Cleansers that fit this skin better need ingredients that effectively clean without stripping moisture while managing oily shine and supporting the moisture barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2012
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin because they help keep the skin hydrated. However, a cleanser of this type needs specialized cleansing agents that manage oily shine while protecting moisture.
What do Silk Amino Acids do for combination skin?
Silk amino acids help keep combination skin feeling soft and smooth by holding onto moisture in dry areas without feeling heavy on oily spots. This ingredient is unlikely to clog pores and supports a balanced, healthy feel across your entire face.
What does Moringa Oil do for combination skin?
Moringa oil helps keep combination skin calm and smooth because it is rich in antioxidants and has strong anti-inflammatory properties. This oil is unlikely to cause irritation and is generally well tolerated on human skin. However, combination skin often needs a lighter texture or added balancing ingredients to properly manage both dry and oily areas.
Polymers, 2022Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, 2024
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes first in your morning and evening skincare routine before your toner, moisturizer, and other steps. Combination skin needs a cleanser with specialized balancing or oil-controlling ingredients to properly manage oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol treatment as part of your routine. This cleanser is safe for your skin and unlikely to cause irritation, but combination skin needs cleansers with oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid or clay to fully target oily shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works as a functional choice for daily use on combination skin. It is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a safe formula with no harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation. However, because it only offers moderate suitability for this skin type, combination skin needs a cleanser that balances hydration while featuring specialized ingredients to fully control oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as its gentle formula is safe and unlikely to cause irritation. Because the skin around the eyes is exceptionally thin, a cleanser used there still needs mild, non-irritating cleansing agents and soothing hydrators to protect it.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Combining oral and topical astaxanthin in 30 healthy females improved skin wrinkles, age spots, elasticity, texture, and moisture, while 6 mg daily oral supplementation in 36 healthy males improved crow's feet wrinkles, elasticity, and transepidermal water loss.
Acta Biochimica Polonica, 2012Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005Silk fibroin wound dressings exhibit anti-inflammatory and pro-angiogenic properties that accelerate skin wound healing compared to commercially available dressings in preclinical and clinical settings.
Biomolecules, 2022Chitosan silk fibroin topical hydrogel accelerated tissue reformation and wound regeneration compared to other groups in adult male Wistar albino rats.
Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal, 2023Emulgels containing Perilla frutescens seed oil, Moringa oleifera seed oil, and mixed seed oil microemulsions exhibit good stability, lack of cytotoxicity in PBMC, and no skin irritation or allergic reactions in human subjects.
Polymers, 2022Moringa seed oil stimulated sebaceous lipogenesis, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and exhibited a low n-6/n-3 index in cultured human SZ95 sebocytes compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2023Topical Moringa oleifera seed oil and its main constituent oleic acid reduced acute and chronic skin inflammation and epidermal hypertrophy in mice through glucocorticoid receptor activation without dexamethasone-like adverse effects on organ weights.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2020Safflower oil body-human epidermal growth factor microgel emulsions mixed with xanthan gum enhance transdermal absorption, regulate inflammation, accelerate angiogenesis, and promote re-epithelialization and remodeling in full-layer skin wounds in rats.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2022Oral astaxanthin supplementation significantly restored moisture content and improved elasticity but did not significantly decrease wrinkle depth compared to placebo in humans.
Nutrients, 2021Twice-daily application of a novel topical antioxidant formulation safe, well-tolerated, and effective in improving overall skin quality, fine lines, wrinkles, radiance, and hyperpigmentation in 32 healthy female subjects over 12 weeks.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Astaxanthin prevents UV-induced cutaneous inflammation, abnormal keratinization, wrinkling, and pigmentation in human skin even when applied postirradiation.
Photochemistry and Photobiology, 2019An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019A moisturizing cream containing 2% l-carnitine and 5% EGCG significantly reduced sebum levels and improved skin hydration in ninety subjects with seborrhea over 4 weeks, showing greater anti-sebum efficacy in the combination group compared to the l-carnitine group alone.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Topical application of green tea or white tea extracts protects human skin against UV-induced damage to cutaneous immunity without acting as a sunscreen.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009
Why other cleansers fit combination skin better
A botanical face cleanser with hops and willow bark extract continuously reduced skin sebum levels without reactive seborrhea after treatment in 21 healthy volunteers compared to a sodium laureth sulfate cleanser, with neither cleanser causing skin irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Polyacrylate-1 Crosspolymer, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Carthamus Tinctorius Seed Oil, Propanediol, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Leuconostoc Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Lactic Acid, Hydrolyzed Jojoba Esters, Moringa Oleifera Seed Oil, 3-O-Ethyl Ascorbic Acid, Cocodimonium Hydroxypropyl Silk Amino Acids, Hydrolyzed Silk, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract White Tea Leaf Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Lecithin, Astaxanthin, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Sodium Lauryl Glucose Carboxylate, Caprylyl Glycol, O-Cymen-5-Ol, Polysorbate 20, Tetrasodium Edta, Disodium Edta, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Glycolate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Benzoate, 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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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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