Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Marine Extracts
Aloe Barbadensis
Actinidia Chinensis Extract
Glycerin
Average
- AverageOily 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
- Offers moderate suitability for your oily skin due to the humectant action of Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate, though it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control.
- While Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Glycerin provide excellent cleansing by effectively removing impurities without stripping the skin, the formulation's benefits are mostly supportive and irrelevant for your acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Hyaluronic Acid and Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 300+ reviewsThis oil-free cleanser is well-loved by users with dry and sensitive skin for its hydrating and non-drying properties, effectively removing makeup without water and leaving skin feeling plump. A significant number of users also appreciate its gentle formulation and convenient no-rinse application. Conversely, a high frequency of reviews mention a polarizing residue left on the skin, described as slimy or heavy, which some find soothing while others with oily or acne-prone skin report it can clog pores and necessitates a second cleanse.
Highlights
Hydrating and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves my skin so soft and moist”
- “face always feels hydrated”
- “never tight or dry”
- “plumps the skin”
Gentle on sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “didn't make my face red”
- “soothes skin”
- “hypoallergenic formula”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Leaves residue Often Mentioned
- “leaves a film on the skin”
- “felt so slimy”
- “won't rinse off”
- “heavy cream texture”
Convenient no-rinse formula Sometimes Noted
- “easy beach morning”
- “great for camping”
- “remove with a towel”
- “no water needed”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “dissolves all my face makeup”
- “melts away the day”
- “removes a face full of makeup”
Stings eyes Sometimes Noted
- “sting my eyes”
- “irritation around eyes”
- “gets into the eyes easily”
Struggles with waterproof makeup Sometimes Noted
- “didn't remove all eye makeup”
- “struggles with waterproof mascara”
- “leftover eyeliner”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “made me break out”
- “clogged pores”
- “caused hormonal breakouts”
Sources: lovi.care, drdennisgross.com, mecca.com, dermstore.com, sephora.sg, lovelyskin.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, as it cleans without stripping and provides soothing moisture, though it lacks ingredients to properly control oil and breakouts. Cleansers for this skin type need powerful oil control ingredients and targeted blemish treatments alongside gentle, non-irritating cleansing agents.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your oily skin because glycerin and sodium hyaluronate add moisture without stripping, and aloe helps soothe. However, a cleanser for oily acne-prone skin also needs strong oil control and ingredients that clear breakouts.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for oily acne-prone skin?
Hyaluronic acid helps calm oily acne-prone skin by reducing sebum production and lipid synthesis in sebaceous glands. It also supports skin barrier function and improves hydration while helping deliver treatments without causing irritation.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022
What does Marine Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Marine Extract helps balance oily skin and keeps pores clear without feeling heavy. It provides lightweight hydration while helping to calm redness and breakouts.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works as a morning and evening cleansing step for your oily acne-prone skin, removing impurities gently without stripping moisture. Because it has only moderate suitability and lacks oil control and breakout-fighting benefits, this skin needs a cleanser that also targets blemishes and regulates oil with active ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine when using retinol, applying it to wash your face before your retinol treatment. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your oily skin, but a cleanser of this type for acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that help control oil and target breakouts.
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 gently without stripping moisture, though oily and acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that actively target oil control and breakouts.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for your oily skin because it has very low risks of irritation and gentle soothing ingredients like aloe. However, it is missing specific ingredients to actively manage acne and blemishes, so an oily acne-prone skin routine needs targeted oil-controlling and blemish-clearing ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body or around your eyes because its gentle formula lifts away dirt without irritating sensitive areas. However, for oily acne-prone skin, this cleanser type needs extra oil-controlling and breakout-fighting ingredients to give you the best possible fit.
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, 2017A 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 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 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Purified polysaccharides from kiwi fruit stimulated cell proliferation up to 30%, mitochondrial activity by nearly 25% in human keratinocytes, increased proliferation and ATP synthesis in fibroblasts, and doubled collagen synthesis in three-dimensional skin equivalents compared to controls.
Journal of Cellular Physiology, 2005Ethanolic extract of Actinidia chinensis Planch ameliorated UVB-mediated photoaging by reducing wrinkle formation, epidermal thickening, and collagen loss while decreasing reactive oxygen species overproduction and regulating the AKT pathway in NIH-3T3 cells and SKH-1 hairless mice compared to UVB irradiation alone.
Antioxidants, 2024The 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, 2001Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012
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, 2007A 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, 2019Tea 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, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Neopentyl Glycol Diheptanoate, Butylene Glycol, Isododecane, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Saccharide Isomerate, Caulerpa Lentillifera Extract, Actinidia Chinensis Fruit Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Phytic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Extract, Grapefruit Peel Extract, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Cucumis Melo Fruit Extract, Triethyl Citrate, Lactic Acid, Copper Pca, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Sodium Hydroxide, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
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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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Elina Nazarenko, MD
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Victoria Derkova, MS
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Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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