🇩🇪Germany

Estée Lauder Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser for acne-prone skin

Average

  • AverageCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

Works for acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with acne-prone skin: breakouts, blackheads, and post-acne marks. 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 combination skin as Glycerin and Sodium Hyaluronate provide humectant action, but it lacks sufficient ingredients for optimal oil control on oily areas.
  • The cleanser effectively addresses your general cleansing and hydration needs for acne-prone skin due to Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate and Glycerin, yet it does not contain specialized ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your combination skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components like Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate and Urea.

How to apply

  • Could be used as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it 3 times a week and build up to daily use if your skin tolerates it.
  • This cleanser is the first step in your morning routine and the second step after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Always follow up with a toner and moisturizer .
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face in circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to keep your skin calm.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it work effectively against breakouts. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water .
  • Avoid the immediate eye area and do a patch test before your first use to check for any sensitivity.

People Say

★4.6Overall rating based on 700+ reviews

Users with dry to normal skin find this cleanser provides a deep, effective cleanse without stripping moisture, creating a luxurious lather that leaves skin feeling soft. Some users report the tube packaging is difficult to use and the fragrance may be too strong for sensitive individuals.

Highlights

  • Rich lather Mostly Mentioned
    • “Lathers well”
    • “creamy with a light scent”
    • “foams a lot”
  • Long-lasting product Often Mentioned
    • “A little goes a long way”
    • “lasts a long time”
    • “tube will last eons”
  • Non-drying formula Often Mentioned
    • “Doesn't strip my skin”
    • “doesn't make skin feel stiff”
    • “leaves skin moisturized”
  • Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
    • “Leaves my skin very clean”
    • “removes makeup”
    • “no residue”
  • Difficult tube Sometimes Noted
    • “Impossible to get out”
    • “tube is very uncomfortable”
    • “needs a pump”
  • High price Rarely Noted
    • “Brings very little product for its price”
    • “price hike”
  • Strong fragrance Rarely Noted
    • “Fragrance a bit too strong”
    • “not for those sensitive to scent”

Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, nordstrom.com, esteelauder.com, solonelyingorgeous.com, soco.id, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Soft Clean Moisture Rich Foaming Cleanser work for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser works reasonably well for acne-prone skin by handling basic cleaning and hydration, but it lacks specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts. An ideal cleanser for this skin needs a gentle, safe formula with soothing extracts and ingredients that actively help clear blemishes while keeping the skin balanced.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin?

Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate and Glycerin make this cleanser a good fit for acne-prone skin by effectively handling your general cleansing and hydration needs. To provide an even better fit for this skin, a cleanser needs specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts, along with a balanced mix of gentle cleansing agents and soothing components.

What does Hyaluronic Acid do for acne-prone skin?

Hyaluronic acid helps acne-prone skin by soothing irritation, calming redness, and keeping the skin balanced without clogging pores. When combined with targeted ingredients like zinc oxide, it may also help reduce breakouts.

Biomedicines, 2025Drug Delivery, 2017

What does Glycerin do for acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep acne-prone skin hydrated and calm without clogging pores or feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so it stays soft and smooth while handling everyday treatments.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, and it is also used in your weekly routine. To better fit acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs specialized ingredients to directly target breakouts and blemishes alongside soothing components.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser in the same routine as your retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before you put on your retinol treatment. A cleanser for acne-prone skin also needs specialized ingredients to directly target acne, blemishes, and breakouts.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It gently cleans and hydrates your skin without causing irritation, though a product of this type for acne-prone skin also needs specialized ingredients to actively target breakouts and control oil.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts because it has a very safe formula with soothing ingredients, but it does not contain specialized ingredients to directly target acne and blemishes. Acne-prone skin needs cleansers with targeted blemish-fighting ingredients and oil-controlling components for an optimal fit.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Dermatology Online Journal, 2013

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should take care around the thin skin of the eyes. A cleanser of this type needs specialized ingredients like gentle surfactants and hydrating agents to safely clean delicate areas without causing irritation.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

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, 2017
  • A topical formulation containing panthenol, niacinamide, and dipotassium glycyrrhizate increased skin hydration by 74.1% and reduced transepidermal water loss by 13.5% at 28 days compared to baseline and untreated control in 35 individuals with xerosis.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026
  • Urea is a safe and effective dermatologic therapy with wide-ranging clinical utility for various skin conditions and minimal, non-systemic side effects based on a review of the clinical literature.

    Dermatology Online Journal, 2013
  • Topical 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, 2011
  • Topical 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, 2022
  • Treatment 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, 2019
  • The 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, 2020
  • Ten 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
  • Niacinamide/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
  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015
  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015
  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025
  • Topical chrysin nanoemulgel improved percutaneous absorption and in vitro cytotoxicity on A375 and SK-MEL-2 cell lines compared to unformulated chrysin, demonstrating effective localized transcutaneous delivery.

    Pharmaceutics, 2021
  • Chrysin attenuated apoptosis, ROS production, COX-2 expression, and AQP-3 down-regulation induced by UVB and UVA in HaCaT keratinocytes, while showing efficient percutaneous absorption and no skin irritation in animal studies.

    Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2011
  • Chrysin treatment reduced injury area and inflammation while increasing bFGF secretion, promoting the healing of amiodarone extravasation-induced skin injury in rats compared to control and 10% DMSO groups.

    Microvascular Research, 2022

Why other cleansers fit acne-prone skin better

Ingredients

Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Water, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Decyl Glucoside, Potassium Myristoyl Glutamate, Glycol Stearate, Peg-40 Glyceryl Cocoate, Citric Acid, Sodium Pca, Sodium Coceth Sulfate, Parfum, Passiflora Incarnata Flower Extract, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Lythrum Salicaria Extract, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Caffeine, Trehalose, Sucrose, Urea, Caprylyl Glycol, Polyquaternium-51, 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.

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

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