Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser for oily skin
Geranium Leaf
Bergamot
Rose Bud
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Average
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 benefits for your oily skin, as Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate and Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside effectively cleanse pores, while willow bark extract and citrus oils help manage oiliness.
- While the formula is safe for your oily skin and provides good cleansing, it lacks specialized ingredients to fully address concerns like oily shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no reported irritation risks due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.5Overall rating based on 2.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly praised for its ability to decongest pores and remove impurities while maintaining the skin's natural moisture barrier, making it a favorite for those with combination or sensitive skin. While most users love the botanical scent and gentle, non-stripping formula, some individuals with reactive skin may find the essential oil-based fragrance irritating.
Highlights
Non-stripping formula Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't dry out my skin”
- “leaves skin feeling soft”
- “cleans without that tight feeling”
Effective cleansing Often Mentioned
- “Gets everything nice and clean”
- “removes daily build-up”
- “works well for AM/PM”
Gentle on skin Often Mentioned
- “Perfect for sensitive skin”
- “doesn't cause redness”
- “feels like silk”
Pleasant scent Often Mentioned
- “Smells amazing”
- “nice rosy smell”
- “refreshing earthy smell”
Not for makeup Sometimes Noted
- “Isn't going to be your makeup remover”
- “needs an oil-based cleanser first”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “Too perfumy notes”
- “scent too strong”
- “fragrance allergen considerations”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “Metal tube gets annoying”
- “crinkles on the packaging”
Unpleasant texture Rarely Noted
- “Gooey texture”
- “unpleasant to wash with”
Sources: lovi.care, amazon.com, sephora.sg, grownalchemist.com, walmart.com, dermapproved.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Grown Alchemist Gentle Gel Facial Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by cleaning out pores and helping manage oiliness, though it is unlikely to fully control oily shine. Oily skin needs a cleanser that balances moisture while actively managing shine and excess oil without adding greasiness.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate and caprylyl capryl glucoside clean pores, while willow bark extract and citrus oils help manage oiliness. This cleanser works for oily skin, though it needs moisturizing agents and ingredients that target oily shine for an even better fit.
What does Geranium Leaf do for oily skin?
Geranium Leaf helps balance extra oil and keeps pores clear so oily skin stays fresh and clean. It is unlikely to feel heavy and may help calm midday shine. Products for oily skin like this also need ingredients that control oil and gently refresh without drying.
What does Bergamot do for oily skin?
Bergamot helps calm redness and balances oily skin by reducing irritation and swelling. This ingredient may help control unwanted redness and soothe the skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step before toning and moisturizing. Using a gentle cleanser helps wash away excess oil and impurities safely without causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as its plant cleansers and willow bark extract safely wash away excess oil. An oily skin routine with retinol needs ingredients like niacinamide or salicylic acid to help control stubborn shine and keep pores clear.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your regular routine. It is safe for your skin and helps clean pores and manage oiliness without causing irritation, though oily skin of this type needs extra ingredients to fully control shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily skin, as it contains gentle cleansers and willow bark extract that help manage oiliness without causing irritation. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to fully address oily shine, oily skin often needs a product with stronger oil-controlling components and mattifying ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and more delicate than body skin, so take care not to get it in your eyes. This cleanser washes away dirt safely without harsh ingredients, making it gentle enough for general use.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol, linalool plant, limonene plant, geraniol plant, and citronellol plant).
What the research says
Topical treatment with Geranium thunbergii extract lotion improved skin elasticity and reduced skin wrinkling scores compared to placebo in healthy Japanese women by inhibiting HYBID-mediated hyaluronan degradation and down-regulating HYBID expression.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Geranium and Calendula essential oil-loaded ethanolic lipid vesicular creams exhibited notable antioxidant capacity, sun protection factor values of 10.26 and 18.54, and collagenase and elastase inhibition capacity compared to nonvesicular creams.
BioMed Research International, 2021Combining bergamot essential oil-loaded nano-phytosomes with spironolactone significantly improved therapeutic response against acne vulgaris compared to bergamot essential oil-loaded nano-phytosomes alone in patients.
Pharmaceuticals, 2023Citrus bergamia extract significantly reduced dose-dependently ICAM-1, iNOS, NO, ROS, and GAG production in human NCTC 2544 keratinocytes exposed to interferon-gamma and histamine compared to untreated exposed cells.
Life Sciences, 2012Topical application of bergamot and boxthorn extract increased superoxide dismutase activity and collagen content, decreased malondialdehyde content, and promoted hair growth in mice compared to a control group.
Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi = Zhongguo Zhongyao Zazhi = China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica, 2003Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.
Molecules, 2020Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.
BioFactors, 2023Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020A 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, 2010A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021
Why other cleansers fit oily skin better
Combined 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, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate Plant, Caprylyl Capryl Glucoside Plant, Coco-Glucoside Plant, Cellulose Plant, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower Geranium Oil Flower, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil Expressed Peel Oil, Willow Bark Extract, Citrus Reticulata Peel Oil Mandarin Orange Peel Oil, Bergamot Peel Oil Expressed Peel Oil, Rosa Damascena Oil Flower Rose Oil Flower, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Chamomile Oil Flower, Sodium Phytate Plant, Tocopherol Vitamin E Plant, Dehydroacetic Acid, Benzyl Alcohol, Linalool Plant, Limonene Plant, Geraniol Plant, Citronellol Plant
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
How does it fit your skin?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.