🇪🇸Spain

Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash for combination skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Dermalogica Clear Start Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash

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 exfoliation for your combination skin, as salicylic acid and melaleuca alternifolia tree oil provide mild exfoliation and antimicrobial action beneficial for oily shine.
  • The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
  • While effective for general cleansing and reducing acne lesions, the concentrations may not be sufficient for optimal results in all areas of your combination skin.

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

★4.7Overall rating based on 3.6k+ reviews

This foaming wash is widely praised for effectively clearing hormonal and teenage acne on both the face and body without stripping the skin of moisture. While most users find it gentle and refreshing, a minority experience dryness or irritation, and some note a "purging" phase before seeing results. This summary is based on a very large amount of data and should definitely be taken into account.

Highlights

  • Clears acne Mostly Mentioned
    • “helped keep oil under control”
    • “3 pimples went away overnight”
    • “cleared my hormonal acne”
    • “great for teenage acne”
  • Gentle and non-drying Often Mentioned
    • “doesn't strip my skin”
    • “gentle enough for sensitive skin”
    • “face feels clean not dry”
    • “balanced cleanser”
  • Improves texture Sometimes Noted
    • “brightened my skin”
    • “skin looks healthier”
    • “less oily throughout the day”
    • “smooths texture”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells nice and fresh”
    • “love the scent”
    • “smells like orange peel”
    • “refreshing botanical smell”
  • Versatile for body Sometimes Noted
    • “helped tremendously with body acne”
    • “use on face, back, neck”
    • “cleared my back breakouts”
    • “great for chest acne”
  • Price point Sometimes Noted
    • “pricey but worth it”
    • “expensive for a face wash”
    • “wish it was cheaper”
    • “good but costly”
  • Can be drying Rarely Noted
    • “makes your skin really dry”
    • “left my face feeling tight”
    • “too drying for me”
    • “caused flaky skin”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “do not travel with this it leaks”
    • “bottle cap does not pop open”
    • “packaging arrived damaged”
    • “leaked in my bag”
  • Purging period Rarely Noted
    • “skin may experience purging”
    • “caused initial breakout”
    • “had to wait for purge to end”
    • “worse before better”
  • Skin irritation Rarely Noted
    • “turning red around nose”
    • “caused burning sensation”
    • “irritated my sensitive skin”
    • “skin became inflamed”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, sephora.com, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, adorebeauty.com.au, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Dermalogica Breakout Clearing Foaming Wash work for combination skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for combination skin by offering mild exfoliation and safe cleansing without causing irritation, though its concentrations may not be enough for optimal results in all areas. A cleanser for this skin needs to safely balance oil production, maintain hydration in dry areas, and include soothing, high-quality ingredients that address both oily shine and moisture needs.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?

Salicylic acid and melaleuca alternifolia tree oil make this cleanser a good fit because they provide mild exfoliation and antimicrobial action beneficial for oily shine. A cleanser for combination skin needs to safely balance oil production, maintain hydration in dry areas, and soothe the skin without causing irritation.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

What does Salicylic Acid do for combination skin?

Salicylic acid helps clear clogged pores and balance oily areas while remaining gentle enough for dry spots on combination skin. It reduces breakouts and oiliness effectively with a low likelihood of irritation.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

What does Tea Tree Oil do for combination skin?

Tea tree oil helps balance combination skin by decreasing excess oil and targeting blemishes without making dry areas worse. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, and helps keep skin clear by fighting blemish-causing bacteria.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2022Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 2006

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for combination skin. To care best for this skin, a cleanser of this type needs balancing ingredients and gentle exfoliants that target both oily shine and dry areas.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your dry face, rinsing it off, and then following with your retinol once your skin is completely dry. Because this cleanser exfoliates with salicylic acid, combining it with retinol may increase the likelihood of dryness or irritation, so it helps to start slowly and watch how your skin reacts.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines as a gentle way to wash your skin and help manage oily shine. Combination skin often needs a cleanser that balances oil control with extra targeted treatments to get the best results across both dry and oily areas.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, and any purging period is usually low. It helps clear away oily shine and blemishes, though combination skin generally benefits most from cleansers that balance oil control with deeper, targeted hydration for dry areas.

BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

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

This cleanser is formulated for the face, so it may not be suitable for the very thin skin around the eyes where irritation is more likely. For the body, a product of this type needs stronger exfoliating ingredients and higher active concentrations to effectively treat thicker skin.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • A moisturizer containing licochalcone A, 1,2-decanediol, L-carnitine, and salicylic acid significantly reduced noninflammatory, inflammatory, and total acne lesion counts compared to a vehicle control in Thai patients during a 12-week maintenance phase.

    BioMed Research International, 2020

  • Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023

  • Cryotherapy with liquid nitrogen achieved a higher cure rate (39%) than salicylic acid (24%) and a wait-and-see approach (16%) for cutaneous warts at 13 weeks in primary care patients.

    CMAJ, 2010

  • Treatment with 2% supramolecular salicylic acid hydrogel resulted in a regression and markedly improvement rate of 51.01% compared to 43.10% for Adapaline gel in patients with mild to moderate facial acne vulgaris, showing no significant difference in efficacy.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024

  • Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010

  • A 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, 2018

  • Tea tree oil nanoemulsion containing adapalene gel demonstrated significantly greater reductions in total, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory acne lesions as well as acne severity index compared to adapalene marketed gel in 100 patients with acne vulgaris over 12 weeks.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2022

  • 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, 2007

  • A 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

  • Polysaccharide-based O/W emulsions incorporated with lavender essential oil applied to cellulosic support are non-irritating, provide softness and moisturizing effects, and are safe for topical patch applications.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021

  • Gellan gum hydrogel films co-encapsulating ofloxacin with tea tree or lavender oil achieved 98% wound contraction and completely healed epidermis in rats after ten days of treatment compared to baseline.

    International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2021

  • Topical application of lavender oil significantly promoted wound contraction, collagen synthesis, and fibroblast differentiation with up-regulation of TGF-beta in a rat model compared to control.

    BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2016

  • 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

Why other cleansers fit combination skin better

Ingredients

Salicylic Acid, Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Acrylates Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Copolymer, Polysorbate-20, Melaleuca Alternifolia Tree Oil Leaf, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Oleanolic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Enantia Chlorantha Bark Extract, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Spiraea Ulmaria Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Porphyra Umbilicalis Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Rhizome Licorice Root Extract Rhizome, Sodium Hydroxide, Ethylhexylglycerin, 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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 6 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for Spain.

How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
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