Skinbetter Science Refining Foam Cleanser for oily skin
Glycolic Acid
Lactic Acid
Salicylic AcidHigh
- HighOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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 exfoliation for your oily skin due to the presence of glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid, which provide general cleansing benefits and help regulate desquamation.
- The combination of sodium lauroyl methyl isethionate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine offers moderate cleansing, lifting dirt and oil effectively without causing irritation.
- The formula is safe for your oily skin, as it lacks prohibited or harsh ingredients that could cause irritation.
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 900+ reviewsThis cleanser is praised for its ability to gently exfoliate and brighten skin, with many users reporting smoother texture and reduced congestion after consistent use. While it is highly effective for normal to oily skin types, some users with drier skin or those accustomed to the previous "Oxygen Infusion Wash" formula find the texture less satisfying or occasionally drying.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Often Mentioned
- “Gently exfoliates and purifies the skin, leaving it soft.”
- “Offers gentle exfoliation without irritation.”
- “AHA blend is effective but not harsh.”
Improves skin texture Often Mentioned
- “My skin felt smoother, and I noticed a visible improvement in texture.”
- “My texture improved noticeably.”
- “Softens rough patches and enhances your skin's natural glow.”
Brightens complexion Sometimes Noted
- “My skin is brighter and smoother after a few uses.”
- “Skin looked brighter and more refined.”
- “Enhances your skin's natural glow.”
Non-stripping cleanse Sometimes Noted
- “Works diligently to remove excess oil... yet it does so in a way that feels gentle.”
- “Cleans well without stripping my skin.”
- “Leaves it feeling clean but not tight.”
Less luxurious feel Sometimes Noted
- “I didn't get a luxury feeling when using this product.”
- “The new formula just doesn't hit the same.”
- “It felt like an unscented version of a foaming hand soap.”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “Too drying for my combination skin.”
- “Can feel a bit drying if I use too much.”
- “I experienced a little tightness afterward.”
Inconsistent deep clean Rarely Noted
- “I still feel some residue after rinsing.”
- “I didn't feel like my skin was getting a proper deep cleanse.”
- “I find myself needing to double-cleanse... to get that really clean feeling.”
Sources: lovi.care, ellemesmedspa.com, lovelyskin.com, lazskincare.com, reddit.com, dermapproved.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Refining Foam Cleanser a great fit for oily skin?
Refining Foam Cleanser is a great fit because it contains glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid to gently sweep away dead skin cells and keep extra oil under control. Its mild cleansing agents lift away dirt and oil effectively without causing irritation, making it a safe choice for your oily skin.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Glycolic acid, lactic acid, and salicylic acid make this cleanser a great fit by offering moderate exfoliation and helping to lift away excess oil. These ingredients work together to clear away dirt and keep your skin feeling clean without causing irritation.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Glycolic Acid do for oily skin?
Glycolic acid helps clear away dead skin and excess oil for a smooth, clean feel. It gently removes buildup from the surface, which keeps pores clear and skin looking fresh.
Molecules, 2023Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2011
What does Lactic Acid do for oily skin?
Lactic acid helps manage oily skin by significantly reducing oil production and pore size while improving moisture levels. It supports a clearer and smoother look through gentle surface renewal.
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 toners, treatments, and moisturizers. Start using it once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and looks good, you can carefully use it more often.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first, letting your skin dry completely, and then following with your retinol treatment. Using this cleanser with a retinol may occasionally lead to irritation on oily skin, so it helps to watch how your skin feels and space them out if needed.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a great fit for your oily skin and can be used daily as part of your morning and evening routine. Lovi routines start exfoliating steps like this once a week, and people who tolerate them well and see good results may carefully use them more often.
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 because it contains salicylic acid, glycolic acid, and lactic acid to help clear dirt and oil effectively. It has a safe formula that avoids harsh ingredients that typically cause irritation or breakouts.
BioMed Research International, 2020Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should avoid using it directly around the eyes. The skin around the eyes is much thinner than the skin on the rest of the body and face, making it more sensitive to strong exfoliating ingredients.
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, 2020Twice 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, 2024The 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, 2023Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 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
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Sodium Pca, Sodium Lactate, Sodium Chloride, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin
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?
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