Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Meltaway Cleanser for combination skin

Sodium Hyaluronate
Marine Extracts
Aloe Barbadensis
Actinidia Chinensis Extract
Glycerin
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for combination skin; other cleansers fit it better.
- Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
- The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
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 cleansing and hydration for your combination skin, as Ethylhexyl Palmitate and Glycerin help dissolve impurities and moisturize without harshness. Saccharide Isomerate and Hyaluronic Acid provide general hydration, but lack specialized ingredients for managing oily shine.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with soothing ingredients like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid ensuring no irritation.
- This cleanser provides basic cleansing and hydration suitable for your skin type.
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
★4.3Overall 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 Dr. Dennis Gross Meltaway Cleanser work for combination skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your combination skin, offering gentle cleansing and basic moisture without harshness or irritation. However, it lacks specialized ingredients for managing oily shine. Combination skin needs products that effectively cleanse without stripping moisture, manage oily shine while hydrating dry areas, and support the skin barrier.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Sodium hyaluronate, glycerin, and aloe vera make this cleanser a good fit because they help wash away impurities and moisturize your skin without harshness or irritation. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients for managing oily shine, a cleanser for this skin needs extra components that effectively address oily areas while keeping dry zones balanced.
What does Hyaluronic Acid do for combination skin?
Hyaluronic acid is a great fit for combination skin because it quenches dry areas with a boost of hydration while keeping oily zones balanced. Regular use helps smooth out fine lines and makes your skin feel soft and plump without causing irritation.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2021Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011
What does Marine Extract do for combination skin?
Marine extract helps keep combination skin smooth and hydrated while balancing dry and oily areas. It provides antioxidant and calming benefits that support overall skin health with a low risk of irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Carbohydrate Polymers, 2025
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines as the first step of cleansing, helping wash away impurities without causing dryness. A cleanser of this type for combination skin needs balancing ingredients that clean gently while also helping manage oily shine.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it first to gently wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. It provides gentle cleansing and hydration that is safe for your skin, though this skin type needs ingredients to balance oily shine as well.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine to gently wash away impurities and hydrate your skin. It provides basic cleansing suitable for your skin type, though a cleanser with specialized ingredients for managing oily shine may fit your combination skin even better.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts for combination skin, as it has a low complaint rate for doing so and contains soothing ingredients like aloe vera that help keep skin calm. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients for managing oily shine, combination skin generally needs a cleanser that also balances oil and targets pores to prevent congestion.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on the body and around the eyes, as its gentle ingredients ensure safe use on those areas. The thin skin around the eyes and body skin benefit from gentle cleansing and hydration without irritation.
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 novel moisturizer containing saccharide isomerate accelerates skin barrier recovery, improves hydration, reduces erythema, and alleviates discomfort compared to a control moisturizer following intense pulsed light treatment in subjects with skin aging.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2025A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025Topical 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, 2019A 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, 2010Purified 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 combination skin better
A 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, 2019Combined 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, 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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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
-

Victoria Derkova, MS
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist
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