KORA ORGANICS Gentle Cleanser for oily acne-prone skin

Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract
Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil Macadamia Seed Oil
Rosa Canina Seed Oil Rosehip Seed Oil
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 soothing benefits for your oily skin, with Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Glycerin providing hydration and gentle cleansing, though it lacks strong seboregulation for your primary concerns of acne, blemishes, and breakouts.
- Calendula Officinalis Extract and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract offer supportive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are beneficial but not targeted for your specific skin issues.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, as it contains soothing ingredients like Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice and Calendula Officinalis Extract and avoids harsh or prohibited substances.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
- Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
- Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
- Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsUsers with dry and sensitive skin highly recommend this cleanser for its ability to remove makeup and impurities without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier, often describing the experience as luxurious and spa-like. Those with oily or acne-prone skin frequently note that it can leave a film that requires a second cleanse, and some find the glass packaging beautiful but impractical.
Highlights
Hydrating & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft and plump”
- “doesn't feel tight after”
- “very moisturizing for dry patches”
- “skin feels nourished”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “melts away waterproof mascara”
- “dissolves makeup instantly”
- “great first cleanse”
- “removes everything easily”
Gentle & soothing Often Mentioned
- “no irritation on sensitive eyes”
- “calms my redness”
- “very gentle formula”
- “never stings”
Luxurious texture & scent Sometimes Noted
- “turns into a milky emulsion”
- “feels velvety on skin”
- “smells like a spa”
- “relaxing earthy scent”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “pricey for the amount”
- “runs out quickly”
- “hard to justify cost”
Oily residue Sometimes Noted
- “leaves a greasy film”
- “requires a second cleanse”
- “too heavy for oily skin”
- “felt like it clogged pores”
Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
- “pump leaks everywhere”
- “glass bottle is slippery/heavy”
- “messy to travel with”
- “pump stopped working”
Scent preferences Rarely Noted
- “smells too earthy”
- “strong mushroom smell”
- “scent is overpowering”
- “didn't like the herbal smell”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, koraorganics.com, thingtesting.com, makeupalley.com, reddit.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Kora Organics Gentle Cleanser work for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for oily acne-prone skin, providing gentle cleansing and soothing hydration with ingredients like aloe barbadensis leaf juice and glycerin, but it lacks strong oil control for breakouts. A cleanser for this skin type needs powerful ingredients that target acne and blemishes while effectively managing excess oil.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Calendula Officinalis Extract, and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract make this cleanser a good fit by offering gentle cleansing, hydration, and soothing benefits for oily skin. To truly fit oily and acne-prone skin, a cleanser of this type needs powerful ingredients that effectively control oil production, clear blemishes, and provide targeted exfoliation.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017
What does Aloe Vera Leaf Juice do for oily acne-prone skin?
Aloe Vera Leaf Juice helps calm redness and reduces acne breakouts for oily skin. Studies show it effectively targets acne lesions and lowers redness when used regularly.
Clinical Pharmacology, 2018The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2014
What does Noni Fruit Extract do for oily acne-prone skin?
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser fits in the morning routine after waking up and in the evening routine after removing makeup, while oily acne-prone skin also needs ingredients that help control oil and target breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine when using retinol, applying it to wash your face before your retinol treatment. A cleanser for this skin also needs strong oil-controlling and breakout-fighting ingredients to properly manage acne.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser works for your oily acne-prone skin as an average fit, offering gentle cleansing and soothing benefits, though it lacks strong oil control for blemishes and breakouts. To care for this skin properly, an oil-prone routine needs targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or niacinamide to help manage excess oil and breakouts.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause purging, but it may not actively prevent breakouts on oily acne-prone skin because it lacks strong oil-controlling ingredients. Oily acne-prone skin typically needs a cleanser with targeted ingredients like salicylic acid or stronger blemish-fighting agents to properly clear pores and manage breakouts.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can safely use this cleanser on your body, but you should take care around the thin skin of your eyes. Oily acne-prone skin of this type needs a cleanser with strong oil-balancing ingredients and blemish-fighting agents.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol). Cetearyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.
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, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009A 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, 2010Formulations containing 0.10%, 0.25%, and 0.50% freeze-dried Aloe vera extract increased stratum corneum water content compared with the vehicle in 20 female subjects, while transepidermal water loss was not modified.
Skin Research and Technology, 2006Morinda citrifolia leaf extracts increased the UVB dose required to induce erythema by almost 3.5 times compared to untreated skin and inhibited histamine H-1 receptor binding by 57% in volunteers and in vitro assays.
Journal of Natural Medicines, 2009Morinda citrifolia extracts containing α-EG and pinoresinol induced stimulatory and inhibitory gene expression related to collagen and fibroblast growth factors in normal human dermal fibroblasts, with rawfs showing a lack of cell and DNA toxicity in PBMCs.
Plants, 2022Topical formulations containing Morinda citrifolia extract protected the dorsal skin against UV-induced damage, including alterations in thickness, TEWL, erythema, and histology, in mice exposed to UVA-UVB light compared to unprotected skin.
BioMed Research International, 2014Apigenin protects against UVA-induced cytotoxicity and senescence in normal human dermal fibroblasts, decreases MMP-1 expression, and when applied topically as a cream in human subjects, increases dermal density and elasticity while reducing fine wrinkle length, skin evenness, moisture content, and transepidermal water loss compared to control cream.
International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 2016Topical chamomile oil combined with a night splint significantly improved the symptomatic and functional status of patients with severe carpal tunnel syndrome compared to placebo, while electrodiagnostic parameters showed no significant changes.
Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 2015German chamomile solution applied twice a day healed peristomal skin lesions significantly faster than once-a-day 1% hydrocortisone ointment in colostomy patients, with a mean healing time of 8.89 days versus 14.53 days.
Ostomy/wound Management, 2011Topical treatments containing rosehip extract may reduce the size and erythema of postsurgical scars through macrophage polarization and inflammatory cytokine inhibition, though current clinical evidence remains insufficient to recommend its routine use.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Sunflower and rosehip oil nanoemulsions prepared with a mix of phospholipids and synthetic emulsifiers permeated intact skin to the dermis and showed a more prominent healing effect in a human organotypic skin explant culture wound model compared to nanoemulsions prepared only with phospholipids.
Pharmaceutics, 2023A nanoemulsion containing 1 mg/mL kojic dipalmitate and 5% rosehip oil demonstrated high incorporation efficiency, suitable physicochemical stability, antioxidant and depigmenting efficacy close to 1 mM ascorbic acid, and no cytotoxicity at concentrations from 0.06% to 1% in vitro.
Pharmaceutics, 2023
Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better
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, 2007Tea tree oil gel and face wash significantly reduced total facial acne lesions from 23.7 to 10.7 and improved investigator global assessment scores in 14 participants with mild to moderate facial acne over 12 weeks.
The Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 2017A novel emulsion containing niacinamide, lens esculenta seed extract, and white willow bark extract effectively improved acne, blackheads, and conspicuous facial pores in 30 subjects with oily skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Ingredients
Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Glycerin, Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil Macadamia Seed Oil, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Dicaprylyl Ether, Olivoyl Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil Sunflower Seed Oil, Glyceryl Oleate, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima Oil Avocado Oil, Rosa Canina Seed Oil Rosehip Seed Oil, Morinda Citrifolia Fruit Extract, Calendula Officinalis Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Rosa Centifolia Flower Extract, Cedrus Atlantica Oil Bark Cedarwood Oil Bark, Bisabolol, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Olea Europaea Oil Fruit Olive Oil Fruit, Lecithin, Water, Benzyl Alcohol, Dehydroacetic Acid, Lactic Acid, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Quartz, Potassium Hydroxide
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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PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
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Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
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Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
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Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
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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
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