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SkinMedica Facial Cleanser for combination skin

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

SkinMedica Facial Cleanser

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 suitability for your combination skin, as glycerin and panthenol provide humectant action to balance hydration, but lacks specialized ingredients to effectively address oily shine concerns.
  • The cleansing agents, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, offer effective pore decongestion for your oily shine.
  • The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients for 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 500+ reviews

This cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle, hydrating, and effective cleansing properties, particularly by users with sensitive, dry, and post-procedure skin. Most users find it leaves their skin soft and calm, with many reporting improvements in texture and clarity. A significant number of reviews mention its high price point as a drawback.

Highlights

  • Gentle and hydrating Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin soft”
    • “never overstripped”
    • “soothing for sensitive skin”
    • “doesn't dry me out”
  • Effective daily cleanse Often Mentioned
    • “removes all makeup”
    • “skin feels super clean”
    • “removes dirt well”
    • “great everyday cleanser”
  • High price point Often Mentioned
    • “expensive for a wash”
    • “pricey”
    • “hard to justify cost”
    • “not sure it's worth it”
  • Good value Sometimes Noted
    • “a little goes a long way”
    • “bottle lasts months”
    • “only need a dime size”
    • “foams up well”
  • Improves skin Sometimes Noted
    • “skin looks fresh”
    • “pores look smaller”
    • “helps with acne”
    • “smooths texture”
  • Makeup removal Rarely Noted
    • “need double cleanse”
    • “doesn't remove mascara”
    • “struggles with waterproof makeup”
    • “need separate remover”
  • Packaging issues Rarely Noted
    • “pump gets stuck”
    • “pump broke”
    • “hard to dispense”
    • “leaky bottle”
  • Scent concerns Rarely Noted
    • “smell is medicinal”
    • “scent is okay”
    • “wish it was unscented”
    • “strong fragrance”

Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, influenster.com, target.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does SkinMedica Facial Cleanser work for combination skin?

SkinMedica Facial Cleanser offers moderate suitability for combination skin because glycerin and panthenol balance hydration, but it lacks specialized ingredients to effectively control oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that safely manage oil and maintain moisture without causing irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

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

Glycerin and panthenol help balance hydration by drawing in moisture, while cleansing agents like disodium laureth sulfosuccinate and cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine effectively decongest pores in oily areas. A cleanser for combination skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients to maintain moisture, along with components that balance oil production and clarify the complexion without causing irritation.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract do for combination skin?

Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract helps keep combination skin calm and balanced without feeling heavy. It provides light moisture while supporting your skin against daily stress. This type of skin benefits most from antioxidant-rich plant extracts that soothe dry patches while keeping oily zones clear.

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

SkinMedica Facial Cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine as your cleanser step. It is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin, but to better balance oily shine, this skin type needs a cleanser that also includes ingredients that specifically target excess oil.

American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

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

You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, since it is unlikely to cause irritation on combination skin. To properly care for combination skin, a product of this type needs additional ingredients that specifically manage oily shine.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. It is very safe and unlikely to cause irritation, making it gentle enough for daily use.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

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, as it contains gentle cleansing agents that effectively clear pores without harsh irritation. However, because it lacks specialized ingredients to control oily shine, combination skin needs a cleanser that also balances oil while maintaining moisture.

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

You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin directly around the eyes. A cleanser for combination skin needs gentle ingredients like glycerin and panthenol to keep skin soft, along with targeted ingredients to control oily shine.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).

What the research says

  • Topical dexpanthenol acts as a moisturizer, improves stratum corneum hydration, accelerates wound healing and epidermal regeneration, reduces erythema, and improves symptoms of skin irritation compared to vehicle or no pretreatment.

    American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002

  • 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, 2017

  • A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.

    The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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

  • Topical green tea extract significantly improved clinical symptoms, tear breakup times, and meibomian gland health compared to standard treatment in patients with dry eye and Meibomian Gland Dysfunction.

    Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 2017

  • Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2009

  • An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019

  • Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019

  • Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.

    Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000

  • Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.

    Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020

Why other cleansers fit combination skin better

Ingredients

Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Peg-150 Pentaerythrityl Tetrastearate, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Glycerin, Panthenol, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Peg-6 Caprylic Capric Glycerides, Disodium Edta, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Parfum, Blue 1 Ci 42090, Ci 47005

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

How does it fit your skin?

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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
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play