ZO Skin Health Gentle Cleanser for dry skin
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Glycerin
Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract
Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract
Low
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A weak match for dry skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 for your dry skin, as glycerin provides some humectant action, but the formula lacks sufficient emollients to fully address dryness.
- The cleansing agents, Sodium Laureth Sulfate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine, are effective at pore cleansing but do not offer specialized benefits for flaky skin.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.7Overall rating based on 900+ reviewsThis cleanser is highly rated for its ability to deeply cleanse pores and remove makeup without stripping the skin's natural moisture. It is often recommended for all skin types, including sensitive and post-procedure skin, leaving it feeling refreshed, soft, and hydrated. Some users find it to be expensive, and there are concerns about counterfeit products being sold online. A small number of users with very sensitive skin reported mild irritation due to fragrance or dye, and a few found it too drying.
Highlights
Effective makeup removal Mostly Mentioned
- “Removes mascara and eye make-up”
- “Gets the make-up off”
- “Cleanses impurities for refreshed-feeling skin”
- “Takes off all the makeup including eye makeup.”
Non-stripping, hydrating Often Mentioned
- “Did not irritate her skin”
- “Never leaves the skin tight”
- “Leaves skin feeling soft and refreshed”
- “Doesn't strip essential moisture.”
Pleasant sensory experience Sometimes Noted
- “Love the clean feel”
- “Fresh smelling”
- “Luxurious lather”
- “Silky gel formulation”
- “Subtle grapefruit scent.”
Versatile for skin types Sometimes Noted
- “Ideal for all skin types”
- “Great for sensitive skin”
- “Helps prevent congestion”
- “Safe for post-procedure skin.”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “On the pricier side”
- “Cost is high”
- “Expensive for a face wash”
- “Investment skincare.”
Risk of counterfeits Sometimes Noted
- “This online product must be an imitation”
- “Consistency is completely different”
- “Fake product on Amazon”
- “Seal was broken.”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “Left my skin dry”
- “Felt a bit tight after use”
- “Not hydrating enough for very dry skin.”
Fragrance/dye sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “Has both a fragrance and a dye”
- “Avoid if allergic to fragrance”
- “Blue dye unnecessary”
- “Caused slight tingling.”
Sources: lovi.care, zoskinhealth.com, influenster.com, amazon.com, youtube.com, facedr.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why is ZO Gentle Cleanser a weak match for dry skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for your dry skin because it only offers moderate cleansing and lacks sufficient softening ingredients to fully address dryness. A cleanser of this type needs rich hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide to maintain moisture and skin health.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
This cleanser is a weak match for dry skin because strong cleansing agents like sodium laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine can strip away essential moisture. A cleanser for dry skin needs rich moisturizing ingredients and skin-softening oils to keep the skin comfortable and protected.
What do Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids do for dry skin?
Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids help cleanse dry skin gently by reducing irritation and protecting your skin barrier. This ingredient works by using mild cleansing agents that limit damage to skin proteins and lipids, helping keep your skin feeling soft rather than stripped.
What does Cocamidopropyl Betaine do for dry skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine is a cleansing ingredient that is unlikely to cause major issues when used in rinse-off products, though it may occasionally cause mild irritation or skin sensitivity for some people. Dry skin needs gentle cleansers formulated with surfactants that have diminished interactions with skin proteins and lipids, combined with a neutral or acidic pH and moisturizing agents to reduce barrier damage and improve hydration.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step before you hydrate and moisturize. Because it is a weak match for dry skin, a cleanser for this skin type needs extra softening ingredients and richer moisturizing agents to prevent tightness and keep skin soft.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine, but a cleanser of this type for dry skin needs extra moisturizing ingredients like ceramides and rich emollients to protect against the dryness that retinol may cause.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Dry skin needs a cleanser that includes plenty of skin-softening ingredients to keep the skin comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on dry skin, as its cleansing agents effectively clear pores without heavy oils that typically trigger blemishes. However, because it is a weak match for dry skin, a cleanser of this type needs extra rich softening ingredients and added moisture protectors to keep dry skin comfortable and flake-free.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but the skin around your eyes is much thinner and may be more easily irritated by strong cleansing agents. A cleanser for dry skin needs extra rich softening ingredients and gentle cleansers to keep the skin comfortable without stripping away needed moisture.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum, limonene, and linalool).
What the research says
The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.
Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003A 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, 2017The 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, 2001Topical 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, 2017Topical low-dose green tea extract reduces UVB-induced p53 expression and apoptosis in human skin keratinocytes compared to placebo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2009An 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, 2019Topical steroid withdrawal is driven by excess mitochondrial NAD+ metabolism that can be successfully targeted using complex I-inhibiting interventions such as metformin and berberine.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2025Topical steroid withdrawal presents as a distinct dermatopathology characterized by burning, flushing, thermodysregulation, and elevated mitochondrial NAD+ oxidation, which can be improved by targeting complex I with metformin or berberine.
MedRxiv, 2024Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose hydrogel formulations of berberine chloride-loaded escinosomes increased skin residence time and transdermal permeability while maintaining high safety and biocompatibility without skin irritation.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2020
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Phytosphingosine increased filaggrin metabolism and skin hydration in human skin by stimulating filaggrin biosynthesis and degradation leading to natural moisturizing factor formation.
Archives of Dermatological Research, 2017Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000
Ingredients
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Glycerin, Pterocarpus Soyauxii Extract Wood, Phellodendron Amurense Bark Extract, Hordeum Distichon Barley Extrait Dorge À Deux Rangs Extract, Spiraea Ulmaria Leaf Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Artemisia Vulgaris Extract, Plantago Lanceolata Leaf Extract, Crithmum Maritimum Extract, Parfum, Limonene, Linalool, Sodium Chloride, Butylene Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol, Blue 1 Ci 42090, Red 33 Ci 17200
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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.