innisfree Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Foam for dry sensitive skin

Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid
Volcanic Ash
Salicylic Acid
Zinc Pca
Glycerin
Caution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- RiskySafety
A poor match for dry sensitive skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry sensitive skin: flakiness, tightness, redness, 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 exfoliation for your dry or flaky skin due to the presence of lactic acid and glycolic acid, which may lead to dryness. The cleansing agents, myristic acid and lauric acid, are effective at pore cleansing but can strip natural oils from your dry skin.
- The formula lacks deeply hydrating or emollient ingredients, making it unsuitable for your dry skin type.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your face fresh. Start slowly once a day if your dry skin feels sensitive at first.
- Apply your cleanser first thing in your routine before any toner or moisturizer. Follow the usual steps for your AM or PM daily routine.
- Gently massage the cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Avoid harsh rubbing to protect your dry skin.
- Apply the cleanser to slightly damp skin to help it clean gently without stripping moisture. This method is very safe for sensitive and dry skin types.
- Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and avoid the delicate eye area. Always do a patch test before using the product for the first time.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this foaming cleanser is highly recommended for oily and acne-prone skin types, effectively cleansing pores and managing excess oil for a refreshed feel. However, users with dry or sensitive skin frequently find it too stripping and drying, sometimes causing tightness or irritation.
Highlights
Deep pore cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “cleans the skin thoroughly”
- “removes dirt and visible impurities”
- “pores look smaller and nose is smooth”
Excellent oil control Often Mentioned
- “no oil for hours”
- “soaks up any sebum in first use”
- “best for oily skin”
Rich lather Often Mentioned
- “little goes a long way”
- “foams generously”
- “creamy, rich lather”
Drying and stripping Often Mentioned
- “leaving my skin definitely very tight”
- “removes little to no moisture you have”
- “too drying for dry skin”
Acne & blackhead reduction Sometimes Noted
- “decrease of pimples”
- “struggling with blackheads”
- “keeps acne-prone skin clear”
Good value Sometimes Noted
- “worth the money”
- “cost-effective”
- “lasts for 5-6 months easily”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “stings my eyes so much”
- “smallest amount will make your eyes burn”
- “manage to sting my eyes”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “fragrance is insanely strong”
- “smells like bar soap”
- “too scented for me”
Potential irritation Rarely Noted
- “got tiny bumps”
- “skin definitely a little bit irritated”
- “not for sensitive skin”
Texture/residue issues Rarely Noted
- “made my face feel so rubbery”
- “leaving kind of like a white film”
- “slippery residue”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, nykaa.com, oliveyoung.com, yesstyle.com, influenster.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with the Volcanic Pore BHA Cleansing Foam for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a poor match because its exfoliating acids and strong cleansing agents can strip natural oils and dry out your skin. The formula also lacks deeply hydrating or softening ingredients. Dry sensitive skin needs a cleanser with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and gentle hydrating ingredients that protect the moisture barrier.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser contains exfoliating acids like lactic and glycolic acid, along with cleansing agents like myristic and lauric acid, which can strip natural oils from dry skin. It lacks deeply hydrating or softening ingredients, so a cleanser of this type needs rich hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and skin health.
What does Bha do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally too harsh for dry, sensitive skin because it can easily irritate already fragile or damaged skin barriers. A product of this type needs soothing ingredients, gentle hydrators, and barrier-repairing components to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 1999International Journal of Dermatology, 2011
What does Volcanic Ash do for dry sensitive skin?
Volcanic ash may feel too harsh and drying for sensitive skin because it is typically used for deep cleansing and oil control. Products for this skin type need gentle, soothing ingredients that lock in moisture and calm irritation rather than drawing out oils.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is a poor match for dry sensitive skin because its exfoliating acids and strong cleansing agents may strip natural oils and lead to dryness. This skin type needs a gentle, non-stripping cleanser along with rich hydrating and softening ingredients to keep it comfortable and protected.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Using this cleanser with retinol is likely to cause too much dryness and irritation for your dry sensitive skin, because its exfoliating acids and strong cleansing agents strip natural oils. This type of skin needs a gentle, hydrating cleanser and a rich moisturizer with nourishing plant oils and ceramides to keep it soft and comfortable.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser is a poor match for your dry sensitive skin because its strong cleansing ingredients and acids can strip your natural oils and lead to dryness. This skin type needs gentle, hydrating cleansers packed with nourishing moisturizers and soothing ingredients instead.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog your pores, but it may cause breakouts or irritation on dry skin because it strips natural oils and lacks deep hydration. A cleanser for your skin needs gentle cleansing agents and rich moisturizing ingredients to keep your face soft and calm without feeling tight.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You should avoid using this cleanser around the eyes because the skin there is very thin and sensitive to stripping cleansing agents. To safely cleanse the body or delicate areas when you have dry skin, you need a gentle wash packed with deeply hydrating and soothing ingredients.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Cryotherapy 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, 2010A 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, 2020Treatment 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, 2024Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012A 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Kaolin, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Glycol Distearate, Palmitic Acid, Lauryl Glucoside, Polyquaternium-22, Silica, Hot Spring Water, Zinc Pca, Disodium Edta, Propanediol, Lactic Acid Glycolic Acid Copolymer, 1,2-Hexanediol, Madecassoside, Polyquaternium-10, 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.
-

Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-

Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-

Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-

Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-

Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-

Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-

Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-

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.


