iS Clinical Cleansing Complex for dry skin
Willow Bark Extract
Asiaticoside
Ascorbyl Palmitate
Tocopheryl AcetateAverage
- HighDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
Works for dry skin; other cleansers 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 Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate and Cocamidopropyl Betaine effectively remove impurities while glycerin and willow bark extract provide mild hydration and exfoliation.
- While the formula includes beneficial extracts like Chamomilla Recutita Flower and Camellia Sinensis Leaf for soothing, it lacks specialized ingredients for intense moisturization needed for dry or flaky skin.
- The product is safe for your dry skin, containing no harsh ingredients and featuring soothing components like Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract and Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel cleanser is widely celebrated for balancing deep cleansing with gentle hydration, making it particularly effective for acne-prone or sensitive skin. Users consistently report that it refines texture and minimizes pores without stripping the skin's natural moisture barrier.
Highlights
Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “leaves face soft”
- “no squeaky clean feeling”
Clears acne/pores Often Mentioned
- “keeps acne at bay”
- “cleared my clogged pores”
- “helped with hormonal breakouts”
- “minimized pore appearance”
Versatile multitasker Sometimes Noted
- “great for shaving”
- “removes light makeup”
- “use as a mask”
- “good post-procedure”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “hard to justify price”
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “overpriced basic cleanser”
- “luxury price tag”
Can be drying Rarely Noted
- “a little drying”
- “left skin feeling tight”
- “caused slight flaking”
- “too strong for dry winter skin”
Makeup removal issues Rarely Noted
- “need to double cleanse”
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “struggles with waterproof makeup”
- “left residue”
Sources: lovi.care, dermstore.com, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, spacenk.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does iS Clinical Cleansing Complex work for dry skin?
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry skin?
Glycerin and willow bark extract help make this cleanser a fit for dry skin by providing mild hydration and exfoliation. To care for dry skin, a cleanser of this type needs rich hydrating ingredients and soothing extracts that cleanse without stripping moisture.
What does Willow Bark Extract do for dry skin?
Willow bark extract helps bring deep moisture to dry skin and keeps it feeling soft and smooth. When combined with ingredients like pomegranate oil, it supports lasting hydration and helps protect the skin barrier.
What does Asiaticoside do for dry skin?
Asiaticoside helps improve moisture and strengthens the skin barrier to relieve dry skin. When applied in specialized formulas, it increases skin hydration and supports skin recovery safely.
International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2020Journal of Basic and Clinical Physiology and Pharmacology, 2021
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first step before your hydrating toner, moisturizer, and SPF during the day, or before your treatment and moisturizer at night. Using a mild cleanser followed by a good moisturizer helps improve visual dryness and keeps skin comfortable without irritation.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it safely removes impurities with mild hydration. However, because dry skin needs extra moisture and barrier support when using retinol, this cleanser works best when followed by a rich moisturizer containing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or plant oils.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily as part of your morning and evening routine, since it safely washes away impurities while providing mild hydration and soothing plant extracts. A gentle daily routine helps keep dry skin clean and comfortable without causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin because it contains gentle cleansing agents and soothing extracts. However, because it lacks the rich moisturizers dry skin needs, a product of this type should include intense hydrating ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or heavier plant oils to keep dry skin soft and smooth.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser around the eyes and on your body because its mild ingredients are safe and unlikely to irritate, though dry skin generally needs rich hydrators and heavy moisturizers to stay soft and smooth in those areas.
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 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, 2019Bioactive lipid nanocarriers co-loaded with willow bark or ivy leaf extracts and UV-filters provided pronounced UVA photoprotection up to an SPF-equivalent value of 13 and a maximum in vivo skin hydration effect of 97% when prepared with pomegranate oil.
Nanomaterials, 2022A topical serum containing 0.5% salicin applied twice daily reduced visible signs of skin aging, including wrinkles and tactile roughness, in 30 female subjects over 12 weeks compared to baseline.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2010A 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, 2024Topical application of 0.05% w/w ECa 233 gel reduced erythema index by 0.03 U and improved early crusting and general wound appearance compared to placebo in thirty individuals undergoing facial laser resurfacing.
Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2020Moisturizer 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, 2019Topical treatment with 5% vitamin C and 0.1% madecassoside significantly improved clinical scores for wrinkles, suppleness, firmness, roughness, and skin hydration, along with functional and structural remodeling of the elastic fiber network in 20 female volunteers with photoaged skin after 6 months compared to baseline.
Experimental Dermatology, 2008Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.
Experimental Dermatology, 2003Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.
Journal of Periodontology, 2009Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022Topical application of an antioxidant serum containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented particulate matter-induced degradation of extracellular matrix components, inflammation, and oxidative stress in the skin of 15 female volunteers compared to untreated controls.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Dermatological products containing d-alpha tocopheryl acetate showed non-comedogenic potential with less than a 50% increase in microcomedones in 12 healthy male subjects compared to octyl palmitate.
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications, 2021Topical application of an antioxidant mix containing 15% ascorbic acid, 0.5% ferulic acid, and 1% tocopherol prevented PM and UV-induced skin barrier perturbation, lipid peroxidation, inflammatory markers, MMP9 activation, and Type I collagen loss in 15 healthy females compared to untreated exposed skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
Why other cleansers fit dry skin better
Transgenic cucumber expressing poly-γ-glutamic acid synthesis genes increased water content by 6-14%, reduced water loss by 11-12%, decreased facial wrinkles and roughness by 19.58% and 24.97%, decreased skin melanin by 5.27%, and improved facial elasticity in human skin and zebrafish compared to controls.
International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 2024Camellia japonica oil activated the human COL1A2 promoter, induced type I procollagen synthesis, inhibited matrix metalloproteinase-1 activity, and reduced trans-epidermal water loss without inducing adverse reactions in human skin.
Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2007Co-delivery of paeonol and madecassoside via nanoemulsions improved transdermal delivery, promoted barrier repair proteins, inhibited inflammatory cytokine secretion in cellular and 3D models, and reduced transepidermal water loss and acne in human facial skin compared to free components.
Molecules, 2023
Ingredients
Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg-30 Glyceryl Cocoate, Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Willow Bark Extract, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Asiaticoside, Asiatic Acid, Madecassic Acid, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Phenoxyethanol
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?
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