Olay Regenerating Cream Cleanser for dry sensitive skin
Salicylic Acid
Glycerin
Tocopheryl Acetate Vitamin E
Ascorbic Acid
CarnosineAverage
- AverageDry Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for dry sensitive skin; other cleansers 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 suitability for your dry skin, as glycerin provides humectant action, but it lacks sufficient emollient and occlusive ingredients to fully address dryness.
- The presence of salicylic acid offers excellent pore decongestion and cleansing benefits, which you would notice, but these are mostly supportive for your dry or flaky skin and sensitivity due to the lack of specialized ingredients targeting dryness and sensitivity.
- The safety profile is excellent, with no risks of irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.6Overall rating based on 1.1k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users with aging, dry, or textured skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to gently exfoliate without stripping moisture, often reporting softer and smoother skin immediately after use. While it is highly effective for daily cleansing and makeup removal, some users with oily skin find the creamy, non-foaming formula leaves a moisturizing film that they perceive as greasy.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “tiny beads aren't harsh”
- “perfect amount of grit”
- “gentle enough for daily use”
- “smooths without scratching”
Non-drying formula Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't strip my skin”
- “face feels moisturized”
- “no tight feeling after”
- “creamy and soothing”
Improves texture Often Mentioned
- “skin feels like silk”
- “helped with rough patches”
- “face is much smoother”
- “softens fine lines”
Effective makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “melts away foundation”
- “removes mascara easily”
- “cleans all makeup off”
- “no residue left behind”
Pleasant fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “light fresh scent”
- “smells clean”
- “nice mild fragrance”
- “not too perfumey”
Does not lather Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't foam at all”
- “miss the bubbles”
- “feels like washing with lotion”
- “hard to spread without suds”
Leaves residue Sometimes Noted
- “feels like a coating”
- “leaves a greasy film”
- “hard to rinse off”
- “felt waxy afterwards”
Formula changes Rarely Noted
- “thinner than before”
- “watered down formula”
- “beads are different”
- “not as creamy as it used to be”
Scent too strong Rarely Noted
- “smell is overwhelming”
- “too much perfume”
- “scent lingers too long”
- “gave me a headache”
Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, chemistwarehouse.com.au, shespeaks.com, tryandreview.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Olay Regenerative Cream Cleanser work for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for dry sensitive skin because glycerin helps provide basic moisture, though it lacks richer softening and barrier-protecting ingredients to fully address dryness. A product for this skin needs a rich blend of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hyaluronic acid to maintain moisture and protect the skin.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps keep your skin soft by pulling in moisture, and salicylic acid clears pores gently. However, because this cleanser lacks enough rich softening and protective ingredients, dry sensitive skin needs a formula with extra hydrators, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture and protect the skin barrier.
What does Salicylic Acid do for dry sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid is generally a poor fit for dry, sensitive skin because it is designed to clear out pores by removing excess oil, which can easily leave dry skin irritated. A product of this type needs gentle exfoliating helpers paired with rich, soothing moisturizers and barrier-repairing ingredients to keep dry skin calm and comfortable.
What does Glycerin do for dry sensitive skin?
Glycerin helps dry sensitive skin by drawing moisture into the skin and keeping it there, making the skin soft and smooth. It is very gentle and unlikely to cause irritation while improving how well the skin holds onto water. This type of skin needs ingredients that boost hydration and repair the barrier without causing stinging.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008
Where does it go in a skincare routine for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser fits into your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry and sensitive skin, but a cleanser for this skin type needs extra rich, softening, and barrier-protecting ingredients to fully address dryness.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, but since it lacks rich softening and protective ingredients, your dry sensitive skin needs extra creamy moisturizers and barrier-repairing creams added to your routine to prevent dryness. This product has a very safe profile and is unlikely to cause irritation.
How often should I use it?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening, as it has a safe formula with no harsh risks for your skin. However, because it lacks rich moisturizing and soothing ingredients to fully protect dry and sensitive skin, this skin type needs a cleanser with extra nourishing oils and gentle hydrators.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry sensitive skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry sensitive skin because its salicylic acid helps keep pores clear. However, a cleanser for this skin needs rich softening and sealing ingredients to prevent dryness while keeping skin smooth.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023
Can I use it around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the thin skin around your eyes. It is unlikely to cause irritation for your dry and sensitive skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, and behenyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, 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, 2017Twice daily application of a multitargeted dermocosmetic cream provided comparable efficacy to benzoyl peroxide 5% gel in reducing inflammatory, non-inflammatory, and total lesions in 150 Caucasian subjects with mild-to-moderate acne over 56 days, while demonstrating superior skin tolerability.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024The use of a salicylic acid-based dermocosmetic significantly reduces the needed quantity of benzoyl peroxide without impacting efficacy in mild to moderate acne, and as maintenance post-benzoyl peroxide allows a significant reduction of acne relapse compared to vehicle.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2023A night cream containing melatonin, carnosine, and Helichrysum italicum extract reduced oxidative stress ex vivo and improved hydration, reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased wrinkles and spots, and lowered skin reactivity in 117 individuals over up to 12 weeks of nightly use.
Dermatology and Therapy, 2020Cryotherapy 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, 2024The 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, 2001Niacinamide/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, 2012Topical 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, 2024Topical 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, 2022Supramolecular carnosine improves skin reactivity, upregulates Nrf2 expression, activates antioxidant defenses, and reduces AGE levels while demonstrating whitening efficacy in cells and clinical tests compared to conventional carnosine.
Advanced Healthcare Materials, 2024A targeted skincare regimen containing active ingredients such as rhodophyceae extract, ergothioneine, and L-carnosine significantly reduced transepidermal water loss by 24.09%, improved skin elasticity, and decreased redness, dryness, and desquamation in thirty-five female Chinese participants over 4 weeks following advanced optimal pulse technology treatment.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical application of carnosine and a novel facial cream containing carnosine protects against methylglyoxal-induced glycation by significantly reducing levels of advanced glycation end-products carboxymethyl-lysine and pentosidine in both the epidermis and reticular dermis of human skin explants.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2018
Why other cleansers fit dry sensitive 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, 2017In 50 participants with sensitive skin, a Ceramide NP C15-containing emollient improved skin barrier function with a significant reduction in transepidermal water loss and induced modest changes in skin microbiota compared to the vehicle.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2026A lipid mixture enriched by ceramide NP with fatty acids of diverse chain lengths significantly improved skin barrier recovery rate, stratum corneum integrity, and hydration compared to a vehicle cream in healthy adult male volunteers with corticosteroid-impaired skin.
Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2022
Ingredients
Water, Ppg-15 Stearyl Ether, Glycerin, Stearyl Alcohol, Cetyl Betaine, Hydrated Silica, Salicylic Acid, Distearyldimonium Chloride, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Carnosine, Panthenol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Ascorbic Acid, Ppg-30, Cetyl Alcohol, Steareth-21, Behenyl Alcohol, Steareth-2, Disodium Edta
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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