Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser for combination skin
Average
- HighCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
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 cleansing and hydration for your combination skin, as poloxamer 184 and peg-7 glyceryl cocoate effectively remove impurities while glycerin and panthenol provide humectant action to balance drier and oilier zones.
- The inclusion of Rosa Damascena Flower Water and Allantoin contributes to a soothing experience, making it generally comfortable for your skin.
- The product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of soothing components.
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
★4.2Overall rating based on 5.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is widely polarized between long-time fans who consider it a "holy grail" for its gentle, non-stripping jelly texture and users who are disappointed by the recent reformulation. While it remains a favorite for those with dry or sensitive skin looking for a mild morning wash, many recent reviews cite irritation, breakouts, and poor makeup removal compared to the original formula.
Highlights
Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “skin never felt stripped or dry”
- “leaves face squeaky clean but not dry”
- “conditioning ingredients leave skin soft”
Effective morning cleanse Often Mentioned
- “perfect for waking up skin”
- “great mild AM cleanser”
- “use it as a second cleanse”
Unique texture Often Mentioned
- “balmy texture just melted into my skin”
- “jelly phase dissolves oil”
- “feels undeniably decadent”
Reformulation issues Often Mentioned
- “new formula is terrible”
- “broken me out completely”
Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
- “scent is light and airy”
- “smells like juicy roses”
- “nice subtle fragrance”
Eye irritation Sometimes Noted
- “makes my sensitive eyes sting”
- “burned my skin”
- “irritatingly fragranced”
Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “doesn't remove lash slick mascara”
- “smeared it around”
- “struggles with eye makeup”
Packaging flaws Rarely Noted
- “pump is fiddly”
- “tiny pump”
- “annoying when using with wet hands”
Sources: lovi.care, glossier.com, sephora.co.uk, influenster.com, reddit.com, livethatglow.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Milky Jelly Cleanser work for combination skin?
Milky Jelly Cleanser works moderately well for combination skin by offering balanced cleansing and hydration that helps manage both drier and oilier zones. It is unlikely to cause irritation and is generally comfortable to use, though a cleanser for this skin type needs a formulation that effectively addresses oily shine while maintaining moisture balance and supporting the skin barrier without leaving certain areas unaddressed.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Glycerin and panthenol make this cleanser a good fit by providing moisture to balance drier and oilier zones, while allantonin and rose flower water help calm the skin. To work even better for combination skin, a product of this type needs ingredients that effectively manage oily shine and support the moisture barrier without causing imbalance.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Rose Flower Water do for combination skin?
Rose Flower Water helps calm combination skin and keeps it feeling soft and smooth by soothing irritation and balancing the skin. It is unlikely to cause issues and may help keep the skin clear.
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
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser fits in the morning routine right before your hydrating toner, and in the evening routine after your makeup remover. Combination skin needs a cleanser with mild cleansing agents and water-attracting ingredients to effectively clear away impurities while balancing drier and oilier zones.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying the cleanser first on damp skin before using your retinol treatment. This cleanser helps wash away dirt while keeping your skin calm, but combination skin also needs lightweight hydrators and gentle barrier-supporting ingredients to truly thrive alongside active treatments like retinol.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. Using a mild cleanser helps remove impurities while keeping your skin balanced without irritation.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin because it avoids harsh ingredients and uses gentle, soothing components that keep the skin comfortable. However, combination skin often does better with a cleanser that provides deeper balancing and oil control for both dry and oily zones.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as it is safe and comfortable for your skin. Combination skin needs a cleanser that balances drier and oilier zones while keeping the skin around the eyes soft and smooth.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
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, 2017Topical 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, 2002A panthenol-enriched mask significantly decreased erythema and hyperpigmentation, increased sebum and stratum corneum moisture, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to a saline dressing in 60 subjects undergoing facial laser treatment.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.
Molecules, 2020Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.
BioFactors, 2023Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.
Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020A 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 application of 0.1% hyaluronic acid formulations of different molecular weights led to significant improvements in skin hydration and elasticity, with low-molecular-weight formulations also significantly reducing wrinkle depth in seventy-six female subjects compared to a vehicle control.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2011Topical application of hyaluronic acid in conjunction with free gingival graft significantly reduced donor site postoperative pain until day 7 compared to normal saline, with no significant differences in graft dimensions or patient satisfaction.
Clinical Oral Investigations, 2022Treatment with a hyaluronic acid-containing mouth rinse or topical gel led to significant lesion reduction, pain relief, and normalization of lesion color in adult patients with minor recurrent aphthous stomatitis, with the gel formulation showing an earlier healing onset at 3 days.
BMC Oral Health, 2019Topical gel containing chitosan, 0.2% chlorhexidine, allantoin and dexpanthenol did not improve postoperative comfort regarding swelling and pain, but improved the wound's aesthetic appearance following impacted lower third molar extraction compared to no gel.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2016An overnight patch containing Allium cepa extract and allantoin safely promotes scar healing after dermatologic surgery, resulting in significantly greater reductions in observer- and patient-assessed POSAS scores compared to no treatment.
Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 2018Prophylactic application of a topical scar gel containing Allium cepae extract, allantoin, and heparin significantly improves patient-assessed scar color, stiffness, and irregularity compared to no treatment in women following a cesarean section.
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2014Moisturizer 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 dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic 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
A 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, 2019Combined ascorbyl palmitate and sodium ascorbyl phosphate treatment significantly reduced facial sebum secretions in healthy female volunteers compared to a placebo control over 90 days.
Drug Research, 2017
Ingredients
Water, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Propanediol, Isohexadecane, Poloxamer 184, Acrylamide Sodium Acryloyldimethyltaurate Copolymer, Xylitylglucoside, Betaine, Allantoin, Glycerin, Panthenol, Symphytum Officinale Root Extract, Sodium Hyaluronate, Anhydroxylitol, Polysorbate 80, Xylitol, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Isopropyl Myristate, Benzoic Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide
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
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