Meaningful Beauty Skin Softening Cleanser for oily skin
Galactaric Acid
Ethylhexylglycerin
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Propylene Glycol
Cetyl Alcohol
Average
- AverageOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for oily skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily skin: shine, enlarged pores, blackheads, and blemishes. 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 oily skin as sodium laureth sulfate and magnesium laureth sulfate effectively remove impurities, while galactaric acid provides mild keratolytic action to help manage oil shine.
- The formula contains sodium oleth sulfate for general cleansing benefits, but it lacks sufficient seboregulating ingredients to fully optimize results for your oily skin.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin fresh. Always make sure to follow with a good SPF in the morning.
- Apply your cleanser as the first step in the morning or the second step in the evening before your toner.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using circular motions, then rinse well with water .
- You can apply this cleanser safely on damp skin for a refreshing and easy wash.
- Avoid getting the product directly into your eyes and stop use if irritation occurs.
People Say
★4.4Overall rating based on 100+ reviewsBased on limited data, users find this non-foaming, creamy cleanser effective for maintaining moisture balance, leaving skin feeling soft and smooth. It is frequently praised by those with aging or dry skin for its gentle nature. Some users with sensitive skin experienced irritation, and others expressed frustration with the brand's subscription model.
Highlights
Non-drying, gentle Mostly Mentioned
- “leaves skin soft”
- “doesn't strip skin”
- “face feels hydrated”
- “no tight feeling”
Smooth skin Often Mentioned
- “skin feels smoother”
- “improves texture”
- “leaves face glowing”
- “softens fine lines”
Subscription issues Often Mentioned
- “hard to cancel”
- “auto-ship problems”
- “unwanted charges”
- “customer service issues”
Creamy consistency Sometimes Noted
- “creamy texture”
- “non-foaming formula”
- “feels luxurious”
- “glides on skin”
Daily cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes daily dirt”
- “cleans without scrubbing”
- “good morning cleanser”
- “fresh feeling”
Price and value Sometimes Noted
- “too expensive”
- “small bottle size”
- “overpriced for cleanser”
- “shipping costs high”
Caused irritation Rarely Noted
- “caused redness”
- “broke me out”
- “burning sensation”
- “not for sensitive skin”
Makeup removal Rarely Noted
- “doesn't remove mascara”
- “need double cleanse”
- “too gentle for heavy makeup”
- “leaves residue”
Sources: lovi.care, influenster.com, ebay.com, skinbliss.com, skinsafeproducts.com, walmart.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does the Skin Softening Cleanser work for oily skin?
This cleanser works moderately well for your oily skin because it removes impurities and helps manage oil shine, though other products fit your skin better. A cleanser for oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide, ceramides, glycerin, salicylic acid, or probiotics to control oil and support skin health without irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium laureth sulfate and magnesium laureth sulfate clean away impurities, and galactaric acid helps manage oil shine. This cleanser works for oily skin, but to truly thrive, oily skin needs ingredients like niacinamide and ceramides or salicylic acid to fully control oil and support skin health.
What does Galactaric Acid do for oily skin?
Galactaric acid helps gently clear dead skin cells and excess oil so your pores stay unclogged and your face feels smooth. This ingredient may also help calm redness and keep your skin clear, though oily skin types often need lightweight hydration and oil-controlling ingredients to stay balanced.
What does Ethylhexylglycerin do for oily skin?
Ethylhexylglycerin is not a main active ingredient for oily skin, but it is commonly used as a safe helper to keep products fresh and stable. For oily skin to look and feel its best, products generally need lightweight, oil-free hydrators and balancing ingredients that control shine without clogging pores.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the cleansing step before toning and moisturizing. It is safe for your oily skin and washes away daily buildup, but an oily skin routine also needs ingredients that balance oil production to fully optimize results.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol, applying it before your retinol treatment step in your evening routine. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, though an oily skin type needs oil-controlling ingredients to fully optimize results.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines. It is safe for oily skin and unlikely to cause irritation, though an oily skin type needs added oil-controlling ingredients to fully optimize results.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on oily skin, as it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients that typically trigger irritation. To fully optimize results and better manage oil shine, an oily skin type needs a formula with more targeted oil-balancing ingredients.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around the eyes. A cleanser of this type needs a gentle, hydrating formula with mild cleansing agents and skin-softening ingredients to safely care for delicate areas without causing dryness.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol are fatty alcohols, which soften the skin.
What the research says
Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.
Langmuir, 2014Treatment with a combination of propylene glycol, ethanol, water, and shampoo was found effective, easy to use, and cosmetically attractive with no observed side effects in patients with dandruff.
Cutis, 1988A moisturizer containing glycerol and propylene glycol reduced transepidermal water loss, decreased epidermal thickness, increased stratum corneum thickness, and reduced dermal inflammatory infiltrate compared to untreated disrupted skin in six healthy beagle dogs.
Veterinary Dermatology, 2020A soap-free cleansing lotion containing cetyl alcohol and sodium cocoyl apple amino acids reduced skin surface impurities and improved skin hydration, barrier function, and skin tone in 27 healthy adult subjects over 30 days.
Cureus, 2025
Why other cleansers fit oily 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, 2019A panthenol-enriched mask improved skin hydration, regulated sebum, and reduced redness and TEWL across dry sensitive, oily sensitive, and oily acne skin subgroups with excellent tolerance and no adverse reactions.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024Topical application of Lactobacillus plantarum-GMNL6 enhanced collagen synthesis and SPTSSA gene expression while reducing melanin synthesis, Staphylococcus aureus biofilm, and Cutibacterium acnes proliferation, leading to clinical improvements in skin moisture, color, spots, wrinkles, UV spots, and porphyrins in human volunteers.
International Journal of Medical Sciences, 2021
Ingredients
Water, Propylene Glycol, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearyl Alcohol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth Sulfate, Magnesium Laureth-8 Sulfate, Sodium Oleth Sulfate, Magnesium Oleth Sulfate, Galactaric Acid, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, 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?
Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.