Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse for oily skin
Mandelic Acid
Salicylic Acid
Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil
Lactic Acid
High
- SuperiorOily Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- ExcellentSafety
A great choice for oily skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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 exfoliation for your oily skin due to the presence of Mandelic Acid and Salicylic Acid, which effectively cleanse pores and balance oil production.
- Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil and Raspberry Fruit Extract provide soothing benefits, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The product is safe for your oily skin, with no risks of irritation from 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 2.8k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this gel-to-foam cleanser is highly effective for oily, combination, and acne-prone skin, with users frequently reporting deeply cleansed pores and significantly improved skin texture leading to a brighter complexion. A moderate number of users enjoy the refreshing scent and find the product lasts a long time. However, a moderate number of users with dry or sensitive skin find the formula too stripping or drying, and a low number of users report sensitivity reactions, packaging issues, or find the price to be high.
Highlights
Improves texture Mostly Mentioned
- “smoother skin”
- “refines texture”
- “soft to the touch”
- “sloughs away dead skin”
Deep cleansing Often Mentioned
- “pores feel cleaner”
- “helps with breakouts”
- “removes impurities”
- “skin hasn't felt this clean in ages”
Radiance and glow Often Mentioned
- “brightens skin”
- “glowy”
- “radiant complexion”
- “wakens the skin”
Product longevity Sometimes Noted
- “a little goes a long way”
- “lasts for months”
- “pea-sized amount needed”
Uplifting scent Sometimes Noted
- “uplifting citrus aroma”
- “spa-like smell”
- “refreshing scent”
- “smells nice”
Drying or stripping Sometimes Noted
- “slightly drying”
- “tightness after washing”
- “dry patches”
- “stripped the skin”
Packaging issues Rarely Noted
- “impractical packaging”
- “hard to open”
- “leaks”
- “lid is difficult”
Price Rarely Noted
- “bit too pricey”
- “expensive”
- “not budget friendly”
Sensitivity reactions Rarely Noted
- “swollen eyes”
- “redness”
- “tingling”
- “caused irritation”
Sources: lovi.care, cultbeauty.co.uk, spacenk.com, medik8.com, adorebeauty.com.au, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
What makes Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse a great fit for oily skin?
Medik8 Surface Radiance Cleanse is a great fit because it uses mandelic acid and salicylic acid to gently exfoliate, clean out pores, and balance oil production. Citrus peel oil and raspberry extract add soothing benefits to keep your skin comfortable, and it has a very safe profile that is unlikely to cause irritation.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020BioMed Research International, 2020
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Mandelic acid and salicylic acid make this cleanser a great fit because they gently exfoliate your oily skin to clean pores and balance oil production. Citrus aurantium dulcis peel oil and raspberry fruit extract also help by providing soothing benefits and keeping your skin comfortable.
What does Mandelic Acid do for oily skin?
Mandelic acid helps clear active breakouts and smooth uneven skin tone for oily skin with fewer side effects than many other acids. It is generally well-tolerated and works effectively to keep skin calm and clear.
What does Salicylic Acid do for oily skin?
Salicylic acid helps oily skin by reducing excess oil and keeping pores clear. It may also improve overall skin hydration while managing breakouts.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025Experimental Dermatology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser is used as the first step in your morning routine and the second step in your evening routine, following your makeup remover. It helps clear pores and balance oil production while keeping your oily skin comfortable and calm.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol by applying it first to wash your face before putting on your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation when used alongside retinoids, but you should watch how your skin feels and reduce the frequency if it starts to feel dry.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in your morning and evening routines as part of your regular skincare steps. Start using exfoliating cleansers just once a week, and if your skin feels comfortable and tolerates it well, you may gradually use it more often.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is a great fit because it uses mandelic and salicylic acids to clean pores and balance oil without harsh irritation, making clogged pores and breakouts unlikely. It has a safe profile for oily skin, though some users report a drying or stripping feeling.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but you should avoid using it directly around the eyes due to the sensitive nature of thin eye skin. It is generally safe to use on the body where skin is thicker and can handle exfoliating acids.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (limonene and linalool).
What the research says
Treatment with 45% mandelic acid peel showed nearly equal overall efficacy as 30% salicylic acid peel in patients with mild-to-moderate facial acne vulgaris, but with fewer adverse effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020A 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, 2020Chemical peels using 35% glycolic acid, 20% salicylic-10% mandelic acid, and phytic acid reduce acne scores by 70.55%, 74.14%, and 69.7% respectively, and significantly decline the postacne hyperpigmentation index in Asian patients with mild to moderate acne.
Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 2019Commonly used chemical peels showed no significant differences in effectiveness for acne vulgaris in most comparisons, though combined salicylic and mandelic acid peeling was superior to glycolic acid and glycolic acid was superior to placebo, based on twelve randomized controlled trials.
BMJ Open, 2018Treatment with 30% lactic acid peel showed a significantly greater reduction in pigmentation and higher patient satisfaction compared to 30% mandelic acid peel in patients with periorbital melanosis.
Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 2025Cryotherapy 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, 2010Treatment 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, 2024Topical 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid achieved the greatest lesion reduction at early 2 to 4 week time points compared to benzoyl peroxide, clindamycin, and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin, while 5% benzoyl peroxide plus salicylic acid and combination benzoyl peroxide/clindamycin showed similar efficacy at 10 to 12 weeks in acne patients.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 2010Applying alpha-mangostin nanoparticles twice daily significantly improved acne vulgaris condition compared to placebo in 10 acne patients over 4 weeks.
Journal of Pharmacological Sciences, 2015An anti-acne hydrogel containing Aloe barbadensis, Garcinia mangostana, and Camellia sinensis extracts showed superior antiacne and antiblotch activities compared to 1% clindamycin gel in sixty subjects with mild-moderate acne.
Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2019Topical 0.5% mangosteen extract nanoparticle loaded gel reduced comedone and inflammatory lesions by 66.86% and 67.05% in patients with mild-to-moderate acne vulgaris, showing comparable efficacy to 1% clindamycin gel with no severe side effects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019A novel D-limonene and Gelucire 44/12 based microemulsion formulated with Labrasol and Labrafil M 1944 CS showed high stability, optical transparency, nanometric globule size, and a safe in vivo skin profile on mice ear skin.
Advanced Pharmaceutical Bulletin, 2021Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.
Cutis, 2004Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.
Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Glycerin, Mandelic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Rubus Idaeus Fruit Extract Raspberry Fruit Extract, Yucca Schidigera Root Extract, Lactic Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Grapefruit Peel Oil, Garcinia Mangostana Peel Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Aurantifolia Oil, Bergamot Oil Fruit, Citrus Aurantium Amara Peel Oil, Limonene, Linalool, Disodium Edta, Maltodextrin
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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