Philosophy Purity Made Simple One-Step Facial Cleanser for oily skin
Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil
Glycerin
Coconut Alcohol
Rosewood Oil Wood
Carrot Seed Oil
Average
- HighOily 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 Lauroamphoacetate and Glycerin gently lift impurities without harshness, though they do not specifically target excess oil.
- Citric Acid provides mild exfoliation and pH modulation, which is beneficial for oily skin, but the overall formula is not optimized for managing oily shine.
- 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
★4.6Overall rating based on 15.0k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, this cleanser is highly regarded for its gentle yet effective cleansing, preserving skin's moisture and leaving it soft and balanced, making it suitable for sensitive, dry, and combination skin types. While it excels at removing daily impurities and makeup, some users find it struggles with waterproof products and a small number report mild scent sensitivities or eye irritation.
Highlights
Gentle and non-drying Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't dry out my sensitive skin”
- “leaves face soft and comfortable”
- “respects skin barrier”
Effective makeup removal Often Mentioned
- “melts away foundation instantly”
- “removes dirt and oil well”
- “clean canvas after one wash”
- “dissolves daily makeup easily”
Soft skin feel Often Mentioned
- “skin feels conditioned”
- “leaves face soft and radiant”
- “no greasy feel but hydrated”
- “smooth texture after rinsing”
Convenient one-step Sometimes Noted
- “replaces my makeup remover”
- “perfect for lazy nights”
- “true 3-in-1 product”
- “saves time in routine”
Waterproof makeup removal Sometimes Noted
- “leaves mascara residue”
- “struggles with waterproof eyeliner”
- “raccoon eyes after washing”
- “need a separate eye makeup remover”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings my eyes badly”
- “burns if it gets in eyes”
- “cloudy vision after use”
- “irritates sensitive eyes”
Scent issues Rarely Noted
- “smells like chemicals”
- “scent is too strong”
- “smells like old sunscreen”
- “unpleasant herbal odor”
Skin reactions Rarely Noted
- “caused cystic acne”
- “gave me tiny red bumps”
- “broke me out after a week”
- “rash on forehead”
Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, macys.com, sephora.com, shespeaks.com, makeupalley.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser work for oily skin?
Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser works moderately well for oily skin by gently lifting impurities without harshness, though it does not specifically target excess oil. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that promote a clear complexion and manage oiliness effectively without causing irritation.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily skin?
Sodium Lauroamphoacetate and glycerin gently lift impurities from oily skin without harshness, while citric acid provides mild exfoliation and pH balancing. However, a cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that specifically target oiliness and manage oily shine.
What does Meadowfoam Seed Oil do for oily skin?
Meadowfoam seed oil helps lock in moisture without feeling heavy, making it a good fit for keeping oily skin balanced and soft. Because oily skin still needs proper hydration, this oil is unlikely to clog pores while helping to keep your face smooth.
What does Glycerin do for oily skin?
Glycerin helps keep oily skin hydrated without feeling heavy and supports the skin barrier. Because this product is a weak fit for your skin, an ideal product of this type needs lightweight hydrators and ingredients that balance oil while protecting the skin.
The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008International Journal of Toxicology, 2019
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily skin?
This cleanser fits in both your morning and evening routine as an everyday cleansing step to wash away dirt without causing irritation. Oily skin works best with cleansers that balance oils and help keep shine under control.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser with retinol as part of your routine, applying the cleanser first to gently lift impurities before using your retinol treatment. This cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation on oily skin, but this skin type needs targeted ingredients that help control excess oil and shine.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. It is safe for your skin, though an oily skin type also needs ingredients that specifically target excess oil and manage shine.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to cause breakouts or clog pores for oily skin, as it has a safe profile with no harsh ingredients to trigger skin reactions. However, because it does not specifically target excess oil, oily skin needs a cleanser with ingredients that help control shine and gently clear pores.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes, because it is safe for your skin with no harsh ingredients. However, cleansers for oily skin need ingredients that specifically target excess oil and manage shine.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no fragrance and contains drying alcohol (isopropyl 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, 2017Daily treatment with a facial serum containing multiple acids reduced post-inflammatory hyperchromia lesion grade and number by 29.4% at 56 days, and decreased skin oiliness by 30.7% at 7 days in Brazilian patients with acne vulgaris.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021The 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, 2012Linalool treatment at 30 μM prevented UVB-induced oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage, and the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways in human dermal fibroblast cells compared to UVB exposure alone.
PloS One, 2017Cinnamomi cortex extract and its components epicatechin and linalool enhanced circadian amplitude, reduced oxidative stress, and upregulated skin barrier-related and ceramide synthesis genes in HaCaT keratinocytes compared to untreated controls.
Scientific Reports, 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, 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, Sodium Lauroamphoacetate, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Limnanthes Alba Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, Coconut Alcohol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Glycerin, Carbomer, Isopropyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Citric Acid, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Rosewood Oil Wood, Propylparaben, Triethanolamine, Amyris Balsamifera Oil Bark, Bulnesia Sarmientoi Oil Wood, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Pelargonium Graveolens Oil Flower, Rosa Centifolia Oil Flower, Sandalwood Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Seed Oil Carrot Seed Oil, Mimosa Tenuiflora Bark Extract, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Piper Nigrum Oil Fruit, Salvia Sclarea Oil, Fd, C Yellow No, Ci 19140
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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