SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser for sensitive skin
Aha Alpha Hydroxy Acid
Bha Beta Hydroxy Acid- Salicylic Acid
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract
Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract
Average
- HighNormal Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
Works for sensitive skin; other cleansers fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with sensitive skin: redness, stinging, and reactions to new products. 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 normal skin, as salicylic acid and citric acid effectively smooth texture, while panthenol and bisabolol provide soothing properties.
- The formula includes licorice root extract for general skincare benefits, which are supportive but not specifically targeted for your redness and irritation concerns.
- The product is safe for your normal skin with sensitivity, as it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components like bisabolol and licorice root extract.
How to apply
- Use your cleanser in the AM and PM routines every day. Start using it daily since your sensitive skin needs gentle care.
- Apply this first in your morning and evening skincare routine before toner and moisturizer. This clears away dirt without upsetting your skin.
- Gently massage a small amount onto your face using soft circles. Avoid any rough rubbing to keep redness away.
- Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help it wash away impurities softly. Clean skin feels fresh and comfortable afterwards.
- Avoid getting the cleanser in your eyes and do a quick patch test before first use. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.
People Say
★4.8Overall rating based on 1.2k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, users consistently praise this dual-action cleanser for its ability to smooth rough texture and brighten dull complexions using a blend of chemical acids and physical jojoba beads. While highly effective for clearing acne and refining pores, it is frequently described as surprisingly gentle and non-drying for daily use, though the high price point is a common point of contention.
Highlights
Gentle exfoliation Mostly Mentioned
- “gentle enough to use everyday”
- “scrubbing beads... not harsh at all”
- “does not dry out my face”
- “mild exfoliating action”
Improves skin texture Mostly Mentioned
- “pores look smaller and more empty”
- “velvety-smooth finish”
- “erases the nighttime wrinkles”
- “smooths away rough skin texture”
Enhances radiance Often Mentioned
- “keep my skin glowing”
- “reveal a smoother, more luminous complexion”
- “transformed my skin... to clear and bright”
- “skin is always super glowy”
Clears acne Sometimes Noted
- “great for acne”
- “whiteheads come to the surface... gone without any marks”
- “clear away acne on your back”
- “clears congestion”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive for a face wash”
- “pricey but worth it”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Initial purging Rarely Noted
- “experienced minimal purging”
- “small whiteheads come to the surface”
- “caused a slight purge at first”
Potential dryness Rarely Noted
- “more drying than my typical cleansing routine”
- “can be drying if used too often”
- “felt a bit tight afterwards”
Sun sensitivity Rarely Noted
- “sunburn alert”
- “need to wear sunscreen”
- “increases skin sensitivity to sun”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, dermstore.com, reddit.com, beautifiedyou.com, skinelite.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser work for sensitive skin?
SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser works moderately well for sensitive skin, as it smooths texture while offering soothing properties from panthenol and bisabolol. However, other products fit this skin better because they include barrier-repairing ingredients like ceramides and hydrating ingredients like niacinamide to calm redness and irritation without stripping moisture.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for sensitive skin?
Salicylic acid and citric acid help smooth texture, while panthenol, bisabolol, and licorice root extract provide soothing properties for sensitive skin. To truly thrive, sensitive skin needs a cleanser with a well-balanced combination of hydrating and barrier-repairing ingredients like niacinamide and ceramide-3, along with a complete absence of allergens.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Alpha Hydroxy Acid do for sensitive skin?
Alpha hydroxy acids help smooth and brighten sensitive skin when you choose gentler forms like polyhydroxy acids or carefully formulated derivatives that are less likely to cause irritation. They improve hydration and soften lines while keeping the skin calm.
What does Bha do for sensitive skin?
BHA helps clear pores and calm breakouts, but because sensitive skin can easily get irritated by strong acids, it is unlikely to suit you unless it is part of a very gentle, well-tolerated formula. Sensitive skin needs hydrating ingredients and calming agents to keep the skin barrier strong and comfortable while treating blemishes.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for sensitive skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine, while exfoliating cleansers of this type for sensitive skin need gentle acids and calming ingredients like panthenol and bisabolol to keep skin smooth and calm.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
This cleanser may be too strong to use alongside retinol on sensitive skin because it provides moderate exfoliation with acids that can increase irritation. For this skin type, a cleanser used with retinol needs gentle, hydrating ingredients and calming agents like panthenol or bisabolol to protect the moisture barrier.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
How often should I use this cleanser?
Start using this cleanser just once a week, and if your skin handles it well and feels comfortable, you can carefully use it more often. This gentle approach helps prevent irritation while still smoothing texture and keeping your sensitive skin calm.
American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for sensitive skin?
This cleanser has a low chance of causing initial purging on sensitive skin. A cleanser for this skin needs gentle exfoliating ingredients paired with calming agents and barrier-supporting hydrators.
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 your eyes. A cleanser for this sensitive area needs extra gentle, hydrating ingredients that protect the delicate barrier without active acids.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
Topical 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, 2020Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.
Experimental Dermatology, 2015Cryotherapy 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, 2024Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.
Advanced Science, 2025Topical application of Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica flavonoid-rich fractions individually and in combination significantly increased the wound healing rate and reduced oxidative stress compared to wound and Nolaver-treated groups.
Molecules, 2023
Why other cleansers fit sensitive skin better
Avène Thermal Spring Water significantly decreased postpeeling redness and reduced the overall sensitive scale of consumers by 47% compared to mineral-rich thermal spring water in human volunteers.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2020
Ingredients
Water, Sodium C14-16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg Ppg-8 3 Diisostearate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Acrylates Copolymer, Vaccinium Myrtillus Leaf Extract Fruit, Saccharum Officinarum Extract, Sugar Maple Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Fruit Extract, Lemon Fruit Extract, Salicylic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Panthenol, Bisabolol, Citric Acid, Glycerin, Ethylhexylglycerin, Sodium Hydroxide, Disodium Edta, Potassium Sorbate, Phenoxyethanol, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis Peel Oil, Mica, Tin Oxide, Titanium Dioxide Ci 77891
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.
-
Co-founder, Medical Director
Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer
-
Co-founder, CEO and CTO
PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex
-
Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc
Medical Board
Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine
-
Medical Board
Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD
-
Medical Board
Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member
-
Medical Board, Medical Advisor
Dermatology MD
-
Elina Nazarenko, MD
Medical Board
Dermatology and diagnostic consultant
-
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.