Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for combination skin
Alpine Herbs
Shea Extracts Butter
Tamarindus Indica Pulp
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Average
- AverageCombination Skin Fit
- AverageEffectiveness
- HighSafety
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 for your combination skin, as Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate effectively remove impurities while Glycerin and Squalane provide hydration.
- The formula offers general skincare benefits suitable for oily shine, though it may lack sufficient ingredients for optimal results in all areas of your combination skin.
- The product is safe for your combination skin with no risks of irritation due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.
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
★4.3Overall rating based on 5.7k+ reviewsBased on a very large amount of data, the Gentle Foaming Cleanser line is highly regarded for its effective yet gentle cleansing, creating a rich lather that removes impurities without stripping the skin, leaving it feeling soft and hydrated. While many appreciate the pleasant scent and the product's longevity, a notable number of long-time users express disappointment with the reformulation from the original version, citing a strong fragrance and occasional skin irritation as drawbacks.
Highlights
Effective gentle cleansing Mostly Mentioned
- “removes all traces of makeup”
- “leaves face squeaky clean”
- “takes off foundation easily”
- “cleans without stripping”
Non-drying formula Often Mentioned
- “skin feels soft afterwards”
- “no tight feeling”
- “leaves skin supple”
- “doesn't dry me out”
Rich creamy lather Often Mentioned
- “lathers beautifully”
- “thick creamy foam”
- “feels luxurious on skin”
- “rich mousse texture”
Long-lasting tube Sometimes Noted
- “pea size is enough”
- “tube lasts for months”
- “little goes a long way”
- “lasts forever”
Pleasant spa scent Sometimes Noted
- “smells like a spa”
- “lovely fresh scent”
- “enjoy the herbal smell”
- “relaxing fragrance”
Reformulation disappointment Sometimes Noted
- “miss the cottonseed version”
- “not as good as the original”
- “bring back the old formula”
- “changed the ingredients”
Strong fragrance Sometimes Noted
- “smell is too strong”
- “perfume is overwhelming”
- “scent lingers too long”
- “fragrance irritated me”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “caused redness”
- “skin reacted badly”
- “gave me bumps”
Drying for some Rarely Noted
- “left skin tight”
- “felt dry after use”
- “stripped my natural oils”
- “too drying for winter”
Eye irritation Rarely Noted
- “stings my eyes”
- “burns if it gets in eyes”
- “have to be careful around eyes”
- “irritates eye area”
Sources: lovi.care, sephora.com, ulta.com, clarins.co.uk, influenster.com, macys.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser work for combination skin?
Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser works moderately well for combination skin because it cleans away impurities and adds moisture, though other products may suit this skin better. Cleansers of this type need to safely balance oil and hydration across both oily and dry areas with gentle, high-quality ingredients.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate help wash away impurities, while glycerin and squalane keep skin hydrated. A cleanser for combination skin needs to balance oil production, keep dry areas hydrated, and use soothing ingredients without causing irritation.
What do Alpine Herbs do for combination skin?
Alpine Herbs help balance combination skin by providing soothing care without adding unwanted shine to oily areas or drying out dry patches. They have a strong safety profile with no apparent toxicity, making them gentle for daily use.
What does Shea Butter do for combination skin?
Shea butter helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by supporting the skin barrier and locking in moisture without feeling overly heavy. This type of ingredient is generally well tolerated, though richer plant fats may occasionally feel too dense on oilier areas if used too heavily.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2017International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser fits into both your morning and evening routines, used after your makeup remover at night. It safely washes away impurities without irritation, though combination skin needs extra balancing ingredients and targeted treatments for best results.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
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 following with your retinol treatment and moisturizer. This cleanser helps remove impurities safely without harsh irritation, though a cleanser with added balancing and barrier-supporting ingredients would fit combination skin even better.
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 with no risks of irritation, though combination skin needs extra balancing ingredients to properly manage both oily shine and dry areas.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for your combination skin because it is made without harsh ingredients. However, a product for this skin needs more balancing and oil-controlling ingredients to keep pores clear and handle both dry and oily areas effectively.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but you should take care near the eyes because the eyelid skin is much thinner than the skin on other body areas. This cleanser is unlikely to irritate your skin due to the absence of harsh ingredients.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (parfum).
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, 2017Sodium lauroyl sarcosinate in facial cleanser decreased prokaryotic microbial alpha diversity, altered prokaryotic microbiome structure, increased phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, and decreased ceramides on facial skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024A combination cream of stimu-tex AS and saccharide isomerate reduced erythema, increased skin capacitance, and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to placebo in 20 subjects after fractional CO2 laser procedure without causing serious adverse events.
Lasers in Medical Science, 2025A skin barrier restoring cream with shea butter, silkflo, and vitamin E increased type I procollagen synthesis, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, decreased reactive oxygen species generation, and promoted hyaluronic acid production in H2O2-stimulated human keratinocyte cells compared to untreated cells.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2025Topical application of a water-in-oil cosmetic emulsion containing 4% Tamarindus indica seeds extract significantly improved skin elasticity, moisture content, and surface evaluation parameters in 11 healthy male volunteers compared to a control base over 12 weeks.
Postepy Dermatologii I Alergologii, 2017Tamarindus indica n-hexane extracts from various organs demonstrated anti-inflammatory and wound healing activities by inhibiting nitric oxide and promoting fibroblast migration in in-vitro assays compared to control cells.
Plants, 2022The 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, 2012Sodium cocoyl isethionate micelles are too large to penetrate stratum corneum aqueous pores, resulting in significant steric hindrance that prevents skin barrier perturbation and explains its skin mildness.
Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2007
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, 2019
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Squalane, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate, Propanediol, Glycol Distearate, Coconut Acid, Glyceryl Behenate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter Shea Butter, C14-22 Alcohols, Polyacrylate Crosspolymer-6, Sodium Isethionate, Parfum, Sodium Citrate, Chlorphenesin, Citric Acid, C12-20 Alkyl Glucoside, Disodium Edta, Maltodextrin, Moringa Oleifera Seed Extract, Melissa Officinalis Leaf Extract, T-Butyl Alcohol, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Gentiana Lutea Extract, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract Matricaria Flower Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate
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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