🇳🇱Netherlands

Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel for oily acne-prone skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel

Average

  • AverageOily Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for oily acne-prone skin; other cleansers fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with oily acne-prone skin: shine, breakouts, blemishes, and enlarged pores. 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 with Sodium Cocoamphoacetate and Coco-Betaine, which effectively clear pores, but the pineapple fruit extract provides only mild exfoliation, insufficient for your primary concerns of acne and breakouts.
  • Glycerin and Propanediol offer humectant action suitable for oily skin, though stronger seboregulation ingredients are absent.
  • The safety profile is good, with no risks of irritation for your oily skin due to the absence of prohibited or harsh ingredients.

How to apply

  • Use this cleanser as part of your AM and PM routine. Start using it daily to help clear your breakouts.
  • Apply this cleanser as the first step in the morning and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow it with your toner and moisturizer.
  • Gently massage a small amount of the cleanser onto your face using circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry.
  • Apply the cleanser on slightly damp skin to help clean deeply and remove excess oil. This works best for oily skin types.
  • Avoid the sensitive eye area during application. Do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.7Overall rating based on 500+ reviews

Users consistently praise this cleanser for being an affordable, gentle, and effective option that balances the skin without stripping its natural moisture. While it is widely celebrated by those with sensitive and combination skin for its soothing rosewater formula, a small minority of users with extremely dry skin found it slightly less hydrating than expected.

Highlights

  • Gentle & non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves my face feeling clean without the drying”
    • “didn't leave my face feeling tight”
    • “non-stripping but yet a very effective cleanser”
  • Great value Often Mentioned
    • “love how affordable the brand is”
    • “great value which I mean we all can expect”
    • “can't believe how good this product works and major points”
  • Effective lather Sometimes Noted
    • “lather on this cleanser is impressive”
    • “rinses off easily and leaves skin refreshed”
    • “gently purifies skin of dirt, oil, and makeup”
  • Soothing for sensitive skin Sometimes Noted
    • “I have VERY sensitive skin, but it doesn't make my skin feel like it's irritated”
    • “soothed whenever I used this product”
    • “no breakouts or irritation”
  • Not hydrating enough Rarely Noted
    • “skin does feel like I need to go in with a moisturizer”
    • “might be too simple for very dry skin”
    • “felt a little dry after use”
  • Scent preferences Rarely Noted
    • “mild soapy scent”
    • “smell is weird... not off putting but not pleasant”
    • “has a soapy feel”
  • Too basic Rarely Noted
    • “simple skincare... if that's what you're looking for”
    • “didn't notice a difference”
    • “just a basic cleanser”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, beautylish.com, target.com, walmart.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does the Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel work for oily acne-prone skin?

Good Molecules Hydrating Facial Cleansing Gel works reasonably well for oily skin by clearing pores and keeping moisture balanced, but its mild exfoliation is insufficient for treating acne and breakouts. Cleansers better suited for this skin type need strong breakout-fighting and oil-balancing ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, ceramides, or probiotics.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin, Propanediol, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, and Coco-Betaine make this cleanser an average fit by clearing pores and providing hydration without irritation. However, this skin type needs cleansers with stronger oil-balancing and exfoliating ingredients like salicylic acid, niacinamide, or ceramides.

International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Glycerin do for oily acne-prone skin?

Glycerin helps keep oily acne-prone skin hydrated without feeling heavy. It draws moisture into the skin while supporting the skin barrier so it stays soft and balanced.

The British Journal of Dermatology, 2008Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Rose Flower Water do for oily acne-prone skin?

Rose flower water helps oily, acne-prone skin by providing significant antioxidant activity and reducing unwanted swelling and irritation. This ingredient may also help keep the skin clear and calm, as it contains helpful plant compounds that support a balanced and healthy complexion.

Plants, 2024

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for your oily acne-prone skin, after removing makeup in the evening. It is unlikely to irritate your skin, but an average fit for your acne concerns means this skin type also needs stronger oil-balancing ingredients and effective exfoliating components like acids or enzymes to properly clear breakouts.

Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cleanser before retinol in your routine because it clears pores gently without causing irritation. Oily acne-prone skin typically needs a cleanser with stronger blemish-clearing ingredients to properly manage breakouts when using retinol.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day in your morning and evening routines. A gentle daily cleansing routine helps maintain skin hydration without causing irritation.

The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for oily acne-prone skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for oily acne-prone skin, as it has a good safety profile with no harsh ingredients. However, because its exfoliation is only mild, a product of this type needs stronger blemish-clearing and oil-balancing ingredients to truly address acne.

Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?

Yes, you can use this cleanser on your body and around the eyes because it is gentle and unlikely to cause irritation. However, your oily acne-prone skin needs stronger exfoliating ingredients to properly clear breakouts.

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Topical application of 1,3-propanediol at various concentrations, alone or combined with butylene glycol and/or glycerol, increased skin hydration and reduced trans epidermal water loss in 30 healthy female subjects over an 8-hour period, with the 15% concentration and the addition of glycerol providing greater benefits.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2024

  • 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, 2017

  • The 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, 2020

  • Ten 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, 2001

  • Niacinamide/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, 2012

  • Treatment with a rose extract activated newly identified skin olfactory receptors and prevented epinephrine-induced skin stress responses in epidermal keratinocytes and human skin explants, while clinically decreasing the appearance of under-eye dark circles in stressed women.

    Molecules, 2020

  • Rose petal extract improves stratum corneum moisture levels in humans by upregulating HAS2 expression via the GLK-MAP2K-MAPK signaling pathway.

    BioFactors, 2023

  • Rosa gallica petal extract (RPE) exerts skin whitening by attenuating tyrosinase activity and melanin accumulation and exhibits anti-wrinkle activity by suppressing MMP-1 levels in human cells.

    Journal of Medicinal Food, 2020

  • A mixture of propanediol, xylitol, and caprylic acid demonstrated in vitro antimicrobial activity against C. acnes and S. aureus, reduced 5-alpha reductase expression, and decreased skin oiliness, porphyrin, and inflammatory lesions in participants over 28 days.

    Molecules, 2021

  • Sustainable cosmetic products formulated with renewable PDO-based emulsifiers showed equivalent performance in sensory and moisturization evaluations compared to those formulated with petroleum-derived PEG-based emulsifiers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2017

  • The cytotoxic effect of sodium lauryl sulphate on normal human keratinocytes was significantly decreased when combined with cocamidopropyl betaine, Tween 20, and Tween 80 at concentrations well below the critical micelle concentration.

    Skin Pharmacology and Applied Skin Physiology, 2003

Why other cleansers fit oily acne-prone skin better

  • A 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, 2024

  • Topical 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

  • 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, Propanediol, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoamphoacetate, Coco-Betaine, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Dehydroxanthan Gum, Rosa Damascena Flower Water, Citric Acid, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Caprylyl Glyceryl Ether, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Pineapple Fruit Extract

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.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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Prices checked 5 Nov 2026

The Lovi Fit is the same in every country; only the stores and prices differ, and the ones here are for the Netherlands.

How does it fit your skin?

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