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Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam for combination skin

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

Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam

Low

  • HighCombination Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • ConcerningSafety

A weak match for combination skin; the cleansers alongside 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

  • Suitable for combination skin due to the presence of glycerin and betaine for humectant action, and witch hazel leaf extract for mild astringent properties, this product offers moderate cleansing benefits that are generally supportive but not directly targeted at your oily shine concerns.
  • The formula contains sodium laureth sulfate and cocamidopropyl betaine to effectively remove impurities, providing general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive rather than corrective for your specific needs.

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

★4.7Overall rating based on 300+ reviews

This cleanser is highly praised for its dense, luxurious foam that effectively removes light makeup and impurities without stripping the skin. Most users report that it leaves their skin feeling soft and hydrated. However, some users find it requires a second cleanse for heavy or waterproof makeup.

Highlights

  • Hydrating and gentle Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin feeling smooth and hydrated”
    • “doesn't strip away essential moisture”
    • “skin feels soft... not tight”
  • Effective for daily use Often Mentioned
    • “gentle but does its job”
    • “removes makeup and impurities at once”
    • “great for sensitive skin”
  • Luxurious foam texture Often Mentioned
    • “dense, creamy lather”
    • “rich lather that lasted”
    • “airy foam feels lightweight”
  • Pleasant scent Sometimes Noted
    • “smells like a high-end spa”
    • “subtle, clean scent”
    • “smell is light and amazing”
  • High price point Sometimes Noted
    • “not worth the heavy price tag”
    • “product is unbelievable... but expensive”
    • “too pricey”
  • Struggles with makeup Sometimes Noted
    • “doesn't remove all of my eye makeup”
    • “too gentle to remove even sunscreen”
    • “doesn't remove waterproof lipstick”
  • Oily residue Rarely Noted
    • “left my face feeling oily”
    • “waxy feel to your face”
    • “oily after-feel”
  • Scent sensitivity Rarely Noted
    • “strong fragrance”
    • “irritated my hands”
    • “scent... adds to experience”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, macys.com, influenster.com, shiseido.com, and more

Questions and answers

Why is Shiseido Complete Cleansing Microfoam a weak match for combination skin?

This cleanser is a weak match for combination skin because it offers only moderate cleansing that does not directly target your oily shine concerns. A cleanser of this type needs to effectively cleanse without stripping moisture, manage oily shine, and support the skin's moisture barrier with a good balance of hydrating ingredients and soothing extracts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for combination skin?

This cleanser is a weak match because it lacks a targeted approach for oily shine while offering only moderate cleansing benefits. Combination skin needs a gentle formula that manages oil without irritation, hydrates dry areas, and supports the moisture barrier with soothing extracts.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Skin Research and Technology, 2003

What does Glycerin do for combination skin?

Glycerin helps keep combination skin soft and smooth by pulling moisture in and keeping it there. It improves hydration and supports your skin barrier, which is unlikely to cause irritation.

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

What does Sodium Laureth Sulfate do for combination skin?

Sodium laureth sulfate is a cleansing ingredient that may leave combination skin feeling dry and can disrupt skin moisture if not balanced properly. A product of this type needs milder cleansing agents, moisturizing ingredients, and a balanced pH to keep the skin barrier calm and hydrated.

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2026Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2001

Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?

This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for combination skin. It offers supportive cleansing, but because it is a weak match for combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs targeted ingredients that directly address oily shine.

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol, but because it is a weak match for combination skin, it may feel drying when paired with strong treatments. Use this cleanser first to wash your face, pat dry completely, and then apply your retinol product. Combination skin needs a cleanser that gently removes impurities while actively balancing oily shine without stripping moisture.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser daily, but because it is a weak match for combination skin, this skin type needs a cleanser that directly targets oily shine with oil-controlling ingredients and balancing properties.

Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?

This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for combination skin, though it may not fully control oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs ingredients that gently balance oil and keep dry areas soft.

Skin Research and Technology, 2003

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

This cleanser is generally suitable for the body, but you should avoid the thin skin around your eyes. Cleansers used near the eyes need to respect delicate areas where skin is much thinner than on the body or back.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It contains fragrance (parfum and linalool) and drying alcohol (alcohol denat).

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, 2017

  • Soaps containing betaine caused the least skin irritation compared to other tested soaps in twenty-eight healthy subjects, though irritation did not decrease with increasing concentrations of betaine.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2003

  • 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

  • Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) treatment decreases lipid membrane chain conformational order and stiffness leading to increased water sorption and diffusivity, whereas sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES) treatment increases lipid membrane conformational order and stiffness with increased water sorption capacity driven by its hygroscopic nature.

    Langmuir, 2014

  • A Hamamelis virginiana leaf extract increased LOXL1 expression twofold, decreased elafin synthesis, restored functional elastic fibers, reduced nonfunctional elastin aggregates, decreased wrinkles, and improved skin firmness.

    Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2018

  • Hamamelis bark proanthocyanidins strongly increased the proliferation of cultured human keratinocytes and reduced transepidermal water loss and erythema formation in SLS-irritated skin, whereas the polysaccharide fraction had no effect.

    Phytochemistry, 2001

  • Witch hazel bark extract and hamamelitannin showed pronounced anti-inflammatory activity, supported keratinocyte migration in a wound healing assay, and inhibited Staphylococcus aureus growth, whereas their skin microbiota metabolite ellagic acid stimulated inflammatory mediator release.

    Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2025

  • Bacterial cellulose wound dressing containing silk sericin and PHMB improved wound quality and reduced pain compared to Bactigras in patients with split-thickness skin graft donor-site wounds.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2018

  • A bacterial nanocellulose wound dressing incorporating polyhexamethylene biguanide and sericin showed no skin irritation in healthy volunteers and significantly promoted wound healing with lower wound size and higher collagen formation in full-thickness rat wounds compared to controls.

    Archives of Dermatological Research, 2016

  • Topical application of sericin gels increased skin intrinsic moisturization, hydroxyproline content, and epidermal hydration while decreasing transepidermal water loss and skin impedance in healthy human volunteers.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2005

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

  • Combined 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, Glycerin, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Peg-8 Glyceryl Isostearate, Peg Ppg-14 7 Dimethyl Ether, Ethylhexylglycerin, Triethylhexanoin, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Butylene Glycol, Alcohol Denat, Sodium Citrate, Sodium Benzoate, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Citric Acid, Disodium Edta, Bht, Linalool, Rice Germ Oil, Tocopherol, Witch Hazel Leaf Extract, Betaine, Hydrolyzed Silk

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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How does it fit your skin?

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