Simple Refreshing Facial Wash for combination skin
Panthenol Vitamin B5
Niacinamide
Zinc Pca
Cocamidopropyl Betaine
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
Average
- HighCombination 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 cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium laureth sulfate effectively remove impurities and help manage oily shine.
- Niacinamide and zinc PCA provide seboregulation, while panthenol offers humectant action, supporting your skin's balance.
- The formula is safe for your combination skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of 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 300+ reviewsThis gel-based cleanser is widely praised as a gentle, no-nonsense staple for sensitive and acne-prone skin, effectively removing daily dirt and oil without stripping the moisture barrier. While most users find it non-drying and refreshing, a minority complain about a "slimy" film that is difficult to rinse off or report that it struggles to remove heavy waterproof makeup.
Highlights
Gentle & non-irritating Mostly Mentioned
- “Doesn't burn my eyes”
- “perfect for sensitive skin”
- “no redness after use”
Effective daily cleanser Often Mentioned
- “Best morning cleanser”
- “great second cleanse”
- “removes daily grime”
- “reliable everyday wash”
Non-stripping Often Mentioned
- “Skin feels soft not dry”
- “doesn't leave face tight”
- “good for dry winter skin”
- “gentle moisture barrier protection”
Fragrance-free Sometimes Noted
- “No strong smell”
- “love that it's unscented”
- “great for fragrance sensitivity”
- “smells clean and simple”
Slimy residue Sometimes Noted
- “Feels slimy on skin”
- “takes forever to rinse”
- “leaves a film”
- “hard to wash off completely”
Weak on makeup Sometimes Noted
- “Doesn't touch waterproof mascara”
- “need a separate makeup remover”
- “left foundation residue”
- “not for heavy makeup”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “Gave me tiny red spots”
- “caused closed comedones”
- “broke me out after a week”
- “skin reacted badly”
Chemical smell Rarely Noted
- “Smells like chemicals”
- “weird plastic scent”
- “has an odd odor”
- “smell is off-putting”
Sources: lovi.care, boots.com, simpleskincare.in, amazon.com, makeupalley.com, cosmeticsarena.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Simple Refreshing Facial Wash work for combination skin?
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash works moderately well for your combination skin, as it removes impurities and helps manage oily shine while keeping the skin balanced. A cleanser for this skin needs to be exceptionally safe with no risk of irritation, effectively balance oil production and maintain hydration for oily shine, and perform its cleansing function extremely well with high-quality ingredients.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Cocamidopropyl betaine and sodium laureth sulfate help remove impurities and manage oily shine, while niacinamide and zinc PCA help balance oil. Additionally, panthenol helps keep the skin hydrated and soft. A cleanser for combination skin needs soothing and hydrating ingredients that manage oil and protect the skin barrier without causing dryness.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
What does Panthenol do for combination skin?
Panthenol helps combination skin by boosting hydration, balancing oil, and calming redness without feeling heavy. It supports the skin barrier so dry areas feel soft and smooth while keeping oily zones comfortable.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
What does Niacinamide do for combination skin?
Niacinamide helps balance oily areas by reducing excess shine and pore size while keeping dry patches hydrated and smooth. It also works to calm redness and even out skin tone, making it very suitable for combination skin.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash fits in the morning routine before a hydrating toner, moisturizer, and sunscreen, and in the evening routine following makeup removal before a cleansing toner, treatment, and moisturizer. For combination skin, a cleanser of this type needs balancing ingredients like niacinamide and zinc PCA to manage oily shine, alongside gentle cleansers that effectively remove impurities without causing irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2022International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2020
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine with retinol, washing your face with it before applying your retinol treatment. A cleanser for this skin also needs gentle hydrating ingredients and barrier-supporting helpers to keep your face soft and calm while using strong actives.
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser daily in the morning and evening as part of your routine. This wash is safe for your skin with no irritation risks, though combination skin also benefits from ingredients that offer deeper balancing moisture and targeted oil control.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for combination skin?
Simple Refreshing Facial Wash is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts on combination skin, as reports of breakouts are low and the formula avoids harsh ingredients that upset the skin barrier. A cleanser for combination skin needs to gently wash away daily impurities and excess shine while keeping the skin balanced.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body and around your eyes, as it has a very safe formula with no harsh ingredients that may cause irritation. To properly care for the thin skin around your eyes and your body, a product of this type needs gentle cleansers that lift away dirt without stripping moisture, alongside soothing vitamins to keep skin calm and soft.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017American Journal of Clinical Dermatology, 2002
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
What the research says
A new topical panthenol-containing emollient significantly improved transepidermal water loss reduction, stratum corneum hydration, and intercellular lipid lamellae length compared with control in healthy subjects without negatively impacting bacterial viability.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Topical 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, 2025Moisturizer containing 5% panthenol, madecassoside, and copper-zinc-manganese decreased adverse reactions and downtime after ablative fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing with comparable efficacy to 0.02% triamcinolone acetonide cream in 20 subjects.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2019Topical dexpanthenol formulated in lipophilic vehicles improved stratum corneum hydration and reduced transepidermal water loss compared to vehicle control in humans.
Arzneimittel-Forschung, 2000Hyaluronic acid, hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol, and isotonic saline nasal sprays all significantly improved dry nose symptoms over four weeks in 240 patients, with hyaluronic acid plus dexpanthenol providing superior nasal moisturisation compared to the other two.
Auris, Nasus, Larynx, 2020Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.
The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2005Zinc PCA inhibits UVA-induced matrix metalloproteinase-1 production through suppressed AP-1 activation and enhances type I collagen synthesis by increasing SVCT2 mRNA expression in cultured normal human dermal fibroblasts.
International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2012The 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, 2003Sodium 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
Ingredients
Water, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol Vitamin B5, Niacinamide, Zinc Pca, Citric Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Edta, 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.
-
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.