SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel for dry skin
Lipo Hydroxy Acid
Glycolic Acid
Salicylic Acid
GlycerinCaution
- CautionDry Skin Fit
- HighEffectiveness
- ConcerningSafety
A poor match for dry skin; the cleansers alongside fit it better.
This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. 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 dry or flaky skin due to the presence of glycolic acid and salicylic acid, which can help decongest pores and reduce flakiness. Glycerin is included to provide some humectant action, but the exfoliating acids may still strip natural oils.
- The cleansing action is excellent, effectively removing impurities with salicylic acid and capryloyl salicylic acid, though this may further compromise your dry skin.
How to apply
- Use this cleanser AM and PM every day to keep your skin clean. Start using it daily right away since your skin is not sensitive.
- Apply this cleanser as the very first step in your morning routine and right after your pre-cleanser in the evening. Follow with your toner and moisturizer afterwards.
- Gently massage a small amount of cleanser onto your face using soft circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water and pat dry with a clean towel.
- Apply this cleanser on slightly damp skin for a comfortable and refreshing wash. This helps maintain your skin's natural moisture while cleansing away dirt.
- Avoid getting the cleanser directly into your eyes to prevent any irritation. Do a simple patch test before your first use to ensure your skin likes it.
People Say
★4.6Overall rating based on 800+ reviewsThis cleanser is widely celebrated by users with oily, acne-prone, and aging skin for its ability to deeply exfoliate and decongest pores using a blend of LHA, glycolic, and salicylic acids. While most users report clearer, smoother, and brighter skin, a minority find it too drying or experience an initial "purge" of breakouts.
Highlights
Deeply exfoliates Mostly Mentioned
- “decongests clogged pores”
- “refines skin surface”
- “removes dead skin”
- “deep clean feeling”
Clears acne Often Mentioned
- “gets rid of blackheads”
- “controls adult acne”
- “breakouts appear reduced”
- “keeps skin clear”
Controls oil Often Mentioned
- “reduces oil”
- “less oily throughout day”
- “removes excess sebum”
- “matte finish”
Refines texture Often Mentioned
- “smoothes skin texture”
- “skin feels soft”
- “improves skin clarity”
- “brightens complexion”
Refreshing feel Sometimes Noted
- “cooling sensation”
- “tingling feel”
- “fresh citrus scent”
- “feels invigorating”
Can be drying Sometimes Noted
- “good but drying”
- “felt tight after”
- “stripped natural oils”
- “too harsh for daily use”
High price point Sometimes Noted
- “expensive”
- “pricey for a wash”
- “costly investment”
- “wish it was cheaper”
Causes breakouts Rarely Noted
- “broke me out”
- “worsened acne initially”
- “caused purging”
- “irritated my skin”
Poor packaging Rarely Noted
- “pours out too fast”
- “hard to control amount”
- “wastes product”
- “leaks easily”
Sources: lovi.care, lovelyskin.com, bluemercury.com, skinceuticals.com, reddit.com, dermstore.com, and more
Questions and answers
Why does Lovi advise caution with SkinCeuticals LHA Cleanser Gel for dry skin?
Lovi advises caution because the exfoliating acids and strong cleansing action may strip natural oils from dry skin and compromise its moisture barrier. A cleanser for dry skin needs to effectively cleanse without stripping moisture while providing soothing hydration.
Which ingredients make this cleanser a poor fit for dry skin?
Glycolic acid, salicylic acid, and capryloyl salicylic acid make this cleanser a poor fit because they may strip natural oils and compromise dry skin. A cleanser for dry skin needs gentle cleansing agents along with soothing and hydrating ingredients like glycerin to maintain moisture.
What does Lipo Hydroxy Acid do for dry skin?
Lipo hydroxy acid is generally too strong for dry skin because it exfoliates deeply and may cause extra dryness or irritation. Dry skin needs gentle, hydrating ingredients like ceramides and rich moisturizers that soothe and protect the skin barrier.
What does Glycolic Acid do for dry skin?
Glycolic acid helps smooth and soften dry skin by speeding up the shedding of older surface cells. Because it can also cause the skin to lose more moisture, dry skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like glycerin or hyaluronic acid alongside it to keep the skin comfortable.
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for dry skin?
This cleanser goes in the morning and evening routine for dry skin, but it is a poor match because its exfoliating acids may strip natural oils and compromise your skin further. Dry skin needs a gentle cleanser with nourishing oils or ceramides and extra moisturizers to keep skin soft and smooth.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
Using this cleanser with retinol is unlikely to go well on dry skin because the exfoliating acids may strip your natural oils and increase irritation. To use them safely, you should apply your retinol only after a gentle cleanser and follow up with a rich moisturizer to keep your skin soft and calm.
How often should I use this cleanser?
This cleanser may not be the best match for dry skin because its exfoliating acids can strip natural oils, so dry skin instead needs a gentle cleanser and a rich moisturizer with hydrating ingredients like glycerin to keep the skin soft and comfortable.
Can this cleanser clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?
This cleanser is unlikely to clog pores, but it may cause breakouts or dryness on dry skin because its exfoliating acids can strip natural oils and compromise your skin barrier. A cleanser for dry skin needs gentle cleansing agents and rich moisturizing ingredients like glycerin or ceramides to keep the skin soft and prevent moisture loss.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
This cleanser may be too harsh for the very thin skin around the eyes and is not ideal for dry skin types. A product of this type needs gentle cleansers, soothing ingredients, and plenty of moisture to keep dry skin soft and comfortable.
Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?
Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.
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, 2017Capryloyl salicylic acid peel reduced fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation comparably to glycolic acid peel in 44 female volunteers, with no statistically significant differences between the two treatments.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2008Combining a salicylic acid and lipohydroxy acid facial serum and mask improved closed comedones and acne severity significantly more than serum alone in adults with acne over 8 weeks, with no adverse reactions reported.
Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2023Parity was demonstrated between an OTC BPO 5.5% formulation with lipohydroxy acid and tretinoin cream 0.025% versus prescription clindamycin 1%-BPO 5% gel and tretinoin cream 0.025% in participants with mild to moderate acne vulgaris at 12 weeks.
Cutis, 2012Repeated short-contact 70% glycolic acid peels provided superior results in atrophic acne scars compared to daily low-strength glycolic acid cream or placebo in 58 women over 24 weeks.
International Journal of Dermatology, 2000Serial glycolic acid peels combined with a modified Kligman formula significantly reduced facial PIH severity in Indian patients compared to the modified Kligman formula alone.
Dermatologic Surgery, 2017Cryotherapy 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, 2024The 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, 2012
Ingredients
Water, Coco-Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sorbitol, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Disteareth-100 Ipdi, Salicylic Acid, Capryloyl Salicylic Acid, Menthol, Disodium Edta, Steareth-100
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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