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Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser for combination skin

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

Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser

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 coco-betaine and lactic acid help remove impurities while glycerin provides humectant action. Sodium laureth sulfate and lactic acid offer mild exfoliation and degreasing benefits to address oily shine.
  • The formula is generally safe for your combination skin, with no harsh ingredients that would cause irritation.
  • This cleanser provides basic cleansing and mild exfoliation suitable for combination skin concerns like oily shine.

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 600+ reviews

This cleanser is highly praised for its gentle and effective cleansing, leaving skin feeling soft and refreshed, particularly beneficial for combination, oily, or sensitive skin types. It is noted as a good option for a morning cleanse or as a second step in a routine, though it may not be sufficient for removing heavy makeup and some users find it can be slightly drying. The product's high price point and polarizing scent are also frequently mentioned drawbacks.

Highlights

  • Gentle cleansing Often Mentioned
    • “Leaves my face feeling soft after cleansing.”
    • “Cleanses the skin well without any gross/sticky/greasy residue.”
    • “Gentle on the skin but it is a shame it is so expensive.”
  • Non-stripping formula Often Mentioned
    • “Will not remove makeup—which is exactly what you want for a gentle morning wash.”
    • “Doesn't feel like it's stripping my skin at all.”
    • “Does not cause the skin to feel or look dry.”
  • Expensive product Often Mentioned
    • “The price is quite high for the amount you get.”
    • “Expensive. But the price is more than a bit off-putting.”
    • “It is a shame it is so expensive.”
  • Improves skin Sometimes Noted
    • “I used to have severe flaking... but after using this product, it's disappeared.”
    • “My skin absolutely glows after using this.”
    • “Kept my problem skin in check.”
  • Refreshing scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Soft herbal scent that feels fresh and floral.”
    • “I love the scent—herbal refreshing and invigorating.”
    • “Lovely calming smell.”
  • Packaging issues Sometimes Noted
    • “The downside is the pump.”
    • “Does not come with a pump.”
    • “Glass bottle... makes it that much heavier, and more importantly, that much more fragile.”
  • Poor makeup removal Sometimes Noted
    • “I found this doesn't effectively remove makeup.”
    • “Not great at removing eye make-up.”
    • “Not the most thorough cleanser on its own.”
  • Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
    • “Nasty smell... would not buy again.”
    • “The scent was too strong for a cleanser.”
    • “A peculiar, subtle licorice-like scent.”

Sources: lovi.care, hwahae.com, spacenk.com, whatsinmyjar.com, youtube.com, thevelvetlife.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Aēsop Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser work for combination skin?

This cleanser works moderately well for combination skin by clearing away impurities and managing oily shine without causing irritation. To be a top fit for this skin type, a cleanser needs exceptionally safe ingredients that balance oil production while keeping dry areas hydrated and maintaining overall skin moisture.

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

Coco-betaine and lactic acid help remove impurities and address oily shine, while glycerin helps keep your skin soft and balanced. To be a better fit for this skin type, a cleanser of this type needs exceptional safety with no risk of irritation, ingredients that effectively balance oil production, and high-quality hydrating agents that maintain moisture in dry areas.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Licorice Root Extract do for combination skin?

Licorice Root Extract helps calm redness, soothe irritation, and ease inflammation in combination skin. It also may help balance uneven skin tone by lowering oxidative stress and reducing excess pigment.

Experimental Dermatology, 2015The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2003

What does Lactic Acid do for combination skin?

Lactic acid helps balance combination skin by gently removing dead surface cells and managing oil while keeping moisture locked in. It is unlikely to cause irritation when used properly, and instead supports a smooth, clear, and well-hydrated complexion across both oily and dry areas. This type of skin needs ingredients that gently clear pores without stripping natural moisture, such as balanced hydrators and mild exfoliants.

Frontiers in Physiology, 2026Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2024

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

This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine after any makeup remover and before a toner, moisturizer, or sunscreen. Combination skin needs a cleanser that offers moderate cleansing and mild exfoliation to remove impurities and address oily shine while keeping the skin safe from irritation.

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

You can use this cleanser in the same routine as retinol, applying the cleanser first to clean your skin before putting on your retinol treatment. This cleanser provides basic cleansing and mild exfoliation, but combination skin often needs a cleanser that also protects the skin barrier with ceramides or soothing plant extracts to keep skin balanced and comfortable.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine to help manage oily shine and remove impurities on combination skin. A cleanser of this type works well when it balances mild exfoliation to clear pores with ingredients like glycerin that keep skin soft and comfortable.

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

This cleanser is generally safe and unlikely to cause breakouts or clogged pores for your combination skin. Combination skin needs cleansers that gently wash away impurities and control oily shine without harsh ingredients.

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

This cleanser works for washing your face, but it is not specially formulated for the very thin skin around the eyes or general body skin. For those areas, this skin type needs specialized products that provide gentle hydration without harsh cleansing agents.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

It has no drying alcohol and contains fragrance (benzyl alcohol, linalool, and d-limonene).

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

  • Combining 755 nm alexandrite laser with topical licorice gel significantly reduces terminal hair counts compared to alexandrite laser with placebo in women with idiopathic hirsutism.

    Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015

  • Licochalcone A activated Nrf2 signaling, elevated cytoprotective enzymes, increased the reduced-to-oxidized glutathione ratio, and decreased reactive oxygen species in human fibroblasts and neutrophils, while a LicA-rich licorice extract lowered UVA-induced oxidative processes in vivo.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2015

  • Bioactive glycyrrhizic acid and oxymatrine ionic liquid self-assembled nanomicelles significantly promoted the transdermal permeation, subcutaneous retention, and anti-photoaging efficacy of palmitoyl pentapeptide-4 in cellular and animal models compared to unformulated peptide.

    Advanced Science, 2025

  • Application of a cream containing lactic acid 12% and pramoxine HCl 1% significantly improved skin dryness, hydration, and itch compared with a nontreated control in 24 women with a history of dry itchy skin.

    Cutis, 2004

  • Topical 12% ammonium lactate produced a significant sparing of epidermal and dermal atrophy induced by clobetasol propionate in human volunteers, without influencing the corticosteroid's bioavailability or antiinflammatory properties.

    Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1992

  • A lactic acid/ceramide lotion significantly improved skin moisturization and desquamation compared to no treatment in women with dry, rough skin on the anterior shins.

    The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Multiple applications of blackcurrant seed oil successfully impregnated the stratum corneum of human dry skin, combining its essential and other fatty acids with endogenous lipids to potentially enhance protective effects.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 1988

  • Clay jojoba oil facial masks reduced total skin lesions by a mean of 54% after 6 weeks in 133 participants with acne-prone, lesioned skin and mild acne compared to baseline.

    Forschende Komplementarmedizin, 2012

  • Topical application of jojoba wax reduced LPS-induced secretion of IL-6, IL-8, and TNFα by approximately 30% and increased the synthesis of pro-collagen III and hyaluronic acid compared to untreated skin in an ex-vivo human skin organ culture model.

    Frontiers in Pharmacology, 2024

  • Topical jojoba oil application in male mice decreased exercise-induced pro-inflammatory gene expression (Il-1b and Il-6 in soleus, Il-1b in gastrocnemius) compared to untreated exercised mice.

    Biomolecules, 2025

Ingredients

Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Olive Peg-7 Esters Oil, Sodium Peg-7 Olive Carboxylate Oil, Coco-Betaine, Potassium Lactate, Peg-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Citrate, Lactic Acid, Lavandula Angustifolia Oil Lavender Oil, Glycerin, Jojoba Seed Oil, Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil, Ormenis Multicaulis Oil, Chamomilla Recutita Oil Flower Matricaria Oil Flower, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract Licorice Root Extract, Parsley Seed Oil, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Benzyl Alcohol, Sodium Benzoate, Potassium Sorbate, Linalool, D-Limonene

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

How does it fit your skin?

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play