Anua Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser for combination skin
Glycerin
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate
Average
- SuperiorCombination 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 and hydration for your combination skin, as Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate and multiple forms of Hyaluronic Acid gently remove impurities while providing essential moisture. Panthenol further supports barrier repair, enhancing overall skin comfort.
- The presence of Zinc PCA helps to regulate oil production, which is beneficial for managing your oily shine.
- The product is safe for your skin, containing no harsh ingredients and including soothing components like Hyaluronic Acid and Panthenol.
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
★4.8Overall rating based on 400+ reviewsUsers with dry and sensitive skin frequently praise this cleanser for its hydrating and non-stripping properties, noting it leaves skin soft and clean. It is also often described as gentle and suitable for sensitive skin types, with a moderate number of users appreciating its rich lather and effective cleansing. A moderate number of reviews mention issues with the thick consistency and packaging, making it difficult to dispense, while a low number of users found the scent unpleasant or the results underwhelming compared to other products. Negligible mentions of breakouts were reported.
Highlights
Hydrating non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
- “doesn't leave skin tight”
- “leaves face soft”
- “moisturizing finish”
- “no dry feeling”
Gentle sensitive skin Often Mentioned
- “no irritation”
- “mild facial cleanser”
- “soothing for redness”
- “great for sensitive skin”
Effective cleansing Sometimes Noted
- “removes residue well”
- “cleanses pores deeply”
- “refreshing finish”
- “skin feels clean”
Rich creamy lather Sometimes Noted
- “foams well”
- “dense bubbles”
- “luxurious foam”
- “little goes a long way”
Packaging texture issues Sometimes Noted
- “hard to squeeze out”
- “very thick consistency”
- “tube is stiff”
- “difficult to dispense”
Beneficial ingredients Rarely Noted
- “love the panthenol”
- “zinc helps oil”
- “8 types of HA”
- “good barrier support”
Caused breakouts Rarely Noted
- “caused small bumps”
- “broke me out”
- “acne on forehead”
- “clogged my pores”
Underwhelming results Rarely Noted
- “just an ordinary cleanser”
- “nothing special”
- “prefer the Heartleaf version”
- “expected more hydration”
Unpleasant scent Rarely Noted
- “odd medicinal smell”
- “smells like raw ingredients”
- “faint chemical scent”
- “weird fragrance-free smell”
Sources: lovi.care, anua.us, oliveyoung.com, stylekorean.com, yesstyle.com, ulta.com, and more
Questions and answers
How well does Anua Hydaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser work for combination skin?
Anua Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Gentle Foaming Cleanser works moderately well for combination skin by gently removing impurities while providing essential moisture and helping to regulate oil production. A cleanser for this skin needs high-quality ingredients that balance oil and maintain hydration across both oily and dry areas without any risk of irritation.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
Which ingredients make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin?
Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate and multiple forms of Hyaluronic Acid make this cleanser a good fit for combination skin by gently removing dirt while keeping moisture balanced. Panthenol helps support skin barrier comfort, and Zinc PCA helps manage oily shine. A cleanser for this skin needs to be exceptionally safe and non-irritating, effectively balance oil and moisture across different areas, and use high-quality ingredients that cleanse well without causing dryness.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
What does Water do for combination skin?
Water helps keep combination skin hydrated, though a product of this type needs additional barrier-protecting ingredients like ceramides or petrolatum to lock in that moisture and support overall skin health.
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
Where does this cleanser go in a skincare routine for combination skin?
This cleanser goes in your morning and evening routine as the first cleansing step, or as the second step in the evening after removing makeup. A cleanser of this type works well for combination skin when it gently removes impurities and controls oily shine while keeping the skin soft and moisturized.
Can I use this cleanser with retinol, and in what order?
You can use this cleanser in your routine before applying retinol, as it gently removes impurities while keeping your skin comfortable. A product for this skin type needs mild cleansers and hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and panthenol to support your skin barrier alongside treatments.
The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2025
How often should I use this cleanser?
You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Combination skin needs a gentle cleanser that removes impurities and balances moisture without stripping the skin.
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, as reviewers report very few issues with this. To keep combination skin clear and balanced, a cleanser of this type needs gentle cleansers like Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate and oil-controlling ingredients like Zinc PCA.
Can I use this cleanser around the eyes or on my body?
You can use this cleanser on your body, but it is best to avoid the very thin skin directly around your eyes. Combination skin needs a cleanser that balances moisture and oil without drying out, using gentle hydrators like hyaluronic acid and soothing ingredients like panthenol.
Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2017
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, 2017A 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, 2025Topical 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, 2002Topical nicotinamide plus an antibacterial adhesive agent and zinc-pyrrolidone carboxylic acid combined with adapalene significantly reduced noninflammatory acne lesions by the second week of therapy compared to placebo with adapalene in patients with moderate acne vulgaris.
The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2020A topical gel containing chitosan, chlorhexidine, allantoin, and dexpanthenol significantly reduced postoperative pain, trismus, swelling, and analgesic consumption, while improving wound healing after third molar surgery compared to a placebo.
Medicina Oral, Patologia Oral Y Cirugia Bucal, 2020A 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, 2017The 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, 2001
Ingredients
Water, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glycinate, Lauryl Hydroxysultaine, Coco-Glucoside, Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Quillaja Saponaria Bark Extract, Hydrolyzed Protein, Hydroxypropyltrimonium Hyaluronate, Hyaluronic Acid, Hydrolyzed Hyaluronic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Sodium Hyaluronate, Sodium Hyaluronate Crosspolymer, Potassium Hyaluronate, Panthenol, Zinc Pca, Decyl Glucoside, Hectorite, Pentylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Phosphate Starch, 1,2-Hexanediol, Betaine, Polyquaternium-67, Acrylates C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Citric Acid, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Phytate, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Maltodextrin
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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