🇺🇸United States

Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser for combination skin

High

  • SuperiorCombination Skin Fit
  • HighEffectiveness
  • ExcellentSafety

A great choice for combination skin; a few cleansers fit it even 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

  • Excellent suitability for your combination skin as gluconolactone and spearmint leaf extract work to gently exfoliate and regulate oil production, addressing your oily shine. Disodium cocoyl glutamate and sodium cocoyl glutamate provide effective pore cleansing without irritation.
  • The inclusion of lavender flower water and aloe barbadensis leaf juice further soothes your combination skin, enhancing the overall comfort of the formula.
  • This product is safe for your skin, with no risks of irritation due to the absence of harsh ingredients and the presence of calming components.

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 3.8k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, users with oily, combination, and acne-prone skin frequently praise this cleanser for its ability to balance oil production and reduce redness without stripping the moisture barrier. While generally celebrated for leaving skin feeling soft and refreshed, some users with drier skin types found it slightly dehydrating or insufficient for removing heavy waterproof makeup.

Highlights

  • Gentle and non-stripping Mostly Mentioned
    • “leaves skin feeling refreshed and clean”
    • “cleanses without drying skin”
    • “super smooth on the skin, isn't drying”
  • Oil and acne control Often Mentioned
    • “perfect for balancing oil production”
    • “skin has been so much better since using it”
    • “helps reduce redness and calm skin”
  • Pleasant texture Often Mentioned
    • “light, foamy, and gentle”
    • “nice light gel texture”
    • “foams up well to cleanse”
  • Great value Sometimes Noted
    • “affordable price for the amount”
    • “great value”
    • “good alternative to higher end cleansers”
  • Makeup removal issues Sometimes Noted
    • “hard to remove eyeliner”
    • “makeup gets smeared”
    • “doesn't take off waterproof mascara”
  • Can be drying Rarely Noted
    • “strips the skin”
    • “felt a little bit of dryness around this area”
    • “too stripping for my dry skin”
  • Irritation/burning Rarely Noted
    • “burned my daughter's face”
    • “caused irritation”
    • “skin felt tight and irritated”
  • Scent dislikes Rarely Noted
    • “smells like Dial body wash”
    • “has a mild scent”
    • “scent was off-putting”

Sources: lovi.care, ulta.com, target.com, walmart.com, hellobubble.com, and more

Questions and answers

What makes Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser a great fit for combination skin?

Bubble Fresh Start Gel Cleanser is a great fit for combination skin because gluconolactone and spearmint leaf extract help gently exfoliate and control oily shine. Gentle cleansers like this use mild ingredients to wash out pores without irritation, while aloe and lavender flower water calm the skin.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023

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

Gluconolactone and spearmint leaf extract make this cleanser a great fit for your combination skin because they help gently exfoliate and control oily shine. At the same time, disodium cocoyl glutamate and sodium cocoyl glutamate cleanse pores effectively without causing irritation, while aloe vera and lavender flower water soothe the skin.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023

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 Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate do for combination skin?

Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate helps cleanse combination skin gently while keeping the skin barrier healthy and hydrated. Amino acid-based cleansers of this type are unlikely to cause major irritation and work well to wash away oil without leaving dry spots.

Dermatologic Therapy, 2004Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2019

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

This cleanser is used as the first step in your morning routine and as the second step after makeup removal in your evening routine. It is designed to clean your pores effectively and manage oily shine without causing irritation.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023

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

You can use this cleanser with retinol by applying the cleanser first on your damp face, rinsing it off, and then following up with your retinol product once your skin is dry. This gentle cleanser is unlikely to cause irritation when paired with retinol, as it washes away pore buildup without stripping your skin.

How often should I use this cleanser?

You can use this cleanser twice a day as part of your morning and evening routine. Its gentle ingredients cleanse pores without irritation, making it suitable for regular daily use on combination 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 because its gentle cleansing ingredients and calming components wash away buildup without causing irritation. It features ingredients that help regulate oil and gently clear pores to keep your skin feeling smooth and balanced.

Skin Research and Technology, 2023

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. Gentle cleansers with mild surfactants are generally well-tolerated on body skin, while delicate eye areas often require specialized products.

Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy, 2002

Is this cleanser fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol.

What the research says

  • Combining 10% gluconolactone chemical peeling with oxybrasion or microneedle mesotherapy increased skin hydration and decreased sebum, pH, and TEWL in twenty-one Caucasian women, with no significant differences between the two methods.

    Skin Research and Technology, 2023
  • Encapsulation of Mentha spicata oil in a chitosan polymer matrix ointment reduced skin irritancy (PII 0.5833) and volatility while improving antifungal efficacy compared to unencapsulated oil ointment.

    AAPS PharmSciTech, 2016
  • 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
  • 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
  • A cream combining propolis, tea tree oil, and Aloe vera reduced erythema scars, acne severity index, and total lesion count better than erythromycin cream in sixty patients with mild to moderate acne vulgaris compared to placebo.

    Clinical Pharmacology, 2018
  • Topical aloe vera gel significantly accelerated split-thickness skin graft donor-site healing compared to placebo in 12 patients, but showed no significant difference in pain relief.

    Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, 2018
  • Topical application of Aloe vera cream reduced postoperative pain at rest and during defecation, accelerated wound healing at two weeks, and decreased analgesic requirements in patients after open hemorrhoidectomy compared to placebo.

    Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 2010
  • Lavandula angustifolia leaf callus extract enhanced skin cell viability, reduced oxidative stress and melanin content, improved wound healing, and enhanced skin barrier function in human skin cells and clinical tests.

    Free Radical Biology & Medicine, 2025
  • Tea tree oil effectively treated acne while lavender and rosemary oils demonstrated anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties in derma cosmetic applications based on an evaluation of various essential oils.

    Frontiers in Medicine, 2025
  • A blend of Lavandula angustifolia flower extract and dipeptide-4 reduced oxidative and glycation markers, enhanced ATP, SOD, autophagy, and melatonin production, and improved tissue morphology in human skin models and fibroblasts.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2026
  • Topical Berberis integerrima root extract combined with spearmint essential oil significantly reduces lesion counts and mGAGS scores in patients with mild to moderate facial acne, with effectiveness comparable to 1% clindamycin topical solution.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2024
  • Topical application of Mentha aquatica L. cv. Lime essential oil and its major constituents limonene and carvone prevented vemurafenib-promoted skin carcinogenesis and cutaneous side-effects in mice by inhibiting keratinocyte activity and shifting macrophages from M2 to M1.

    Phytomedicine, 2024

Ingredients

Water, Acrylates Steareth-20 Methacrylate Copolymer, Disodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Glycerin, Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate, Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Water Lavender Flower Water, Spearmint Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Hydrolyzed Rhodophyceae Extract, Caffeine, Butylene Glycol, Gluconolactone, Ethylhexylglycerin, Phenoxyethanol

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.

How does it fit your skin?

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